The science of revision: nine ways pupils can revise for exams more effectively

Hello,


This is an interesting piece on revision techniques. Some I agree with wholeheartedly, some I don't.


Either way, it is definitely worth a read when you have a moment. Perhaps you could share your own revision strategies in the comments box?


https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2016/apr/19/students-revise-exams-revision-science


All the best,


Mark

Proposed schedule of classes until the end of the term

Dear all,


Many of you have now passed four of the assessments for the Communication Unit - two x reading assessments, one x discussion and one x presentation. The standard of work has been good overall and in some cases, excellent.


We have four assessments left, which are:

• Two listening assessments - one will be an individual TED presentation and one will be from a TV programme where more than one person speaks, with different viewpoints.
• Two writing assessments - one will be an essay topic of your choosing and the other will be a report integrated with the HIV, Hepatitis B and C brief your lecturer will be giving you. Both of our assessments are 650 words in length and for the report brief I will be giving you a structure to help you extend the version you give me as there are different word counts.

So, this is how I intend to roll the classes out until the end of the session...




Week beginning




6/3 - reflect on presentation assessment, helpnotes on Listening, watching a practice TED presentation and class discussion afterwards.




13/3 - Give out transcript for presentation watched in class, look at questions, watch talk again, work in groups and provide sample answers afterwards (students and lecturer).




20/3 and 27/3 - Listening assessment (TED talk) with generic questions. Please bring laptops in for this session and earphones! You will have time in class to work on the assessment.




EASTER HOLIDAYS (I won't be marking anything over the holidays by the way!)




17/4 - 18th April or 20th April (depending on what class you are in) is the final deadline for the Listening assessment. There will be time in class to complete your answers if you have not finished by this date. You can either e mail me or submit your answers in person, either typed or handwritten.


24/4 - In this session I will go over report writing and essay writing and go over the assessments for both. Essay and report submission no later than week beginning 29th May.




1/5 - watching discussion programme in class, work in groups and look at generic questions. Sample answers given out again.




8/5 and 15/5 - time in class to do the listening assessment.


22/5 and 29/5 - time in class to work on assessments. Listening assessment also to be submitted no later than week beginning 29th May.


 5/6 - first half of class reflecting on the Unit, your experience studying the Communication Unit and what you (we) have all learned from the experience. Second half of class will be for any remediation necessary.


12/6 - final class for any student who has work not completed at this time.


I will, as always, make sure that all students know which assessments have been passed before the final few classes and what work (if any) needs to be remediated, completed etc.


I hope that this schedule helps you all.


Mark

Sixth and final round of oral presentations!

Well done to the six presenters this morning who all passed their speaking assessment.


We had lots of detailed and interesting feedback afterwards and we all felt we had learnt a great deal from the session.


Today's subjects for delivery were: Trauma Nursing, Strokes, HIV, Euthanasia, Public Access Defibrillators, Huntington's Disease.


If today's presenters could add some reflections in the comments box, that would be great, thank you.


Mark

Final week of talks, Tuesday thoughts

Today saw the final round of talks for the Tuesday class and again, the topics were varied: brain injury awareness, breast cancer, cervical cancer, prescription drugs (addiction), Autism Awareness and Lung Cancer.


Well done to the six presenters in attendance who provided the audience with lots of information.


As I have requested each week, I would like all the presenters today to reflect in the comments section below.


Mark

Week two, part Deux!

Well done to the six students who successfully navigated their assessed talks this morning.


The subjects were again varied and stimulated lots of discussion and questions. The topics today were: Fad Diets / Nutrition, Health Anxiety, Korsakoff's Syndrome, Depression, Crohn's Disease and Alcoholism.


As I have requested each week, it would be great to hear from the presenters today to share their own thoughts on today's presentation session in the comments section below.


Well done all.


Mark

Week 2 presentation precis!

Today I listened to six fine presentations on a wide range of subjects.


The topics chosen for research were: Mental Health, Medical Micropigmentation, Evolution of Nursing, Obesity and the Cost to the NHS, Holistic Therapies and Coronary Heart Disease / Heart Attacks.


All presenters were extremely well prepared and had lots of recent information to hand which was great.


The feedback session for this one was interesting, as arguably two of the presenters were TOO critical of their own performances. They didn't need to be though, as they performed very well indeed.


I was impressed with the students who had just come from their interview for Uni. I know this can be a stressful time, so it is worth noting how well those students coped.


For those in attendance today, please drop a line below about what you thought about today's performance once you have processed the deliveries and the feedback.


Mark

Round 2 Presentation Summary

Today was the first round of presentations for the Thursday class and I listened to seven very solid talks. The subject area was varied and I learned a great deal from all the students.


Today's subject areas were: ADHD, Addictions, Surgical Site Infections, Atrial Fibrillation, E Coli, Eating Disorders and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS).


I was impressed with the work put into these talks and crucially, they were all structured sensibly.


As per the Tuesday session, I asked all presenters to reflect on their own performance which enabled me to pick up on some of the comments made.


I now ask that those taking part reflect on their performances in the comment section below and perhaps you could add what you learned from the experience today.


Well done to all learners and it was really nice to see Lisa S today to brighten up the day!


Mark