Are there more effective means of studying?

By: THE EDUCARE WAY

It's a well-known fact that most of us study by reading and memorizing, often reviewing out notes again and again to retain the information for a test or exam. For some children, especially those with good visual memory skills, this is an effective means of studying. But this method doesn't guarantee that the material has been well understood and the knowledge gained may be short- lived. To really understand study material, it is necessary to read it, hear it, discuss it and use it.

Let's look at an example. When children are studying the dimensions of the earth, they may review the numbers in their notes but will they remember the dimensions for the rest of their lives or simply for the time it takes to complete the test? On the other hand, if, they read an article the next day stating the dimensions of the earth, they will be even more likely to remember the figures. Now, let us suppose that they discuss this subject and the parties disagree on the dimensions of the earth and then they must find proof of these figures in books. This step will consolidate their knowledge even further. Finally, when the children decide to compare the dimensions of the Earth with those of the planet Mars, the end result of all these experiences will be that they will be more likely to remember this data on the dimensions of the Earth for much longer.

Therefore, to effectively study for tests and exams, it is not merely a matter of reading notes over and over again but a matter of using a number of different sensory techniques to see the information, hear it, use it, and discuss it in order to retain it.

Encourage children to express what they know.

It is always more pleasant for children to study by relating to a parent or another person what they know regarding a particular study topic. The other party can ask questions by challenging certain notions, urging the child to verify the questionable information or, for fun, by pretending not to know anything about the subject in order to be informed.

The listener may be a parent, a brother or a sister. However, children can also study with a grandparent or a friend on the phone or even on the Internet, which nowadays provides a new and motivating communication approach.

When children are alone, they can imagine themselves making a presentation before an audience. They can help themselves by jotting down the main points of the topic on cue cards. To add another dimension, they can use the same strategy by using a microphone and presenting their speech to themselves in front of a mirror and thus hone their oral presentation skills.

We should manipulate the material to be studied.

Some children learn more easily when they have an opportunity to manipulate the information. For example, the notes to be studied can be photocopied, cut up in parts, mixed up and put back in their original order. Once they become more familiar with this strategy, they can subdivide the notes again and repeat the process.

With the same purpose in mind, parents can photocopy the notes to be studied. With a black felt pen, they can strike out words that are not necessary for comprehension, such as "the", "at", "thus", etc. and read over their notes. Then, they can strike out approximately one of every ten words and read over their notes. When it gets to a point where the wording becomes hard to figure out, they can stop striking out words and read over their notes again to see if they can understand. As long as the text is easy to understand, they can strike out one of every ten words again and carry on until the material has been learned.

Studying is not always done with notes. Sometimes, charts, geographical maps or parts of an object, such as an aircraft, for example, are used instead. Children, who need to manipulate information to learn better will find it helpful to write down the data, i.e. figures on a chart, names of countries or parts of an aircraft, on bits of paper, shuffle them and then place them back in the right places on the chart, map or aircraft sketch.

When dealing with a string of words, such as a list of words to be sorted in alphabetical order or a string of numbers such as odd or preliminary numbers, the same technique is effective. The data can be entered on cards, shuffled and placed in order. This method can also be useful with number sequences. Think, for example, about children who find it hard to memorize their phone number. Each digit can be entered on small cards and children can be asked to observe the sequence carefully. Then, the cards can be shuffled and they can be asked to place the digits in the right order.

The material could be read on a cassette.

When children are studying alone, they can go over their own notes on an audio cassette. Then, just as one can listen to a song several times to memorize the words, one can listen to this recording several times and at different time intervals. Of course, to obtain any success, it is necessary to avoid waiting until the last minute and to plan for reasonable listening intervals. It must be remembered that listening to a cassette ten consecutive times will not be as effective as listening to it ten times over a period of three days. It will be easier to remember the material when we can stretch out the listening process over a certain period of time.

Our children should be encouraged to study in groups.

One of the best ways of understanding one's notes is to discuss or debate them with others. Think, for example, of a child and a few friends getting together to study. Parents can lead a discussion on a study topic. They can ask questions, make statements and ask children to decide whether these are true or false. The parents can then purposely contradict the children to encourage them to state the information correctly or to stir up a debate. They can even devise quizzes; it only takes a little creativity. Regardless of the strategy used, the objective is to discuss the information to be retained verbally.

Children should be taught to use key words.

When children understand the meaning of "key words", they can be taught to spot these. Consequently, when they need to study, they can jot these down on cue cards. Cue cards also make it possible to differentiate between what is known and what is not. Studying can then be focused on what needs to be learned to ensure optimum use of studying time. When the cards are prepared and sorted out, a partner can ask the student to pick a card. On the basis of the word or expression, the child tells the other party what he knows. Consequently, the child will be studying two different ways; by preparing the information on the cards, and then by sharing and discussing the information afterwards.

We should start diversifying means of studying early.

Obviously, studying by reading one's notes has its limitations and is not suited to everyone. Looking at alternatives is worthwhile. By combining the reading method with other means, children can enjoy more success, and turn the habit of studying into a more active task. But as parents, we must integrate good study methods in our children, early on in their school years. Normally, children tend to stick to a study strategy that works for them and they are successful with. Consequently, studying becomes more attractive and motivating for everyone.

At A Glimpse!

• Do we encourage our children to use different studying strategies to be successful?
• Do we challenge our children by discussing and debating study topics with them?
• Are we available to give studying advice to our children?
• Are we aware of the strategies that best suit our children?
__________________________________________________________________

© All rights reserved. Toronto4Kids and Educare/Le Petit Conseiller - 2000. Any means of reproduction without the express authorization of the author is strictly prohibited.

For more information or more advice, visit our web site at www.educareway.com.
THE EDUCARE WAY
784 May Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 3H3
Phone : 613-749-2392
Fax : 613-748-0058
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it