EXAM REVISIONpages

Here is a fun way to recall information by using your favourite items or objects, and to order data for easy access before and during an exam. Its basically about ascribing data to familiar objects, be they drawings of jackets, football shirts, even pokemons, all able to contain as much data as you want. These techniques are featured in the video, but here I go into more detail, and how these objects if able can be taken into the exam as well. We must remember its not just about purely the visual, but it can be as much about movement as well, so having your favourite lucky teddy or charm in the exam room with you, and you have allocated data to each arm, then by using movements of each of these arms or legs, it is hoped important data will come flooding back. Anyway, have a go at some of these, and more importantly devise your own!!

EXAM REVISIONpages

Presentation on Dissertation Writing and Planning

Dissertations can be a nightmare for students, and that is even before one begins to write the blasted thing!! The anguish of ordering your work, papers, authors, not to mention waking up in the middle of the night panicing about what a literature review may look like. Well here is a more time management approach to the problem, and also of course to take away the mystique of the whole process and to illustrate to the research that if you are well ordered and plan ahead, then it can be an enjoyable experience and most of all your mark may reflect your confidence.

Presentation on Exam Revision Techniques

This video was produced in 2012 for Lancaster University with the main aim of making the student more confident and organised when revising for exams. It takes a visual approach in developing time management strategies, ordering and displaying your data, using recall and ascribing tool, building up your memory for the purpose and most of all getting you ready for the exam by suggesting mock exam routines to get into. And of course this is all given with a good sense of humour, and with a rather eccentric immagination to reinforce some of the points.

New Sid

 

 

This is a recent addition to Davey's creative learning zoo, with a student bringing it along to illustrate how they were organising their work. As you can see make the snake big, stick it on the wall so it scares the living daylights out of you each morning, but most of all, it can show you exactly when and where you are plotting to do work and when work is due in. This is ideal for dissertations, thesis, etc, any level really. Here the student has used postits so they can be moved accordingly, i.e. if they get behind in their deadlines, so moving the boudaries. Of course the snake, can get rather annoyed if you dont put in on its body when you are going to take a break also!!!

 

 

 

New Exam Buster1

For those whose memory isnt great and dont always recall everything that was said in the video, then here is the power point to that video, so you can download and get some ideas on how to modify these for your own satisfaction. But please do remember that such activities should be done under the influence of your favourite piece of cake and a nice cuppa tea!!!

New Exam Buster1

Examination Terms

TERMS AND PHRASES USED IN EXAM QUESTIONS

Here are a list of terms taken from a well known book to help you to ascertain what  you are being asked to do in the exam question. Get into memorising them, talk to a friend about them, but most of ALL.... PRACTICE MOCK EXAMS DAILY....SO THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM!!!

Advise: recommend a course of action

Analyse: to examine in detail and to discover essential features. Identify the main components, show how they are related and explain their importance.

Appraise: to assess the worth, value or quality of a point.

Argue: to present supporting or opposing reasons. A series of reasons that support or oppose a statement.

Assess: to judge worth or importance including advantages/disadvantages.

Calculate: to determine by judgement and reasoning.

Compare: examine qualities or characteristics to discover any resemblances. You are to emphasize similarities, although differences may be mentioned.

Contrast: stress differences of things, qualities, events or problems.

Critical: making sever or negative judgements, containing careful or analytical evaluations.

Criticise: express your judgement. Discuss the limitations, good points or contributions to a plan/project.

Define: definitions call for concise, clear, authoritative meanings. Details are not required but limitations of the definition should be briefly cited. Highlight what differentiates the particular object for all others in the class.

Demonstrate: to show, manifest or prove with reasoned arguments.

Describe: give a detailed account or show knowledge of the topic. You should recount, characterise or relate your answer.

Detail: identify an item or smaller parts that are considered separately.

Develop: to elaborate or work out in detail.

Discuss: examine, analyze pros/cons of the topic.

Evaluate: present a careful appraisal, stressing the pros/cons.

Examine: to look at, inspect or scrutinize carefully.

Explain: clarify and interpret the material you present. State how and why.

Identify: select certain specified important points.

Illustrate: to explain or clarify by use of examples.

Interpret: to clarify or explain the meaning of something.

Justify: you must prove or show grounds for a decision.

List: present in an itemized series, should be short and concise answers.

Outline: an organized description. The important features of an argument.

Prove: an answer that demands confirmation or verification by evaluating and citing experimental evidence or logical reasoning.

Recommend: to advise the best course/choice.

Relate: to establish associations and/or connections.

Review: analyze and comment on the major points.

State: express the main points in clear statements.

Summarise: give the main points in a condensed format.

(TAKEN FROM STUDY SKILLS FOR DUMMIES)

Revision Syd the Snake

 

It does seem that people want to show off their snakes. So here is another one which a student devised and here the various mind maps for the forth coming exams have been placed around it. Obviously this person has a lack of space in their house, which does illustrate that students dont have much room, but you can centralise your learning space, as well as it being decentralised at the same time. Wonderful eh?

 

 

Syd the Snake

 

This is the original 'Mother Snake' and was devised a few years ago, from a basic idea taken from the late Indepedent Studies department at Lancaster University, when i was teaching for it. The principle is simple, and revolves around your three terms ( you can change it to your own schedule) and you plot your work and exam dates on this, plot when things have to be drafted or prepared etc etc. It will always give you a bigger picture of where you are. Also with the holiday sections you can break them down into how many weeks you have off, and plott work to be done there also. This can be modified to fit a dissertation completion, a PhD thesis over 4 years, what ever you want. Your snake is yours to command!!!!