1. Effective Note Taking

Sometimes we can all find it a bit tricky to take down notes in the best way possible so that when we return to them, what we have wrote is effective and to the point of the particular topic. Effective notes are useful in times of revision and are usually a summary of an important topic you have already covered in a lecture.

From my research the most effective note-taking is active. Active note taking means:

·         Thinking about what you want to get out of your research before you start

·         Looking for answers to any questions you may have had about the topic

·         Looking to link the topic with other topics you are studying in your course

·         Mainly writing notes in your own words with your own explanations of what things mean

·         Recording exact quotes only when it’s important to use the exact words that someone else used

I find when taking notes in a lecture my writing is not very neat and sometimes hard to read so I find re-writing out my notes again that evening very useful, also it helps me revise and recap on what I learned that day.

More effective note taking tips that I uncovered on a useful website;

·         Keep your notes brief and be selective

·         Keep them well spaced so individual points are clear and visible plus there is room to expand if needs be

·         Illustrations, examples and diagrams can also be useful

·         Making them memorable through colouring, highlighting and underlining

Abbreviations are very useful and quick and result in effective note taking. Using mathematical symbols like the ones you can see on the table here saves you time writing and gives you more time for listening.

4. Effective Presentations

The majority of us just dread the thoughts of having to produce an oral presentation. A lot of this is because we are not confident to stand up in front of others and speak about a particular topic. Our nerves get the better of us and the opinions of others become more important than delivering the presentation itself. We think our audience will have a critical eye and are just waiting for you to stumble on your words when in fact many are feeling the same emotions as you and more than likely are not even giving your presentation their full attention because they are preoccupied worrying about presenting their own.

·         Firstly choose a topic perhaps you are already familiar with, this will ease the nerves automatically as it is easier to talk about something you already have background knowledge and an interest in.

·         If necessary research your topic and gather all the information needed.

·          Know what is required for a presentation and know your time limit as going over or being under the time limit could affect your grade.

·          Que cards are helpful when presenting as they keep you on track and are a good back up if you forget what you were going to say.

·          Keep the text to a minimum in the slides as this can be distracting and you may lose the interest of your audience.

·         Illustrations, videos, pictures, graphs and diagrams are a great way of keeping the audience alert and can often be an easier way of portraying a message. As the saying goes, “A picture speaks a thousand words”.

·         Practice makes perfect so practising your presentation for friends or family will be of huge benefit to you.

·         Be prepared on the day and know how to use the equipment in advance.

·          Also outline before you start when you will be answering questions to avoid interruption during your presentation.

7. Compiling a Literature Review

Literature reviews provide us with a handy guide to a particular topic. Once I received the topic I was given I began my research on the internet as it was most convenient for me. A little tip I would advise people when compiling a literature review is to refine your search and focus mainly on the topic provided.
 I stumbled upon many interesting articles and websites that would really help me and that I could use. When writing a literature review the idea is to show the reader what knowledge and ideas you have established on the topic. When piecing together my literature review I was conscious of having an introduction, a main body and a conclusion. This would add to the structure of the review and helps the reader uncover the ideas and arguments within it.
 Finally, a big error to avoid when compiling a literature review is plagiarism. Because of researching the majority of the information online, it is easy to state some comments without referencing but this is unacceptable and incorrect. If you take something from the internet and use it, it must be referenced properly as it is not your work, but the words of somebody else.

9. Time Management

Let's face it, we could all do with brushing up on our time management skills and from my research I found a few effective ways to improve this. Minimising distractions would be a great place to start. Choose a place where there is silence and little distractions. I find that posters grasp my attention from otherwise studying so if there are any around you in your designated study area, maybe place them out of sight. Like myself if you are prone to surfing the net or texting on your phone when you are supposed to be studying, an easy way to resolve these problems are to disable the internet and leave your phone in another room. You will then be less likely to get it and start texting, likewise going to the effort of turning back on the internet. Watching television or listening to the radio does not contribute to studying even if they are just on in the background. I personally cannot concentrate with any noise level so silence is a necessity for me.
The environment you study in contributes greatly to how well you retain knowledge. Distractions are to be at a minimum so informing people that you are about to study and to keep interruptions and noise levels to a minimum would be wise. Sitting upright rather than in a chair that is too comfortable or relaxing is more effective for studying rather than using a chair where you tend to lean back or hunch over. Good lighting is essential as is the temperature of the room. A warm room may cause you to become drowsy therefore a cooler temperature would be more beneficial. Those are just some tips I found on a website in which you can click onto here and discover some more useful information on time management.

10. Effective Revision/ Exam Techniques

A useful activity before you begin to study is to set aside some time to plan your revision which in the long run will save you, days and even weeks of time and will certainly help you avoid the last minute cramming.

From my research I have discovered some many useful tips in getting the best out or your revision:

·         Plan wisely and accurately and allow for the odd missed revision session

·         Choose a quiet place to study with minimum distractions

·         Study hard at your peak time and avoid late nights

·         Take short breaks regular so as to keep up concentration

·         Write out notes in your own words so as you understand them

·         Test yourself as in an exam, without notes to reflect on and try answer questions with a strict time limit

·         A healthy diet is best in time of revision alongside frequent exercise

·         Revision cards are handy to have to look at no matter where you are, study doesn’t always have to be done at a desk

·         Revising in a group is helpful as you are learning even if you are testing your friend on a certain topic

·         Eat well the morning of the exam and at most have an A4 page of short points to revise over in your head

Here are some exam techniques I personally would adhere to when I am preparing to sit an exam:

·         Make sure I had the correct materials needed for particular exams

·         Have a good night’s sleep the night previous

·         Allocate some time at the beginning to read the paper and plan what questions I would answer and what my options were

·         Write out a quick draft as to what I would say when writing up my answers

More of these techniques can be found by clicking on this link.