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Welcome to The GEMP
Learning Excellence
Programme
2010
Successful Learning
Strategies
…that will enhance your
academic achievement
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Learning & Language
Tatiana Sosznianin
083 307 6477 - 011 717 2334
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Objectives
By the end of this Course you will be able
to:
•Develop a personalised learning plan in harmony with
own learning style
•Read for Understanding
•Summarise important concepts given in learning
material
•Write with clarity and purpose
•Create Metacogs® and use for learning & revision
•Use mnemonics to aid memory
•Develop strong long term memory and recall
•Practice sound exam techniques and manage stress
• Assess own academic literacy level Practice medical
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terminology using relevant websites
GEMP Learning Excellence
The Frame:
Learn Well 4 Life Video on the
EISH Website:
http://eish.health.wits.ac.za/learn/default.html
Start Smart
• Self Study
• Motivation
• In Class
• Time Management
and balance
• Organise
• Wellness and Stress
• Problem Solve
• Tests and Exams
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Bees make honey…
Humans make…
Thoughts
As humans we are thinkers by
nature, that’s how we learn
It is deep in our essence
It is in our DNA
Gerald Angelo Cirrincione: TAPT Programme (Prof Merlyn Mehl)
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Awareness about our thinking
and our learning we call
Meta Cognition…
Thinking about how we think
and how we learn
To enhance our Learning Plan
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GEMP Learning Excellence
What practices do these cognitive
Discuss in your groups
processes involve?
•Gather precise
information
•Seek Clarity
•Analyse
•Reason logically
Consider more than 1 source of info.
These skills you can transfer to any learning:
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Assignments, Research, Exams. Practice them!
GEMP Learning Excellence
So… how do we build memory? *
Show How Neurons Work video clip
From the centre out
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GEMP Learning Excellence
So… how do we build memory?
Our brain extracts patterns of
meaning from a confusion of stimuli,
a process truly successful when both
sides of the brain are involved.
The left (logical)* and
The right (artistic)* hemispheres.
Lets see what Tony Buzan says.
(Show Tony Buzan’s Both Sides of the Brain video clip)
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GEMP Learning Excellence
So…We build memory by
THINKING!
To do all this the brain needs…
INTERACTION TIME!
Therefore…
The more we think about the new information
the better the memory we build. This means
going over material we need to learn many
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times in many interesting and different ways.
GEMP Learning Excellence
Short Term Memory *
The brain has a built-in way of
dealing with the results of poor
learning or memory building
• Every 24 to 48 hours it
vacuum cleans unstable memory
into the recycle bin *
•We call this forgetting…*
• That’s why cramming for exams
doesn’t work *
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Deep and Surface Learning
• Deep Learning involves the critical
analysis of new ideas, linking them to
already known concepts and principles.
• Deep Learning leads to understanding
and long term retention of concepts so
they can be used for problem solving in
unfamiliar context.
• Deep learning promotes understanding
and application for life.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Deep and Surface Learning
• Surface Learning is the tacit
acceptance of information and
memorisation as isolated and unlinked
facts.
• Surface learning leads to superficial
retention of material for examinations.
• Surface learning and does nor promote
understanding or long term retention of
knowledge and information.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Deep and Surface Learning
• Both have a place in a well
designed personal learning
strategy.
• BUT Deep Learning should be the
dominant approach.
What are typical characteristics of
Deep and Surface Learning?
• Draw a table with two columns and list
some.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Reading to Understand is Key:
•What do you do when you are looking for
information quickly in a book, or looking
for a telephone number?
•Effective reading requires your eyes to
move a certain way. (Saccadic Eye
Movement). *
•Using a pacer makes eye movements feel
smoother and more definite. Allows you to
to read larger groups of words with their
meaning intact.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Reading to Understand is Key:
• Read in chunks of information, between 1
and 3 sentences at a time, using a pacer
to build good memory.
• How do you eat an elephant?
• Not all at once!
• Read with a positive attitude. Interact
with what you read!
• The Golden Rule: Ask, Answer, Discuss.
• Auditory stimulation dramatically reduces
the chances of mistakes in
understanding.
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Learning Excellence
READING RATE (Decoding speed)
WHY AUTOMATICITY IS IMPORTANT?
• Too fast = miss important information
• Too slow = jeopardises efficient comprehension; effortful;
reduces enjoyment, disjointed words
– bits and pieces in STM; not enough information available
Comprehension is difficult if word-for-word reading
still occurs –90 wpm makes comprehension almost
impossible
Cognitive Linguistic Process
• We are wired to acquire spoken language, but reading and
writing we have to learn
• Reading uses Left Brain Structures not used when we speak
• Reading uses Right Brain Visual (occipital parts of the brain)
and Neuronal Networks must be laid down
• This is how we acquire Automatic Word Recognition so our
reading becomes quicker.
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Learning Excellence
READING RATE (Decoding speed)
What reading speed to aim for?
• First Language English Speakers read complex
academic text at 250 wpm, with understanding
intact.
• First Language English Speakers should be reading
at least 180 / 200 wpm.
• Second Language English Speakers should be
reading at least 140 / 160 wpm.. And more…
How to improve?
Build Up Your Brain’s Processing Capacity
•
•
•
•
More reading leads to automatic word recognition
Use a pacer to move eyes more smoothly over text
Build vocabulary to increase automatic word recognition
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Read, read, read…actively. Use a pacer. Build vocabulary.
Learning Excellence
Understanding depends on building
the specialised vocabulary of your
field!
Look up terms you don’t understand.
Make your own glossary in a pocket
note book & review often.
Website For assessing your academic
vocabulary level:
http://www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r21270/levels/
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Understanding depends on building
the specialised vocabulary of your
field!
Look up terms you don’t understand.
Make your own glossary in a pocket
note book & review often.
Website For assessing your academic
vocabulary level:
http://www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r21270/levels/
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Build up your Medical Terminology
Websites that will help:
http://www.studystack.com/studytable
-60640
http://ec.hku.hk/mt/
http://www.lib.purdue.edu/vetmed/inst
/svmleader/talk101.html
Short Break
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GEMP Learning Excellence
How do you know when you have
internalised knowledge? Through
Understanding. You know you’ve
Understood when….
•You can express knowledge of facts, dates,
concepts
•You can do tasks, demonstrate
•You can reveal insight by answering essential
questions
•You can conclude, decide, justify, predict
•So Practice by teaching / explaining to others! 22
GEMP Learning Excellence
7 Intelligences
What is your
profile?
Einstein
Do you learn using
all your Seven
Intelligences to
harmonise your
right and left
Do profile
brain skills? *
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Learning Excellence
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_
ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questio
ns/choose_lang.cfm
Multiple Intelligences on-line Questionnaire
for Howard Gardiner’s Multiple
Intelligence Profile.
• The 7 Multiple intelligences are:
Linguistic, Logical / Mathematical, Visual /
Spatial, Body / Kinesthetic, Interpersonal
and Intrapersonal.
• See Notes for how to use the site on EISH:
http://eish.health.wits.ac.za
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Learning Excellence
Linguistic Intelligence:
•Dominance means you build memory through words.
•You like using words, word games, reading,
debating, writing stories.
•You learn languages easily. You have a good
memory for names and dates.
•You like to entertain and instruct.
•You learn best by saying, hearing and seeing
words.
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Learning Excellence
Logical/Mathematical Intelligence:
• Dominance means you build memory
through reasoning
• You like numbers, reasoning in a precise
manner & manipulating numbers,
quantities and operations
• You like being disciplined
• You like to experiment and figure things
out.
• You learn best by categorising,
classifying, working with abstract
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patterns/relationships
Learning Excellence
Spatial / Visual Intelligence:
• Dominance means you build memory through
abstract language and imagery.
• You like hands on activities, learn by seeing
and doing.
• You recognise faces but don’t remember names
as well.
• You like to draw. Build, design and create
things
• You like thinking in pictures and visualise details
easily.
• You navigate traffic well, are good at reading
maps.
• You learn best by visualising, using the mind’s
eye, working with colours and pictures.
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Learning Excellence
Musical Intelligence:
•Dominance means you build memory through
rhythm and sound.
•You like music, keeping in time to music,
humming tunes, playing an instrument, composing
music, singing.
•You are good at remembering melodies and
keeping time
•You tap your foot, fingers or pen when working
or learning.
•You learn best by rhythm, melody and music
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Learning Excellence
Kinaesthetic Intelligence:
• Dominance means you build memory through
movement.
• You have good coordination, like to dance,
demonstrate balance, grace and precision in
physical tasks.
• You like to move around, touch and talk and use
body language.
• You like to do things, invent new approaches to
physical skills, to move when thinking.
• You learn best by touching, interacting with
space and processing knowledge through bodily
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sensations.
Learning Excellence
Interpersonal Intelligence:
• Dominance means you build memory
through bouncing ideas off other
people.
• You have natural empathy and need contact
with others.
• You like have friends, talk to people, mediate,
resolve conflicts, mentor, join groups.
• You are good at organising and
communicating.
• You learn best by sharing, comparing,
relating, cooperating and interviewing
(discussing).
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Intrapersonal Intelligence:
•Dominance means you build memory through
introspection and reflection.
•You like solitude, work well independently
and to pursue your won interests.
•You need time alone to reflect for
learning.
•You are good at understanding self,
focusing inwards, following instincts.
•You like empowering & encouraging others.
•You learn best by working alone, having
your own space and self paced instruction.31
GEMP Learning Excellence
Did you know?
Using all your 7 intelligences, through
your dominant ones, promotes your
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EI) describes the
ability, capacity, skill to identify, assess, and
manage the emotions of one's self, of others,
and of groups.
http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl_eq_quiz.htm?
http://www.ihhp.com/quiz.php
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Learning Styles: Felder & Soloman
Active and Reflective Learners
•Active learners tend to retain and understand
information best by doing something active with
it, discussing or applying it or explaining it to
others.
• Reflective learners prefer to think about it
quietly first. (Which multiple intelligence does this link
to?)
•Active learners tend to like group work more
than reflective learners, who prefer working
alone.
Richard Felder’s Learning Styles:
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/I
LSpage.html
and learning styles information
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http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
GEMP Learning Excellence
Everybody is Active sometimes
and Reflective sometimes
Your preference for one category or
the other may be strong, moderate,
or mild. A balance of the two is
desirable.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
How can active learners help
themselves?
• Studying in a group…
• Work with others…
• Find ways to do something with information
so...
How can reflective learners help themselves?
• Not simply reading or memorising the
material, but…
• You might find it helpful to write short
summaries of readings or class notes in your
own words.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Sensing and Intuitive Learners
• Sensing learners tend to like learning facts. They
often like solving problems by well established
methods and dislike complications and surprises
• Intuitive learners often prefer discovering
possibilities and relationships. They like innovation
and dislike repetition.
• Sensors tend to be patient with details and good
at memorising facts and doing hands-on,
laboratory work.
• Intuitors may be better at grasping new concepts
and are often more comfortable than sensors with
abstractions and mathematical formulations.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Everybody is sensing sometimes
and intuitive sometimes.
Your preference for one or the
other may be strong, moderate, or
mild. To be effective as a learner
and problem solver, you need to be
able to function both ways
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GEMP Learning Excellence
How can sensing learners help themselves?
• Sensors remember and understand
information best if they can see how it
connects to the real world.
• Ask for specific examples of concepts and
procedures, and…
How can intuitive learners help themselves?
• If you are an intuitor and you happen to be
in a class that deals primarily with
memorization and rote substitution in
formulas, you may have trouble with
boredom.
• Ask for interpretations or theories that
link the facts, or try to find the
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connections yourself.
GEMP Learning Excellence
Visual and Verbal Learners
• Visual learners remember best what
they see: pictures, diagrams, flow
charts, time lines, films, and
demonstrations.
• Verbal learners get more out of words:
written and spoken explanations.
• Everyone learns more when information
is presented both visually and verbally.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
How can visual learners help
themselves?
• Try to find diagrams, sketches, schematics,
photographs, flow charts, or …
• Prepare a concept map by listing key points,
enclosing them in boxes or circles, and
drawing lines with arrows between concepts
to show connections. Color code…
How can verbal learners help
themselves?
• Write summaries or outlines of course
material in your own words.
• Working in groups is particularly effective40
GEMP Learning Excellence
Sequential and Global Learners
• Sequential learners tend to gain
understanding in linear steps, with each
step following logically from the previous
one. Sequential learners tend to follow
logical stepwise paths in finding solutions
• Global learners tend to learn in large
jumps, absorbing material almost
randomly without seeing connections, and
then suddenly "getting it."
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GEMP Learning Excellence
How can sequential learners help
themselves?
• If you are a sequential learner and you have an instructor who
jumps around from topic to topic or skips steps, you may have
difficulty following and remembering.
• Try to fill in the skipped steps yourself by consulting
references or ask. When you are studying, take the time to
outline the lecture material for yourself in logical order.
How can global learners help themselves?
• If you are a global learner, it can be helpful for you to realize
that you need the big picture of a subject before you can
master details. There are steps you can take.
• Before you begin to study the first section of a chapter in a
text, skim through the entire chapter to get an overview.
Doing so may be time-consuming initially but it may save you
from going over and over individual parts later. Instead of
spending a short time on every subject every night, you might
find it more productive to immerse yourself in individual 42
subjects for large blocks.
GEMP Learning Excellence
There are many tools to aid memory.
Mind Maps and Metacogs® *
Show Tony Buzan video: Maximise Your Potential
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GEMP Learning Excellence
The Metacog® Learning Process
Puts your 7 Intelligences & Personal
Learning Style Preference to work for you
At university they are excellent for taking lecture
notes, researching and preparing for exams.
1.Read to Understand
2.Make the Metacog®
3.Re-Check the Metacog®.
Finding a small group of
co-learners you are
comfortable working
with will add value to
this learning technique.
4.Teach another using the Metacog®
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Making the Metacog®
An excellent way to summarise your
notes…
…so your summaries are not as long as
your notes!
A Visual Organisation of Concepts
Categorised in meaningful organic clusters
A visual ‘movie’ corresponding with thoughts
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Making the Metacog® *
•Read to understand. Look up or ask for clarity.
Only put down on paper what you’ve understood.
•Look for concepts (critical 35%). Don’t highlight,
circle.
•Create the basic mind map structure on blank A3
paper – main topic idea in the centre. Use Print.
•Add main categories as branches touching the
centre. Add sub ideas as sub branches, one concept
per branch or line. Work from left to right and
around clockwise.
•Use colour to classify or enhance organisation.
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GEMP Learning Excellence
Mnemonics are mental methods for
aiding memory.
•Observation, Visualisation & Imagination
are all used in mnemonics to facilitate the
quick assimilation of knowledge.
PEST OF 6
Parietal
Ethmoid
Sphenoid
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal
Show brain mnemonics video clip
http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/09/22episode-72-video-memorize-the-parts-of-the47-brain
GEMP Learning Excellence
Pulling It All Together
And now lets put into practice the
techniques you learned today
Think about your learning strategy
•Red to Understand Deeply
•Write to express your knowledge with
clarity
•Make effective summaries using memory aid
techniques that develop strong long term
memory and give you excellent recall of your
learning! Use all your senses. Manage stress!
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