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Learn How to REALLY Study!A Student Study Skills Workshop 

Presented By:Carl William Seward

Portsmouth Public Schools

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Before We Begin…

• Study is a process that can be taught, learned, and improved upon.

• Most students waste precious time and mental energy studying without method or purpose.

• This presentation is designed to provide you information so that you can make the most of your learning experience (and study time!)

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Overview of Presentation

• Developing Long-Term Memory

• What is your Learning Modality

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Long Term Memory: How do I get it?

• Long term memory is built through repetition of information over time with writing.

• It takes approximately seven meaningful repetitions of information for the average person to store information in long-term memory.

• These include lecture, homework, note-taking, rereading notes, creating a self-test, and practicing a self-test.

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What is your learning modality?

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The Three Learning Modalities…

• Haptic Learners

• Visual Learners

• Audio Learners

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Haptic Learner

•Athletic•Anti-desk•Intuitive•Creative

•Musical •Impulsive•Daydreams•Disorganized

•Learns by doing•Procrastinates•Artistic•Does not follow directions

Characteristics of a Haptic Learner

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What kinds of study practices should a haptic learner use to

maximize study time?

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• Haptic learners may not study well at a desk. They…

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…can pace or walk around while reciting a list or information from notes.

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Should haptic learners take frequent “breaks” from study?

• A reasonable study schedule for secondary students is 20-30 minutes of study and 5 minutes of break.

• TV watching and telephone talking should NOT take place during break.

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In summary, haptic learners learn best when…

• actively engaged in the class lesson.

• given opportunities to move.

• experiencing the learning.

• experimenting.

• being provided hands-on learning opportunities.

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Characteristics of Visual Learners

Visual Learner

•Remembers what is seen and read.•Thinks is picturesor words•Vivid Imaginations

•Makes lists.•Remembers faces but not names.•Sensitive to way things appear.

•Information mustbe seen or written.•Facial expressionsshow emotions.

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What kinds of study practices should a visual learner use to

maximize study time?

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Visual learners should...

preview a chapter BEFORE

reading it.

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…write down information. TAKING NOTES in class is a

powerful way to maintain concentration.

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…look at the teacher while s/he is talking. It helps visual learners to stay focused.

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…try studying alone--most visual learners prefer to study in a quiet place.

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…use a bright piece of construction paper in their favorite color as a desk blotter.

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…select a seat furthest from the door and window and toward the front of the class if possible.

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…write vocabulary words in color on index cards and read them frequently. Definitions should be written on the back of the card and studied as well.

Glance

In the seventeenth century, an allusive

satirical jest.

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…use color and graphic symbols to highlight main ideas in notes.

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…use graph paper when solving complicated math problems to keep the numbers and symbols properly aligned.

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In summary, visual learners learn best by

• taking lots of notes.

• working in a quiet place.

• studying alone.

• previewing work.

• using color.

• using flash cards.

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Characteristics of Auditory Learners

Auditory Learner

•Remembers whatis heard.•Talk while writing•Know names; butnot faces

•Noise distracts.•Games/picturesare annoying.•Writing not alwayslegible.

•Written informationhas little meaning.•Sophisticated speaker

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What kinds of study practices should an auditory learner use

to maximize study time?

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Auditory learners should...

• try studying with a peer who is also an auditory learner.

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…recite information that must be learned aloud.

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…try taping study questions and answers. Then listen to them during exercise, walking to school, or before sleep.

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…listen to tapes at least three times before a test and

practice the long-term memory strategies learned later in this

workshop.

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…record vocabulary or other important information on index cards and have someone else “quiz” them.

Glance

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… read ALOUD whenever possible.

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Auditory learners learn best…

• in study groups.

• reciting answers aloud.

• taping assignments.

• reviewing flashcards aloud.

• reading assignments aloud whenever possible.

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DON’T WORK LONGER--

WORK SMARTER.

HAVE A PLAN!