Revision techniques

Department of German

Dr Tracy Johnson

What should revision do?

1. Check your understanding

2. Make links and connections

3. Remind yourself of forgotten material

4. Reinforce your learning

5. Identify and fill gaps in knowledge

(Cottrell: 2006)

What is effective revision?

Where you interact with the material and

make it meaningful to yourself.

(Cottrell: 2006)

How to revise

• What do you do already?

• Active learning:• Creation not consumption• Involves the whole mind and body• Learn by doing the task• Works on different levels simultaneously

Acquire information• Make sure you understand both the ‘big

picture’ and the ‘core themes’• Use your senses: VAK

• Visual• Auditory• Kinaesthetic

• Proactive methods – create don’t consume!

Search out meaning

• Mind-maps:• Patterns• Relationships• Themes

• Work with others

• Use mock questions to apply ideas

Trigger recall

• Condense information to key terms – ‘pack up’ knowledge

• Mind Maps/diagrams – use of senses

• Mnemonics/Acronyms

• Object-association/Memory ‘Palaces’

• Rehearse recall

Mindful state

• What helps you get in the right state to revise successfully?

• Planned time• Reverse time-line• Breaks and time off• Variety• Maximise concentration

Mindful state• Location:

• Well lit/ventilated/heated• Free from distractions• History of success• Being with the right people

• Well-being:• Sleep• Lack of anxiety – sense of control• Avoid stimulants

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Skills

1. Recall2. Comprehension3. Application4. Analysis5. Synthesis6. Evaluation

Analysis is:

• Being systematic and thorough• Breaking it down into its component parts• Internal analysis – how does the argument

work?• External analysis – contextualise it• Could you explain it to someone else?• A largely objective process• Always asking questions

Criticism is:

• Offering your interpretation

• Weighing up, judging, justifying

• Comparing and contrasting with other sources to evaluate

• Considering a range of perspectives

• Always asking questions

• A largely subjective process

When practising:

• Start by brainstorming

• Then draft an outline plan

• Consider fresh angles

• Think of a range of perspectives

• Time yourself for a full answer

• Write down the timings in the exam

Thank you and good luck!