From the Acting Leader of Learning

Study Skills

On Monday of Week 1, all students participated in study skills workshops run by Elevate. The presenters were all young university students who’d both recently and successfully conquered their high school studies. Students had the chance to receive the presenters’ advice and best research-backed recommendations on a range of study skills, including memory, time management, organisation and examination preparation and management. 

There was once again an overwhelmingly positive response from MSCW students, as can be seen in the graphic below with the high percentages of students who said they’d recommend their workshop to peers. In addition, 95-99% of all cohort groups expressed that they felt the seminar was time well spent. In the workshops and the time since, students have also shared connections to their My Marist Compass Goals for the year, showing the meaningfulness and interconnectedness of all their work during ‘O Week’.

It is important that students continue to refer back to these workshops and the relevant skills to make them transferable into the contexts of their subjects this year. 

All students will now have access to the Elevate Student Portal at au.elevateeducation.com, with resources such as practice questions, presenter tips and a copy of the study guide ‘The Science of Student Success’. The password to login is rondo and allows immediate access to premium resources. 

For parents and family members, we recommend that you consider asking students about applying skills from these workshops as they prepare for assessments this year.

In the follow up from these sessions, it is vital that students establish a homework and study routine for after school and apply the skills they learned in their Elevate workshops.

Has your daughter created a study timetable and placed it on the fridge?

Reflection Questions that Might Start A Conversation At Home

How much learning should students be doing each night?

The general guidelines are that Junior students should be doing around one hour of self-learning most nights, Senior students between two to three hours most nights.

But what if my daughter says she has no homework?

In primary school, students are used to just doing the work their teacher specifically tells them to do. Many students do not realise that things should be different in secondary school; there are two types of learning students should be doing:

• The first is compulsory work such as homework, assignments and preparing for tests. 
• The second type of work is independent learning work. 

If students have no homework that night, they are expected to undertake independent learning in secondary school. This could be reviewing what they have learnt that week, making a mind map, reading ahead, researching an area of interest, making study notes or reviewing complex concepts.

Can you listen to music while studying?

The general rule is that if students are undertaking learning that is not difficult, it is OK to listen to music. It makes them feel relaxed and makes them feel like the time is going quicker. However, if they are doing work that requires intense concentration or memorisation, it is best to switch the music off (or else have slower music with no vocals such as classical music). Otherwise, it will take them much longer to absorb and learn the information.

Is it OK for my daughter to do work with devices or in front of the TV?

Unless students are doing something mindless like sticking things on a poster or colouring in, it is best not to do work in front of any devices such as phones or TV. Instead, students should do their home learning in an environment that is as distraction-free as possible. It works well if students do their learning in distinct blocks of time and remove all distractions during those blocks. Some students find they have the self-discipline to manage technological distractions; others need a helping hand – such as their phone in a different room for the half-hour period where they are focusing on schoolwork.

How do I stop my daughter from getting distracted when working on the computer?

Have a discussion with students about doing schoolwork in focused blocks of time so that they can really enjoy their time away from the books (or computer). If students find it challenging to be disciplined, they can also look at self-blocking software such as Self Control (MAC). If students are still struggling, parental management programs such as Family Zone allow families to block particular sites at particular times.

Parents and students can learn more about studying efficiently and effectively by working through the ELES Study Skills Site units. You can find the site via:

COMPASS Portal (Open in Browser) > Star Icon > ELES Handbook

Elevate is also offering a series of webinars to give parents and family the opportunity to help support children at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school. You may find further information and register at:  https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars