It would be great if there were a secret formula that could magically transform
your brain capacity to Genius. We all know that such a formula does not exist.
Therefore, if you want to achieve great results in the shortest time possible,
you will have to consider the next best thing – working smarter.
How sad would it not be to climb a long ladder all the way to the top only to
find that it was leaning against the wrong wall! So it is also with how you
approach your studies. Like the ladder, is would be a disaster if you study long
and hard on notes which had gaps, of poor quality, or worst still incorrect.
One of the best ways to work smarter on your grades is by forming a Study Group.
Before you dismiss this as old hat, let me assure you, the way we do it works
for Junior School, Senior School, Collage, University, all the way to Adult
Learning scenarios.
There are three very important points you must address first in order to ensure
a successful study group.
1) Make sure you are committed to this process. (You will see why shortly!)
2) Make sure you know exactly how you are going to organise the work.
3) Identify the students in your class who has the highest grades and then ask
them to join your group. A great number for your group is 4. (The crucial point
is to choose the students with the highest grades!)
These three points are very important. Not only did you make a commitment to get
your grades up, you have now made yourself accountable to the smartest students
in your class. Now is not the time to loose your nerves. You are halfway there!
What next? Meet up with your group as soon as possible to plan and allocated
your work. You must also agree when you are going to meet up again to revise.
This should ideally be two days later.
Rather that following one of the many old methods of studying a chapter, you
will now do the following;
EACH member will read the whole chapter and use the main headings as the outline
of the notes. EACH member in the group makes notes on the SAME CHAPTER, under
the main headings,focusing on only ONE of the following areas:
1) One person ONLY focuses on summarising each paragraph under each sub-heading
in one sentence.
2) One person ONLY focuses on Important people, places, dates etc in the chapter
3) One person ONLY focuses on numbers, statistics, costs, graphs etc in the chapter
4) One person ONLY focuses on the big picture - what change came about, what
impact, influence, consequences etc. Interpreting the content.
ALL members meet up again the next day or two and bring a copy of their notes to
the rest of the group. EACH member then “talk the rest through” or present their
notes and make sure everybody understand it.
There are several advantages in using this method;
1) You have the opportunity to engage with the information and understand the
content which will greatly reduce the time you need to spend learning it.
2) You will also have had a much greater understanding of the subject which will
enable you to apply the information and not just memorise it.
3) If one of the members in the team did not do a great job, all is not lost as
you still have three other sets of notes covering the same content.
The old way of study groups meant that every now and again one of the group made
bad notes which means you will flunk out on the whole chapter. This process
ensures that your notes are not only thorough, but also done in record time.
Now you are ready to study!
It would be great if there were a secret formula that could magically transform
your brain capacity to Genius. We all know that such a formula does not exist.
Therefore, if you want to achieve great results in the shortest time possible,
you will have to consider the next best thing – working smarter.
How sad would it not be to climb a long ladder all the way to the top only to
find that it was leaning against the wrong wall! So it is also with how you
approach your studies. Like the ladder, is would be a disaster if you study long
and hard on notes which had gaps, of poor quality, or worst still incorrect.
One of the best ways to work smarter on your grades is by forming a Study Group.
Before you dismiss this as old hat, let me assure you, the way we do it works
for Junior School, Senior School, Collage, University, all the way to Adult
Learning scenarios.
There are three very important points you must address first in order to ensure
a successful study group.
1) Make sure you are committed to this process. (You will see why shortly!)
2) Make sure you know exactly how you are going to organise the work.
3) Identify the students in your class who has the highest grades and then ask
them to join your group. A great number for your group is 4. (The crucial point
is to choose the students with the highest grades!)
These three points are very important. Not only did you make a commitment to get
your grades up, you have now made yourself accountable to the smartest students
in your class. Now is not the time to loose your nerves. You are halfway there!
What next? Meet up with your group as soon as possible to plan and allocated
your work. You must also agree when you are going to meet up again to revise.
This should ideally be two days later.
Rather that following one of the many old methods of studying a chapter, you
will now do the following;
EACH member will read the whole chapter and use the main headings as the outline
of the notes. EACH member in the group makes notes on the SAME CHAPTER, under
the main headings,focusing on only ONE of the following areas:
1) One person ONLY focuses on summarising each paragraph under each sub-heading
in one sentence.
2) One person ONLY focuses on Important people, places, dates etc in the chapter
3) One person ONLY focuses on numbers, statistics, costs, graphs etc in the chapter
4) One person ONLY focuses on the big picture - what change came about, what
impact, influence, consequences etc. Interpreting the content.
ALL members meet up again the next day or two and bring a copy of their notes to
the rest of the group. EACH member then “talk the rest through” or present their
notes and make sure everybody understand it.
There are several advantages in using this method;
1) You have the opportunity to engage with the information and understand the
content which will greatly reduce the time you need to spend learning it.
2) You will also have had a much greater understanding of the subject which will
enable you to apply the information and not just memorise it.
3) If one of the members in the team did not do a great job, all is not lost as
you still have three other sets of notes covering the same content.
The old way of study groups meant that every now and again one of the group made
bad notes which means you will flunk out on the whole chapter. This process
ensures that your notes are not only thorough, but also done in record time.
Now you are ready to study!
