Learning to learn 1: how my brain works

• Mentorles
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Learning to learn

What are you going to learn today

How your brain works when you have to learn something for school.

How you can use today's knowledge in concrete terms, for example for the subject of French.

How much do we actually remember?

This isn't exact science - but close enough?

In the French explanation: you

hear (10%), see (20%) and write/practice (50%).

So after the lesson you can already

half of the material

if you want to

actively participates.

Learning to learn

1. Explain it to yourself

2. Test yourself

3. Study at different moments (plan)

Write in your notebook

You've watched a video about how your brain works when you're learning something. What does this look like in practice? What is something you can DO, based on the info from the video, to learn better?

What phases do you go through when you prepare for a test?

Phase 0 = in class > actively participate and ask questions.

Phase 1: preparation = day 1

> prepare, make planning, tidy up the learning space, sleep well, eat and drink

Phase 2: learning = day 2- ...... (depending on number of parts)

> repeat for 10 min - repeat for 25 min next part - repeat for 10 min

= 3 learning moments according to 10-25-10 schedule

Phase 3: checking = 1-2 days before the test

> repeat/check all material (mock test, quizzes by parents, etc.)

> it's nice to have one day left as a reserve or in between as a rest day

So you study a maximum of 45 minutes a day; you can also do this (partly) during class.

FASE 0: IN THE LESSON

Stuff in order: notebook, pen, laptop.

Actively participate in explanations and exercises.

Make sure you check if you understand something by making the assignments serious.

If you don't understand something, ask, first to a classmate and then to your teacher.

Remember: actively participating in class = at least 50% of your grade!

there?

Statement:

I meet all the preconditions: having my stuff, actively participating, checking, asking questions.

The answers:

- Most of the time, (almost) always: Put two hands in the air

- Sometimes yes, sometimes not : Put one hand in the air

- Not really, almost never: put your hands on the table in front of you

PHASE 1: PREPARATION

Check your calendar and make sure you can find all the study material.

Make a checklist of the material you need to know.

Divide the subject matter into smaller parts.

Make a (rough) schedule.

Provide a tidy workspace for learning.

Get a good night's sleep and eat enough.

Discuss with each other

Do you make an overview or schedule and if so, how do you do that exactly?

PHASE 2: STUDYING

Stick to your schedule, but adjust where necessary.

Really sit down, choose a good time of day - or several moments.

Think of preconditions: preparation, tidy learning place, sufficient food and drink, enough relaxation and sleep.

WRITE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK:

What do you use to study? Paper, certain programs, etc.

First, think and write down for yourself

Then discuss as a class

Note down new ideas you hear from classmates

Class discussion

Do you ever get help with studying? Whose?

Who can you ask for help and what kind of help do you ask for? (quizzing? Summarize? explain?

How many days in advance do you start studying?

That depends on the amount of learning material, how difficult you find it and how many parts you divide the material into.

 A good guideline is:

1 day per part of the subject matter + 1 day to check + 1 reserve day

How long should you study in one go?

Repeating more often and learning for a shorter period of time works better than learning for hours on end. You'll find a learning plan that suits you, but for starters, you can try these:

10 min repetition - 25 min new material - 10 min repetition

We also call this the 10-25-10 learning schedule where you have three learning moments. Other examples are: 25-20 / 25-15 / 35-10 / 25-15-10.

What do you do in between study moments?

Exercise, grab a drink or walk the dog.

5-10 minutes of relaxation, like a game.

Learn another trade, but only if you're preparing two tests or more.

If you are learning via a screen, try not to use screens during breaks.

Discuss together

What could you do in between your study moments

And if I need to study for another test?

Shorten the learning time by 5 minutes per learning moment.

Use the same number of moments: repetition = more important than time!

So for example: 5-20-5 instead of 10-25-10.

But I have lessons until 16:35 and I'm also going to training and it's my cat's birthday...

• Start earlier and break it down into smaller parts to learn; Prioritize the things you really don't know well or where you can get the most/easiest points.

• Take advantage of class time to practice tricky things and ask questions, such as practicing grammar and learning verbs. If you start on time, you can also ask questions on time during the lesson.

• Make a schedule where you spend a maximum of 30 minutes studying on busy days; don't study new things on these days, but put time into repetition.

An ideal example: a less busy week

You need to study one chapter for English. You've been sick a lot and you also have two other tests. You choose to divide the learning into seven parts: 4x words, 1x sentences, 2x grammar.

Suppose you have to study one chapter for English. You have actively participated during the lessons and during the lessons you have already done the preparation. You choose to divide the learning into five parts: 2x words, 1x sentences, 2x grammar.

>>>>> You then start learning seven days in advance:

• day 1 to 5 = learning

• Day 6 = check

• 1 day left as reserve/rest day

An ideal example: busy week

You need to study one chapter for English. You've been sick a lot and you also have two other tests. You choose to divide the studying into seven parts: 4x words, 1x sentences, 2x grammar.

You then start learning ten days in advance:

• Day 1 = Preparation

• Day 2 to 8 = learning according to 10-25-10 minute schedule (shorten if necessary)

• Day 9 = Check

• 1 day left as reserve/rest day

A not so great example

You need to study one chapter for English. You forgot you have a test, or you didn't feel like or had time to study. You decide to divide the subject matter into three parts. You look at what you can learn the easiest and where you can get the most points.

You start studying two days in advance:

• Day 1: 10-20-10 and another 20-10

• Day 2: 10-20-10 and another 20-10

You divide the study moments over the (mid)day/evening and perhaps shorten them slightly. You know:  study moments are more important than how much time you put into them. Repetition is the most important thing.

PHASE 3: CHECK

Grab your checklist; Do exercises, practice tests or have yourself quizzed. Tick off what you know.

How do you check?

Words: translate by writing (Quizlet, StudyGo), quiz by someone else, flash cards

Verbs: same as words

Grammar: practice, practice test

Skills: doing homework and assignments during class

As long as you DO something, don't just read and think about it if you know it...

Ten study tips

1. Eat enough, do fun things and sleep.

2. Teachable moments are more important than how much time you learn.

3. Choose a good time or several times during the day; Really sit down.

4. Set timers for the teachable moments and breaks.

5. At least five minutes between each learning moment.

6. Pay attention during class and participate = 50% less learning!

7. Starting on time = less stress.

8. Ask for help! To your parents, teacher, friends, etc.

9. Make sure someone else shares the responsibility; Learning together with friends, for example.

10. See what suits you, whether that's 10-25-10, or 35-10, or 10-10-10-5 etc.

It's like cycling... you don't learn how to do it by reading about it

First with training wheels (learning with notes/book), then with trial and error (repeating over and over again) and finally all by yourself (applying it by heart).