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English Grammar Help

by

December 9th

Learning How To Learn

by Hope

November 5th

...See more This is a forum post to teach you how to learn the most efficient and fast way, many of us students while we have been studying for years still struggle with learning some subjects or all at times but we don't really look into trying to change the way we learn, a while ago I enrolled in a free short course online that I will link at the end of the post, this post is basically a summary of that course and I thought to share it so we all can learn better! Diffused mode and Focus mode Researchers have found that we have two fundamentally different modes of thinking. These are called diffused mode and focus mode. We're familiar with focusing. It's when you concentrate intently on something you're trying to learn or to understand. But we're not so familiar with diffuse thinking. Turns out that this more relaxed thinking style is related to a set of neural resting states. Now as far as neuroscientists know right now, you're either in the focused mode or the diffuse mode of thinking. It seems you can't be in both thinking modes at the same time. When you're learning something new, especially something that's a little more difficult, your mind needs to be able to go back and forth between the two different learning modes. That's what helps you learn effectively. You might think of it as a bit analogous to building your strength by lifting weights. You would never plan to compete in a weightlifting competition by waiting until the very day before a meet and then spending that entire day working out like a fiend. I mean, it just doesn't happen that way. To gain muscular structure, you need to do a little work every day, gradually allowing your muscles to grow. Similarly, to build neuro-structure, you need to do a little work every day, gradually allowing yourself to grow a neuro-scaffold to hang your thinking on, a little bit every day and that's the trick. Read or hear this in detail by clicking on the following hyperlinked texts: Introduction to focused and diffused thinking [https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/75EsZ/introduction-to-the-focused-and-diffuse-modes] Using the focused or diffused mode [https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/GVacn/using-the-focused-and-diffuse-modes-or-a-little-dali-will-do-you] Chunk When you first look at a brand new concept it sometimes doesn't make much sense. Chunking is the mental leap that helps you unite bits of information together through meaning. The new logical whole makes the chunk easier to remember, and also makes it easier to fit the chunk into the larger picture of what you're learning. Just memorizing a fact without understanding or context doesn't help you understand what's really going on or how the concept fits together with other concepts you're learning. Forming A Chunk If you're learning to play a difficult song on the guitar, the neural representation of the song in your mind can be considered as a rather large chunk. You would first listen to the song. Maybe you'd even watch someone else playing the song especially if you were just a beginner who was learning things like, how to hold the guitar. Getting an initial sense of the pattern you want to master for yourself is similar for most subjects or skills. You often have to grasp little bits of songs that become neuro mini-chunks, which will later join together into larger chunks. For example, over several days, you might learn how to smoothly place the musical passages on a guitar, and when you've grasped those passages, you could join them together with other passages that you've learned, gradually putting everything together so you can play the song. Learning in math and science involves the same approach. When you're learning new math and science material, you're often given sample problems with worked out solutions. This is because, when you're first trying to understand how to work a problem, you have a heavy cognitive load. So it helps to start out with a work through the example. In summary, there are the following steps to forming a chunk 1) The first step on chunking is simply to focus your undivided attention on the information you want to chunk. If you had the television going on in the background, or you're looking up every few minutes to check or answer your phone or computer messages, it means you're going to have more difficulty in making a chunk, because your brain is not really focusing on chunking the new material. 2)The second step in chunking is to understand the basic idea you're trying to chunk, whether it's understanding a concept such as continental drift, seeing the connection between the basic elements of the plot for a story, grasping the economic principle of supply and demand, or comprehending the essence of a particular type of math problem Understanding is like a superglue that helps hold the underlying memory traces together. It creates broad encompassing traces that can link to other memory traces. 3)In math and science related subjects, closing the book and testing yourself on whether you, yourself, can solve the problem you think you understand, will speed up your learning at this stage. You often realize the first time you actually understand something is when you can actually do it yourself. It's the same in many disciplines, just looking at someone else's painting doesn't mean you could actually create that painting yourself 4) gaining context, so you can see not just how, but also when to use this chunk. Context means going beyond the initial problem and seeing more broadly, repeating and practising with both related and unrelated problems, so that you can see not only when to use the chunk, but when not to use it. This helps you see how your newly formed chunk fits into the bigger picture. In other words, you may have a tool in your strategy or problem-solving tool box, but if you don't know when to use that tool, it's not going to do you a lot of good. Doing a rapid two-minute picture walk through a chapter in a book before you begin studying it, glancing at pictures and section headings, can allow you to gain a sense of the big picture. So can listening to a very well organized lecture. Summary of the summary: chunks are best built with focused attention, understanding of the basic idea, and practice to help you gain mastery and a sense of the big picture context. Those are the essential steps in making a chunk and fitting that chunk into a greater conceptual overview of what you're learning. Resource: https://goo.gl/ZxwDnf [https://goo.gl/ZxwDnf]

Overwhelming anxiety for exams.

by yellowIdea7518

July 13th

Procrastinating to start studying again

by Achali

June 12th

Maximising Revision Efficiency with the 8 8 8 Formula

by izzyy528

February 25th

...See more Revising and exams can be so stressful, but efficient revision can greatly help to reduce a lot of the stress we may experience. I wanted to share a productivity hack that has really transformed the way I approach revision: the 8 8 8 day division formula. It's a simple yet powerful method for organising your study or revision time to maximize efficiency and retention. Divide Your Time into Three 8-Hour Blocks: One day is made up of 24 hours, so if we divide our day equally, it will allow focused periods of work, allowing you to dedicate yourself fully to specific tasks without burning out, but also allows you to get time for yourself, and enough sleep. So, divide your day into: - 8 hours: Sleep - 8 hours: Revision/study - 8 hours: Time to yourself Allocate Each Block to Different Activities: Within your 8-hour studying block, assign specific activities or subjects to focus on. For example, you might dedicate 1 hour to maths, the next hour to science, the next to History, etc. This segmentation helps prevent cognitive overload and keeps your mind fresh throughout the day. Within your 8-hours to yourself, you can do anything you want! You could dedicate 1 hour to the gym, 2 hours to hang out with friends, etc. You can do whatever you'd like in this time. Within the 8-hour sleep period, of course, that's your time to sleep! This way, you ensure that you have been efficient on that day, preventing burnout, and getting the right amount of sleep! Incorporate Breaks and Variety: Within each hour that you study,, incorporate short breaks to rest and recharge. You could follow the Pomodoro technique, for instance, with 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. Additionally, you could mix up your blocks, so you could do 2 hours study, 1 hour time to yourself, etc. ------------------------- By implementing the 8 8 8 day division formula, I've found that I can cover a wide range of topics effectively while avoiding the pitfalls of procrastination and burnout. It's a structured approach that provides a good balance between productivity and self-care. Tips for Success: 1. Stay Focused: During each phase, concentrate solely on the tasks at hand. Avoid distractions and maintain a laser focus on improving your work. 2. Take Breaks: Don't underestimate the importance of breaks, especially if you are the 8-hour study time without mixing it up. Schedule regular intervals to rest your mind and prevent fatigue. 3. Seek Feedback: Consider sharing your work with trusted peers or with your teachers and seek advice or help from friends and teachers. ------------------------- Of course, this formula may not work for everyone, and it's important to tailor it to your own preferences and habits. Experiment with different schedules and routines until you find what works best for you! Has anyone else tried the 8 8 8 day division formula or a similar approach? I'd love to hear about your experiences and any other productivity tips you have to share!

Exams, and distraction..

by imathi

December 1st, 2023

Depressed student

by nikkinikki250

November 13th, 2023

Lack of Motivation

by MWIVC

October 4th, 2023

Homework Help

by affableApple63

August 30th, 2023

facing IELTS language test

by NyanCat2222

August 20th, 2023

Failure in competitive exam even after a drop year

by Randomperson1997

August 18th, 2023

...See more Since childhood I always knew that I'm not a very talented and naturally intelligent student.So i had to work extremely hard to get something which others would get easily.Evverything was going right but suddenly after.class 12th boards i didn't get the percentage that i thought I would,i worked super hard,sacrificed so many things but didn't get the college i wanted. Nevertheless I joined a different college and worked harder this time so that i can pursue my higher studies from the best college in my country.For three years worked extremely hard again sacrificed things refrained from doing fun stuff because I felt that i didn't deserve that since I haven't achieved anything.Couldnt get a rank good enough for my higher studies in the best college. Was determined that I'd take a drop year and prepare again.Even though my results were good in college and i was getting good colleges this time i thought of taking a risk and make good use of this drop year to get into the best college.Yet again i worked hard,this time not leaving anything,gave my everything blood sweat tears as they say,was happy about being super productive,uninstalled and stayed away from any social media didn't meet friends often just studied and i was happy. I'd give mock tests and score.pretty well in them and finally got a little confidence that maybe this time something good will finally happen.But it didn't.The paper was extremely tough and i made such silly mistakes which i have never made before,not like i was overconfident or extremely tensed i just don't know what happened.I was in absolute shock when I saw my response sheet and i how poorly i had performed.performed.I feel like all my efforts all the sacrifices everything that I've done in these 6 months and also before that have gone to waste. I still feel so.And the worst part is i punish myself for it and tell myself that i shouldn't be happy.Evwr since i have stopped smiling.its been four years since I've been genuinely happy or satisfied with myself.I don't know what to do.I don't know what happened and what went wrong.I have always put real efforts when it comes to education and i still haven't got the results of my hardwork.I feel like giving up because if even after trying so hard i keep failing then is there really any hope at all?

A Guideline for Effective Exam Preparation

by

August 15th, 2023

...See more (Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/s9CC2SKySJM [https://unsplash.com/photos/s9CC2SKySJM]) I. Introduction Preparing for exams can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially if you don't have a plan in place. However, with the right techniques and strategies, you can approach exams with confidence and improve your chances of success. This guideline aims to provide you with the tools you need to prepare effectively for your exams. From creating a study schedule to mastering numerical and written questions, this guideline will cover everything you need to know to ace your exams. So, let's dive in and get started on your exam preparation journey. II. Preparation To ensure you are fully prepared for your exams, follow these tips: * Create a study schedule: Start by reviewing your syllabus and exam schedule to determine when each exam is taking place. Then, create a study schedule that includes specific blocks of time for each exam. Be sure to factor in breaks to avoid burnout and give yourself time to rest. * Organize your notes and materials: Gather all of your notes, textbooks, and study materials in one place. Consider color-coding or labeling them to make them easier to find. Create separate folders for each exam to keep your materials organized. * Find a comfortable study space: Select a quiet and comfortable study space that is free from distractions. Avoid studying in areas where you may be interrupted or tempted to engage in other activities. III. Studying Techniques for Numerical Questions To prepare for numerical questions effectively, you should understand the concepts and formulas needed for the exam. Here are some tips to help you study: * Review class notes and textbook material: Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the material covered in class and the relevant sections in the textbook. * Practice with sample problems: Find practice problems related to the topics covered in class and attempt to solve them independently. This will help you identify areas where you need more practice. * Memorize important formulas: Make a list of important formulas and memorize them. Flashcards can be helpful for this. * Break down complex problems: If a problem seems too complex, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts. This will make it easier to understand and solve the problem. * Seek help if needed: If you are struggling with a particular concept or problem, seek help from your teacher, tutor, or classmates. IV. Studying Techniques for Written Questions To effectively prepare for written questions on exams, consider the following techniques: * Read the instructions carefully and understand the question being asked: * Before starting to write, read the instructions thoroughly and make sure you understand the question being asked. * Take note of any specific instructions, such as word limits or required elements in your answer. * Brainstorm and outline your answer before writing: * Take some time to brainstorm ideas and jot down notes. * Organize your thoughts by creating an outline or mind map. * This will help you structure your answer and ensure that you address all aspects of the question. * Structure your answer effectively: * Start with an introduction that provides context and outlines your argument. * Follow with several body paragraphs that support your argument with specific evidence and examples. * Conclude with a summary of your argument and any final thoughts. * Use specific evidence to support arguments: * Use examples, statistics, and other specific evidence to support your arguments. * This helps to demonstrate your understanding of the material and makes your answer more persuasive. * Avoid repetitive language: * Use a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures to avoid repetition and make your writing more engaging. * Avoid using the same words and phrases repeatedly, as this can make your writing seem simplistic. V. Approaching Essay Questions Approaching essay questions can be intimidating, but with the right strategies, you can effectively answer them. Here are some tips for approaching essay questions: * Carefully analyze the essay prompt: Read the essay prompt carefully and understand what is being asked. Identify key terms and phrases that will guide your essay. * Brainstorm and outline before writing: Before you start writing, take some time to brainstorm and organize your thoughts. Jot down any ideas or points that come to mind and create an outline to help structure your essay. * Structure your essay effectively: Your essay should have a clear and concise structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your introduction should provide context and introduce your thesis statement. Body paragraphs should support your thesis with evidence and examples. Your conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis. * Use specific evidence to support arguments: When writing your essay, use specific evidence to support your arguments. This could include examples, statistics, or quotes from reliable sources. * Incorporate counterarguments: Incorporating counterarguments into your essay can demonstrate your ability to think critically and consider multiple perspectives. Address counterarguments in your body paragraphs and explain why your argument is still valid. VI. General Studying Techniques Here are some additional techniques that can help you study effectively for exams: * The Pomodoro Technique: This involves breaking your study sessions into 25-minute intervals, followed by a short break. Repeat this process four times, and then take a longer break. This can help you stay focused and avoid burnout. * Active Learning: This involves engaging with the material actively rather than just passively reading or listening to it. Examples include taking notes, creating flashcards, and practicing with sample problems or questions. * Group Studying: Studying with a group can be beneficial, as it allows you to learn from others and share your knowledge. However, it's important to make sure the group stays on track and doesn't turn into a social gathering. * Practice Tests: Taking practice tests can help you identify areas where you need more practice and become more familiar with the types of questions you'll encounter on the actual exam. * Visual Aids: Using visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, and graphs, can help you better understand complex concepts and remember key information. VII. Conclusion In conclusion, preparing for exams requires time, effort, and effective studying techniques. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guideline, students can improve their chances of performing well on exams, including those with numerical and written questions. It is essential to create a study schedule and stick to it, organize notes and materials effectively, and practice memorizing formulas and breaking down complex numerical problems into manageable parts. For written questions, reading instructions carefully, outlining answers, and using effective writing techniques are critical. When it comes to essay questions, it's essential to analyze the prompt, structure the essay appropriately, and use specific evidence to support arguments while also incorporating counterarguments. By using these techniques and strategies, students can approach exams with more confidence, knowing they have prepared thoroughly. Remember, preparing for exams is an ongoing process, and it's essential to start early and stay consistent. With dedication and effort, students can achieve their academic goals and excel in their exams. Written by @richuyulin [https://www.7cups.com/@richuyulin]. Shout out to @Aishaa97 [https://www.7cups.com/@Aishaa97], @Kyletw15 [https://www.7cups.com/@Kyletw15], and @LavenderHere [https://www.7cups.com/@LavenderHere] for feedback on this before it was posted! And thank you @CommunityModAnne [https://www.7cups.com/@CommunityModAnne] for keeping me accountable in making this post! Citation * https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/exam-prep/exam-prep-5-strategies [https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/exam-prep/exam-prep-5-strategies] * https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/exam-strategies-how-to-tackle-exam-questions-3/ [https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/exam-strategies-how-to-tackle-exam-questions-3/] * https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=50 [https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=50] * https://cnc.bc.ca/services/prince-george/academic-success-centre/student-support-advice/pomodoro-technique [https://cnc.bc.ca/services/prince-george/academic-success-centre/student-support-advice/pomodoro-technique] * https://www.cgs.pitt.edu/why-cgs/mccarl-center/academic-success-resources/active-study-strategies [https://www.cgs.pitt.edu/why-cgs/mccarl-center/academic-success-resources/active-study-strategies] * https://www.thoughtco.com/study-tips-for-visual-learners-4048480 [https://www.thoughtco.com/study-tips-for-visual-learners-4048480]

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