New brain-based study tips for students up-end old habits

There’s good news for Aussie kids sitting NAPLAN assessments next week: last-minute cramming* is not required.

Recommended study tips have changed after new, evidence-based research suggested changes could be made to help students excel* by considering how the brain works.

Targeted, shorter study sessions, spacing-out topics, and switching between subjects rather than spending hours on only one, are among the new tips from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO).

The new advice was welcomed by Year 10 student Ruby, who manages a busy extra-curricular schedule alongside keeping up with her school work.

“I balance study with sport, work and hobbies such as music,” she said.

“This sometimes makes it hard to find the time to fit in studying into my weekly schedule, meaning the sessions I do get have to be extremely effective.”

AERO CEO Dr Jenny Donovan said that the new tips were grounded in both brain science and teaching strategies finding success in Australian schools.

“Creating a learning-focused environment, setting clear goals with logical steps, and using spaced, varied and repeated practice have been proven to lead to better learning outcomes,” Dr Donovan said.

She said AERO’s new study tips were useful for all stages of schooling, including from late primary school, when children were preparing for high school.

“ … All students can benefit from regularly setting aside small chunks of time for activities that support their learning, for example reading a book or practising times tables to improve speed and accuracy,” she said.

But “cram in a total panic the night before” – a longtime study habit familiar with generations of students – did not make the cut.

“While cramming was the exam preparation norm for a long time, the science does not back it up,” Dr Donovan said.

“When students develop a habit of consistently reviewing and revising throughout the year, their retention* and ability to recall information, such as in an exam, is significantly enhanced.

“When students adopt this approach, preparation for an upcoming test or exam should not look too different to regular study.”

Ruby, a keen netballer who enjoys science and language subjects, saw the study advice as a way to increase productivity and cut time spent on school work.

“I think these tips are definitely helpful for myself and students to study more effectively, as one of the main problems with my studying is the time it takes up, which I know some of my friends have issues with … as well,” she said.

“By using these tips, I think myself and others can learn to be more efficient, greatly decreasing our study time and workload.”

Ruby said tips including working in quiet, uninterrupted places such as her bedroom, a library, or in a quiet place between sporting activities all made sense.

“I like to go over all the content learned by actively remembering it, and writing key notes down if I haven’t already,” she said.

“I also find it extremely helpful to plan out what I am doing in that specific study session and planning ahead using this information for future sessions.”

Dr Donovan said the time spent studying outside of school depended on factors including the student’s year level and subjects.

But she said it was important that students enjoyed a healthy balance between school, study and life.

“If study is preventing them from playing sport, having a casual job if they wish, or socialising with friends and family, they may be trying to do too much,” she said.

“AERO’s research has identified a connection between students’ sense of belonging and their

wellbeing and preparedness to learn. This sense of belonging can be enhanced through taking part in activities with their peers, such as team sports or music clubs.”

WATCH THE VIDEO

POLL

GLOSSARY

• cramming: a short period of intensive study in order to pass an exam
• excel: to be extremely good at something
• retention: the act of keeping, holding, storing or remembering

EXTRA READING

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NAPLAN nerves? Let’s shake it off

Happy kids get higher NAPLAN grades

QUICK QUIZ

1. Name at least three of the new study tips?
2. What traditional study practice did not make the list?
3. What were some of the quiet, uninterrupted places Ruby goes to study?
4. The study tips are useful for students at what stage of schooling?
5. AERO’s research has identified a connection between students’ sense of belonging and what?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Study time
What weekly study schedule might work in your life to help you with learning and revising important lessons, but also gives you time for being active and socialising?

Write out a possible schedule below for a few blocks of time you could fit some study into your week:

Monday –

Tuesday –

Wednesday –

Thursday –

Friday –

Saturday –

Sunday –

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
AERO’s research has identified a connection between students’ sense of belonging and their wellbeing and preparedness to learn.

What helps you with your sense of belonging?

What else could you do to strengthen this?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Exercise the body and the mind
Exercise is not only important for the body, but it’s a lot of fun as well. Let’s bring more exercise into classroom learning by creating a VCOP PE game.

You can add a VCOP challenge to pretty much any game, and it’s a great way to encourage the teacher to let the class play more games.

Here is an example to get you started, then you create one of your own.

VCOP dodgeball
The normal rules of dodgeball apply. Two teams throw soft balls at each other and if you get hit, you have to sit out. The team who knocks out all the players on the other team, wins.

VCOP challenge: when you get eliminated, collect a mini-whiteboard and a basic clause from the sidelines. Up-level the sentence (make it better) by adding VCOP. When you show the teacher your completed sentence, you can return to the game.

Play for a set amount of time and the team with the most players left on the court wins.

Support: use the “Up-Level It” card set – players have to complete one card from the set instead of completing all VCOP challenges.

What can you come up with?