Oh right. I used the Leitner system for revising AS psychology - was absolutely amazing and ended up getting 100% on both papers, but it's so so so time consuming I couldn't really justify doing it for my other subjects. Not really used the Cornell for school because I never really took that many notes - my friend recommended it to me though so that's how I know about it.
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Sorry I missed this reply. They're just ridiculously complex 'systems' for productivity in studying and revision and stuff, I was being half-flippant in mentioning them really.
What are these systems? Am I missing out on something?
What are these systems? Am I missing out on something?
Cornell is something I have nearly zero experience with, but basically it's a system of taking notes (either in class/lectures or from a book) which mean it's easier to revise/review/study them after the fact, and it saves you 'copying up notes' which apparently is useless. If you google image search 'Cornell note taking system' you should get a picture of how you divide up the page, but basically you split it into 3 bits. The largest bit you do your notes as normal, and then the other 2 bits are for things that make the review more effective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes
The Leitner system is something I have a years worth of experience with and imo it is the best thing since sliced bread (as I say, it practically destroyed my psychology AS exams). It takes up a lot of time, but implicitly the more time spent on quality study = the better your understanding and by extension, the better your exam results. It was created by a German chap and is based upon something called 'spaced repetition'. You can read about it on wikipedia here (but ignore 'example 2', I used example 1) - it's based around the philosophy that the more often you review 'difficult' things, the easier they are to remember. When they become easier, you no longer review them as often. Studies have shown it to be v. v. v. effective. Definitely have a little look if you're intrigued! If you have any questions let me know because as I say, this is something I've used so I could lend a hand.
As long as I can borrow freely from you come September, we're even.
I don't think we're allowed to be wasters in any year though. Unless you can manage it without slipping up - not too much anyway.
Haha go for it, best bring stuff back though. I'm alowed to be a waster this year! I have no exams and an unconditional so looks like I will spend the rest of the year drinking
Haha go for it, best bring stuff back though. I'm alowed to be a waster this year! I have no exams and an unconditional so looks like I will spend the rest of the year drinking
Oh! You mean this year? Do your worst in that case.
I've applied for deferred entry, so if I get in, or have to reapply next year I'll be on a gap year whatever. I'm gonna be living in a retreat centre and working monday-friday, including evenings, so I'll only have weekends/holidays free. However, I plan on just reading through some popular science type books that interest me? I've bought 'The Selfish Gene' by Richard Dawkins and 'On The Origin of Species' which I think will be interesting, but I've just not got the time to read now. So I'm planning on reading stuff like that. Also LOTS of fiction books. I intend to TRY and read something like Les Mis or War and Peace, which shall be hard but oh well
I also plan on watching House/Scrubs from season 1 to the end YAY for medical dramas!!
Cornell is something I have nearly zero experience with, but basically it's a system of taking notes (either in class/lectures or from a book) which mean it's easier to revise/review/study them after the fact, and it saves you 'copying up notes' which apparently is useless. If you google image search 'Cornell note taking system' you should get a picture of how you divide up the page, but basically you split it into 3 bits. The largest bit you do your notes as normal, and then the other 2 bits are for things that make the review more effective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes
The Leitner system is something I have a years worth of experience with and imo it is the best thing since sliced bread (as I say, it practically destroyed my psychology AS exams). It takes up a lot of time, but implicitly the more time spent on quality study = the better your understanding and by extension, the better your exam results. It was created by a German chap and is based upon something called 'spaced repetition'. You can read about it on wikipedia here (but ignore 'example 2', I used example 1) - it's based around the philosophy that the more often you review 'difficult' things, the easier they are to remember. When they become easier, you no longer review them as often. Studies have shown it to be v. v. v. effective. Definitely have a little look if you're intrigued! If you have any questions let me know because as I say, this is something I've used so I could lend a hand.
Which comprises of memorising 15 studies?
All those methods essentially do is make shorter notes, which you are more likely to read, and reading stuff makes you learn stuff. Not rocket science.
All those methods essentially do is make shorter notes, which you are more likely to read, and reading stuff makes you learn stuff. Not rocket science.
Belittle it all you want, but it works. And you know there's more (at least to Leitner, don't really know about Cornell) than "making short notes" - if you don't use them, then fine, but then I'm not sure how you can make scalding judgements like that.
P.S. Just "reading notes" actually doesn't make you learn stuff. If you are one of the people that can just read and absorb, then lucky you!
Belittle it all you want, but it works. And you know there's more (at least to Leitner, don't really know about Cornell) than "making short notes" - if you don't use them, then fine, but then I'm not sure how you can make scalding judgements like that.
P.S. Just "reading notes" actually doesn't make you learn stuff. If you are one of the people that can just read and absorb, then lucky you!
Whilst I have no experience with either of these methods, I'm a little sceptical as to whether it's feasible to use the Leitner method considering the depth and breadth of some subjects - I could imagine how time consuming it would be! I suppose you'll find out if it's effective shortly after starting...
I do like the sound of the Cornell method, especially for lectures.
I could imagine how time consuming it would be! I suppose you'll find out if it's effective shortly after starting...
Indeed. It's generally easier to start it off when commencing a course rather than half way through as it makes the initial volume to learn significantly less. From then on in, the point is that it decreases time spent studying as one only studies the things that one has difficulty with - rather than studying everything, if you see what I mean. I started it half way through my first AS term for psychology and the volume I needed to classify/copy up onto index cards was ridiculous, but after this initial period of intense studying I worked maybe 1 hour a week on psychology (outside of lessons) for the rest of the year. The vast majority of this time was spent creating new index cards for new content, with the rest of the time spent 'reviewing' index cards in the later groups of the Leitner box.
I'm gonna use it at least for a handful of modules when I start in the fall and see how it copes with medical school volume (breadth doesn't really interfere with the system) - the biggest difficulty is that I need to pick realistic time frames for the spaced repetition aspect of the system - I'm not really sure of it yet, that's something I need to figure out once I actually have stuff to learn.
I really regret not using it for A2 - after my AS exams I completely burnt out and the last thing I wanted to think about was the new school year, and I remembered the system in about December of A2 year - far too late to implement it. A shame really!
Indeed. It's generally easier to start it off when commencing a course rather than half way through as it makes the initial volume to learn significantly less. From then on in, the point is that it decreases time spent studying as one only studies the things that one has difficulty with - rather than studying everything, if you see what I mean. I started it half way through my first AS term for psychology and the volume I needed to classify/copy up onto index cards was ridiculous, but after this initial period of intense studying I worked maybe 1 hour a week on psychology (outside of lessons) for the rest of the year. The vast majority of this time was spent creating new index cards for new content, with the rest of the time spent 'reviewing' index cards in the later groups of the Leitner box.
I'm gonna use it at least for a handful of modules when I start in the fall and see how it copes with medical school volume (breadth doesn't really interfere with the system) - the biggest difficulty is that I need to pick realistic time frames for the spaced repetition aspect of the system - I'm not really sure of it yet, that's something I need to figure out once I actually have stuff to learn.
I really regret not using it for A2 - after my AS exams I completely burnt out and the last thing I wanted to think about was the new school year, and I remembered the system in about December of A2 year - far too late to implement it. A shame really!
I do see the potential to save time. For someone who has never tried this system, it does seem like a significant risk to take if you plan to stick to it for the whole year.
My fear of this could be likened to your fear of PBL
I do see the potential to save time. For someone who has never tried this system, it does seem like a significant risk to take if you plan to stick to it for the whole year.
My fear of this could be likened to your fear of PBL
I'm planning on doing it little and often, I think. However I may change my mind once at medical school!!!
I do see the potential to save time. For someone who has never tried this system, it does seem like a significant risk to take if you plan to stick to it for the whole year.
My fear of this could be likened to your fear of PBL
You do it alongside whatever system you're planning to do anyway (well, not system, method - you know what I mean!) - then if it doesn't work just drop it. I'm still going to make notes in lectures and do all that kind of traditional stuff, just use this system alongside to (hopefully) cement my knowledge a bit more. This time next year I'll let you know if it's all just a load of codswallop or if it actually works!