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Successful Learning and

Exam Preparation
Dr Adam Gall
Learning Hub

We’ll start at 3:05pm

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Outline
– The science of learning
– How to focus your study
– How to prepare for exams: when, where, how, with whom
– How to prepare your body and mind for exams

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What influences learning?

Mindset
Motivation Strategy

Type of
Context
knowledge

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What does ‘learning’ mean?

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How does memory work?

‘Every time I learn

something new,
it pushes some old
stuff out of my
brain’- Homer
Simpson

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Types of memory
Short-term
• Sight • Cerebral cortex
• Hearing… • Prefrontal cortex
• hippocampus
Sensory Long-term

Prefrontal
cortex

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MEMORY IS THE RESULT OF

THOUGHT

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Two examples (activating long term memory)

– Haemostasis:

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Establish connections

anaemia Haemophilia

Hemorrhage
Haemostasis
ecstatic

ecstasy

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Memory Aids
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos

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Method of loci
– Think of a place, or a route
you know well.
– Assign each item to a place
along the route (a room)
– To recall, mentally walk
through the scene

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Formulas

?
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How do teachers know you’ve learned?

REMEMBERING UNDERSTANDING APPLYING

Which of the following would
List 5 eye conditions Explain the cause of
be the most appropriate course
viral conjunctivitis
of action for a patient with a
chalazion?
ANALYSING EVALUATING
A man in his early 50s presents to the pharmacy Give a presentation on the
with a bright red eye. The following questions are management of a common
asked, and responses received…What is wrong ailment encountered in
with him? What action are you going to take? community pharmacy.
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How do I know what teachers want from me?

sydney.edu.au/units

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Identify Learning Outcomes

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How were they taught?

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How were they assessed?

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Students who spend

Check your Canvas site! more time on Canvas
tend to obtain higher
grades.
– What type of exam do you have to take?
(take-home, online, etc.)
– What type of questions will it include?
– What learning outcomes will be assessed?
– What learning activities were used to learn
each outcome?
– How was the LO assessed previously?
– Are there any sample questions, activities,
exercises to practice?

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When should I start preparing for exams?

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No such thing as ‘multitasking’

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The earlier, the better

– Reading before the lecture

– Attending and engaging in
lectures
– Note-taking
– Listening to recordings
– Revising weekly
– Joining a study group

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Note-taking: Is the pen mightier than the

keyboard?

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking
Pam A. Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer Psychological Science 2014, Vol. 25(6) 1159 –1168
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Semester planner
LNG FR BIO ENG
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3 Forum entry Assignment 1
Week 4 Quiz Presentation
Week 5
Break
Week 6 Essay Essay
Week 7 Quiz
Week ... Assignment 2
Week 13 Report
EXAM PERIOD FINAL EXAM FINAL EXAM

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Time Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

7am
8am
9am Lecture 3 Lecture 4 • Min. of 6h x 4 of Work
10am Lecture & study (9-12hrs)
11am Tute 1 • Travel time
12pm • Eating
1pm Tute 3 • Grooming
2pm Lecture &
• Exercising
3pm Tute 2 Tute 4
• Socialising
4pm
• Sleeping
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
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Time Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

7am
8am Travel Travel
9am Travel Lecture 3 Lecture 4 Work
10am Lecture &
Tute 1
11am STUDY 1 STUDY 2 Assignment
12pm
and Exam
1pm Lunch Tute 3 Lunch
2pm Lecture & Lunch Tute 4 preparation
3pm Tute 2 STUDY 4 STUDY 3
4pm
5pm Travel Travel Travel
6pm Dinner Dinner Dinner

?
7pm
8pm
9pm
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How to revise
– Learning outcomes
– Headings & Subheadings
– Keywords
– Introduction
– Sections

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What would you do to review…

– definitions? Flashcards
– processes? Flowcharts
– historical events? Timelines
– body parts & functions? Labelling/Tables
– taxonomies (classification)? Tree diagrams
– learning concepts?
Concept map
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goconqr.com

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Test yourself!
• Textbook questions
• Past papers (Library)

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How to prepare for exams

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My Revision Schedule
STUVAC

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My Revision Schedule
STUVAC

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My Revision Schedule
STUVAC

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With whom?
– Individually
– Study Groups:
Google docs Lecture notes
Share resources
Explain out loud
Quiz each other

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Variety is the soul of…good learning?

– Material
– Activity
– Location
– Company
– Timeframe

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How to prepare your body and mind for exams

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In the exam
– Set up your desk with pens, etc.
– Breathe deeply, stretch, visualise a positive outcome

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Mind blanks? Anxiety?

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Visualise and relax!

Remember the Counselling Service information pages:
http://sydney.edu.au/current_students/counselling/get-help/index.shtml

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Online exams
Canvas advice site Live +
Record +

Open book/Take-home:
- short release (≤ 3h)
- extended release (≤ 48h)

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Take the practice test

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Lesson slides

Successful Learning and Exam Preparation

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Further resources

https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41564/pa
ges/learning-and-memory

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Let us know what you think

https://sydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9ztjzg
IStDMGfwq
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