This page is intended to be updated every so often. Please do let me know if you find something uesful to add (use the comments facility, by all means). The presentation I used in Induction Week is online here.
learning styles
Visual, Auditory/Aural, Read/write, Kinaesthetic styles
VARK q’aire and to help to interpret the results …
Mind Tools is a helpful webside and this page takes another tack an learning styles. There is an online questionnaire to their system here. With all of these ther results will need working with and thinking about; by all means talk with tutors and colleagues to help work out how best to apply the results.
Online study tools:
BibMe is an online tool for making producing bibliographies in the proper format a whole lot easier. Just type title or author in and select the correct book … my ref here.
Mindmapping via Mind42 and Bubbl.us .
With thanks to Rachel Marszalek, here’s a template for essay writing at SJC, which could be quite helpful in helping you to structure your essays. I noted that the last update at the host site was in 2002, so double check in case there are any changes needed.
Skills
There are some general sites with a variety of advices and exercises. Glasgow university have an online mini-module about study skills ‘including Time Management, Note-Taking, Reading Skills, Writing Skills, Giving Presentations, Revision, Exam Techniques.’ And here is a whole web-site on study skills, typically little articles which are easy to digest. I’d suggest using this one by having a look at one or two that interest you a day and planning to change your habits in the light of what you discover -little but often is a good way to improve your studying. Some other skills-related sites and pages.
- How to read a (text)book
- How to read more quickly, more speedily, and (inter)actively using a pencil the latter of which is a surprisingly useful skill.
- How to take notes
- mind mapping a how to guide to mindmapping
- taking lecture notes
- Chunking information makes it more learnable.
Wholisitic considerations in learning
How we learn article on classroom learning issues. And a pdf outlining theories of how we learn for those who find that helps. And how about a mind map of the matter?
We need sleep to learn. And naps can help too!
Good diet. Most research is child related but the principles usually still apply (after all the biochemistry is basically and overwhelmingly similar); so you might find this helpful. If you’re interested in the research, here’s a bunch of reports.
Good social environment: supportive, low-stress encouraging. Some research here.
Exercise helps; at the basic level of blood flow to the brain but there is more to it ….