Ms. Bourgeois' Tips for Study
1. Be Healthy
*Ensure you are eating your regular meals, especially breakfast! Your brain needs fuel in order to learn.
*Have a well balanced diet. Make sure you are following Canada's Food Guide and getting proper servings of each food group.
*Exercise regularly! It increases your brainpower by increasing oxygen and glucose supplies, increases resistance to stress, improves memory and more. Check out this great website by John Medina on brain rules regarding exercise.
* Sleep is very important for attention, memory, mood, and many other factors related to learning. Check out John Medina on brain rules regarding sleep.
2. In Class
*Pay attention in class. You will have to study less later!
*Avoid any distractions that may interfere with your learning such as chatting to friends.
*Make your own jot notes so that it reinforces your learning.
*Ask questions when you do not understand. I am happy to answer them during or after class.
3. Schedule your Study Time
*If you do not schedule your study, it may not happen!
*Create a schedule for study using your cell phone, iPad or tablet, or on paper.
*Studying should be a habit. Make it a part of your regular routine. No excuses.
*Review each night the concepts you learning earlier in the day. Also, schedule time to review previous concepts
*Biology is a study subject. You must spent time reinforcing what you learned previously in the day and the throughout the year.
*Do not study for test or exam the night before. Regular study will ensure your success.
4. Take Breaks: "20 minute/5 minute rule"
*When you find you are losing focus, it is time to take a break.
*You find this may happen after roughly 20 minutes and 5 minute break is in order. The timing may vary but make sure your breaks are not longer than your study time!
*You will find that taking breaks will shorten your study time and increase your ability to learn.
*Moving around during your breaks increases your blood flow to your brain to increase your oxygen and glucose levels to fuel your learning.
5. Meaningful Learning
*It is important to study for understanding. You need to make sense of what you are learning so that it is meaningful to you.
*Students should actively construct their own learning and relate new concepts to what they already know. They should be able to make connections to their prior knowledge.
*One must actively make sense of what they are learning and make connections between concepts.
*Students should be able to apply their knowledge to situations or to solve problems.
*They should relate this new knowledge to the real world and ask themselves why this concept is important.
*Simply reading your notes over and over, hoping that the material will sink in your brain, will not work. Simple rote learning or repetition without really thinking about what you are leaning will not work. Sole memorization will not ensure learning.
*Utilizing meaningful learning will reduce your study time. It will take less time to study and you will remember what you learned longer.
6. Specific Strategies
Concept maps
Explanation
Example
Flash cards
Explanation
Quizlet
T-charts
Explanation
Example
Flow charts
Explanation
Example
Crib notes
Explanation
Example
Videos and simulations can be found throughout this website as they relate to a specific topic.
*Ensure you are eating your regular meals, especially breakfast! Your brain needs fuel in order to learn.
*Have a well balanced diet. Make sure you are following Canada's Food Guide and getting proper servings of each food group.
*Exercise regularly! It increases your brainpower by increasing oxygen and glucose supplies, increases resistance to stress, improves memory and more. Check out this great website by John Medina on brain rules regarding exercise.
* Sleep is very important for attention, memory, mood, and many other factors related to learning. Check out John Medina on brain rules regarding sleep.
2. In Class
*Pay attention in class. You will have to study less later!
*Avoid any distractions that may interfere with your learning such as chatting to friends.
*Make your own jot notes so that it reinforces your learning.
*Ask questions when you do not understand. I am happy to answer them during or after class.
3. Schedule your Study Time
*If you do not schedule your study, it may not happen!
*Create a schedule for study using your cell phone, iPad or tablet, or on paper.
*Studying should be a habit. Make it a part of your regular routine. No excuses.
*Review each night the concepts you learning earlier in the day. Also, schedule time to review previous concepts
*Biology is a study subject. You must spent time reinforcing what you learned previously in the day and the throughout the year.
*Do not study for test or exam the night before. Regular study will ensure your success.
4. Take Breaks: "20 minute/5 minute rule"
*When you find you are losing focus, it is time to take a break.
*You find this may happen after roughly 20 minutes and 5 minute break is in order. The timing may vary but make sure your breaks are not longer than your study time!
*You will find that taking breaks will shorten your study time and increase your ability to learn.
*Moving around during your breaks increases your blood flow to your brain to increase your oxygen and glucose levels to fuel your learning.
5. Meaningful Learning
*It is important to study for understanding. You need to make sense of what you are learning so that it is meaningful to you.
*Students should actively construct their own learning and relate new concepts to what they already know. They should be able to make connections to their prior knowledge.
*One must actively make sense of what they are learning and make connections between concepts.
*Students should be able to apply their knowledge to situations or to solve problems.
*They should relate this new knowledge to the real world and ask themselves why this concept is important.
*Simply reading your notes over and over, hoping that the material will sink in your brain, will not work. Simple rote learning or repetition without really thinking about what you are leaning will not work. Sole memorization will not ensure learning.
*Utilizing meaningful learning will reduce your study time. It will take less time to study and you will remember what you learned longer.
6. Specific Strategies
Concept maps
Explanation
Example
Flash cards
Explanation
Quizlet
T-charts
Explanation
Example
Flow charts
Explanation
Example
Crib notes
Explanation
Example
Videos and simulations can be found throughout this website as they relate to a specific topic.
Useful Websites
WikiHow to Do Anything: How to Study for Exams.
This website begins by reinforcing good study habits that will ultimately prepare students for tests and exams Hey Sigmund : Where the Science of Psychology meets the Art of Being Human
This website has useful articles on studying, anxiety, sleep, relationships, drug use, etc. What Students Really Need to Hear Motivational Video
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