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Advice from the experts

Prepare now to study abroad in 2020

Matrics who want to study in the United States and United Kingdom next year need to start preparing for their applications now. According to a study conducted by the Institute of International Education, 90% of employers believe that students with international accreditation possess desirable traits and skills, such as maturity, superior communication skills, flexibility, cross-cultural awareness and independence. “When it comes to applying to study in the US or UK you should ideally give your application an 18-month lead time,” says Rebecca Pretorius, Country Manager for Crimson Education. The global company offers a plan of assistance and mentorship to students who wish to gain admission into top-ranked universities. “Matrics still have a chance of gaining admission, but they haven’t left much room for error.” On top of juggling Grade 12, making decisions on future careers and universities and managing deadlines, the application process for studying abroad takes up a lot of time. “With high expectations and low acceptance rates, applications can’t be left to the night before,” says Pretorius. “While applications for international universities open in October, you need to plan well in advance to make sure that you’ve got all the areas of your application covered, not just academics. The earlier you start preparing, the better”. Pretorius breaks down the admissions roadmap for US/UK admissions in 2020,for those who haven’t started yet: May 2019 to September 2019 – Familiarise yourself with the application process and the universities you want to apply to. You should have a good idea of the various financing, accommodation and deadline requirements for each of your shortlisted universities. June 2019 to December 2019 – Start preparing for the required admission tests like the Scholastic Aptitude Test, more commonly known as the SAT, for the US, this is throughout the year. Programme and / or university admission tests for the UK run from July to October. July 2019 to September 2019 – Prepare for October/November applications. Contact teachers and counsellors for reference letters. Give yourself enough time to write, edit and proofread your application and essays before sending them through. November 2019 to January 2020 – Prepare for personal/video interviews which take place between January and March. You should start hearing back from universities during this time. Make your decision as soon as possible. May 2020 to July 2020 – Search for possible scholarships and student loan options if necessary. Gather your paperwork for a student visa and apply as soon as you can. July 2020 to August 2020 – Book your flights, arrange for an international debit/credit card and photocopy all important documentation before you set off! Pretorius and her South African team regularly host information evenings for parents and learners interested in studying overseas. For more information, visit www.crimsoneducation.org, email [email protected]. or join the Crimson Education Facebook community.

June 6, 2019

Tutors – Trend or Necessity?

Children these days are expected to perform in every aspect of their lives from a very young age. Academic pressure has definitely increased and with many moms working and not always being available to help with test preparation and homework, the logical option is to appoint a tutor. StudyChamp spoke to Tracy Hoyer, a tutor from Pretoria on all the pitfalls and pleasures of helping children (and parents) to take the agony out of homework and test preparations. About Tracy Tracy is a qualified teacher and taught for eight years. While teaching she was continuously asked by parents if she knew any tutors who could help their kids. She quickly realised that there was a huge demand. That was four years ago. Today she runs a successful tutoring business with clients from all over Pretoria. SC: What are the benefits of a tutor? TH: Many parents work full-time and don’t always have the time (nor the energy) to sit with their children and tackle the massive work load that they come home with. They often end up fighting with the children and it is unpleasant for the whole family. This is where a tutor comes in. I help children with homework, classwork and test preparation. I take the pressure off the parents, and the children are happy to learn more. SC: What should one look for in a tutor? TH: It all depends on what type of assistance you are looking for. I do mostly one-on-one tutoring and honestly prefer this type of tutoring as children work at different paces. Questions that you should ask are: How many children are there in a session? Does the tutor do work customised specifically for your child or is it general work? What experience does the tutor have? Are they qualified teachers with previous knowledge on the specific subject your child needs help with? Tutors need to be able to help the child without having preparation time. Children arrive at my lessons and say “Ma’am I have a test next week on exponents.” And I need to be able to help them right there and then. SC: Extra lessons vs Tutoring? TH: I view extra lessons as something the class teacher would maybe give a few kids after school or during break time. Tutoring for me however is more individualised and specialised for the learner. SC: Is tutoring only for struggling students? TH: Definitely not! I have 90% achievers coming to me for lessons. Firstly they enjoy the lessons, but more importantly they want to keep on achieving excellent results. I have to make sure though that these learners don’t get bored, so I often give them work of a much higher standard than what is expected of them. My learners range from the 40% achievers striving for their 50/60% all the way through to the 80/90% aiming to keep their results at the top. SC: Should parents be involved in the tutoring process? TH: Parental involvement is crucial to tutoring being a success. Firstly, as a tutor I need to be aware of any areas of concern that needs to be worked on, as well as being kept in the loop about what is happening with classwork, tests, assignments etc. It is very frustrating if parents do not communicate, because as a teacher I know that tests count quite a lot towards the term mark. I always say tutoring cannot be a success by itself. I can only do as much as I can in the short amount of time I see a child. The child and parents still need to put in effort at home when it comes to tests and exams. The child must also pay attention in class and have a good attitude, otherwise there will not be a significant improvement. SC: What resources do you use? TH: In the past, I always had to make my own worksheets and tests for my learners, but recently I was introduced to StudyChamp. What a breath of fresh air this website is! It has made my job a hundred times easier. There is something for all my learners, all the grades and all the subjects. It is so applicable to what my children are doing in class, I am blown away every time I download a workbook or test. I have also introduced StudyChamp to my learners’ parents and they are also loving being able to do extra work with their children at home. If you are in need of a tutor in the Pretoria East Area: ContactTracy HoyerfromTracy’s Tutoring [https://www.facebook.com/tracystutoring427/] in Lynnwood Glen. She teaches Grade 4-7s in all the subjects. Contact Ingrid Stokes from Growing minds [https://www.facebook.com/growingmindseducation/]. She teaches Grade 4-7s in all the subjects.

May 15, 2019

Never do tomorrow what you can do today…

“Or is this always true?” asks many a procrastinator. Most children, especially teenagers have mastered the art of procrastinating – a big word for putting off everything that seems like work and rather spending time on electronic devices. According to Tim Pychyl, a Procrastinating Researcher at Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada, it is quite simple: People procrastinate to do tasks that they find aversive. Tasks are generally considered aversive if they are: Boring or mundane Children will usually find tasks boring if it is below their level of skill or not challenging enough. Frustrating A child with poor fine motor skills who for example have to lace small beads on a string will most probably resist. Difficult Just as tasks should not be below a child’s level of skill, it should also not be too difficult. “Fear of Failure” is a powerful form of procrastination. “I will rather not start than show you that I cannot do it.” Not interesting or fall within their specific interests Children have different talents and we all like doing the things that we like and are good at. A child will happily prepare for the exams for a subject that they find interesting, but will avoid the subjects they don’t like. Unstructured This one is for the teachers and parents. Children thrive in structured environments where they feel secure. They are therefore more likely to complete tasks that are well structured. Having said all of this, we all know that unfortunately, some tasks just need to be done, whether you find them boring, too difficult or are not interested in them. Studying for exams comes to mind… Don’t despair. Here’s a few tips that you can use to help your children (and yourselves) to “grab the bull by the horns” and get it done. 1. Just start The most important thing is to start. No wonder Nike chose ‘just do it’ as their payoff line. A child that is not willing to start studying will do anything to delay the start, from cleaning their own rooms to sharpening pencils … A good rule to help your child start is to select the task that takes the least time to complete. If your child for instance has to write an essay on Global Warming (boring!) and have ten math sums to complete, rather start with the math. Completing a task gives a sense of achievement. “When you start entertaining thoughts such as: ‘I’ll feel more like doing this tomorrow,’ ‘I work better under pressure,’ ‘There’s lots of time left,’ I can do this in a few hours tonight’, let that be a flag or signal or stimulus to indicate that you are about to needlessly delay the task, and let it also be the stimulus to just get started.” David Allen “Getting things done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity” 2. Turn a boring task into a little competition or game Practising mental math, for example, can be boring for someone who only likes to do problem solving. Compete against your child to make it fun. For example: How many times tables sums can be done correctly in two minutes? 3. Break challenging tasks into smaller chunks That essay on Global Warming is quite challenging as it involves research, drafts, searching for images, actually writing or typing it and making a list of references. If you break this one task into five more doable tasks, it will not seem that daunting. For this method to be successful though, you have to start in advance and then complete only one or two of these tasks per day. 4. Make a “To-Do” list Ticking off a task that has been completed gives an enormous sense of achievement. With exams approaching, the “To-Do” list will be the study schedule, with small tasks for every day, that can be ticked off. 5. Remove all distractions Nothing distracts from a task at hand as interruptions. We are all guilty – checking the phone every time it peeps, constantly checking new emails, having the TV on in the background and the list goes on … Allow breaks after every 20 minutes for “distractions”, but be careful to break for too long. After a ten-minute break the enormity of the task at hand will return and the vicious cycle of procrastination will start again. It is true that some of us work better under pressure (i.e. an excuse for procrastination), but if a child understands the value of tackling tasks head-on early in their lives, they will be saved from many stressful hours meeting deadlines later in life. So, before you put off another task – remember what Anthony Robbins said: “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” Information adapted from: http://alifeofproductivity.com/why-you-procrastinate-10-tactics-to-help-you-stop/

May 7, 2019

Helping your child prepare for exams

Start early, make a schedule, get enough exercise (and sleep!) and review past papers. These are all great tips to prepare your child for writing exams. But sadly these are most of the time only applicable in theory. As a mother of two sport-crazy boys, I’ve learnt that preparing your children for exams and assessments require far more. Because writing exams are by default stressful, I’ve decided to share a few techniques and great apps to help you and your kids study smarter and to take the stress out of writing exams. Many studies have proven that, especially for younger children, formal assessments are stressful and the results are not necessarily a fair reflection of the child’s understanding of the work. While starting early and drafting exam schedules sound like great techniques, in reality it can become quite tricky to implement with young, not-so-eager-to-study kids who would rather play xBox, sport or even clean their rooms than actually sit and study. So let’s make it more practical: How should a child actually study? If this is your child’s first exam, he or she will need guidance, but sometimes an older child, who has written many exams, may benefit from a new approach. These are some ideas to make studying easier for you and your child. Encourage your children to use as many of their senses as possible when studying to ensure maximum retention: Read through all the pages allocated for that day’s studying – preferably out loud. If you child is an auditory learner, let him or her record themselves while reading the text. This exercise of reading with meaning is crucial as it helps to give a bigger picture of the topic that has to be studied. Not all children study with notes, but it is definitely advisable to encourage your child to make notes in some form or another. Some children make lists, some make mind maps, some may write down only key words. Children making notes for the first time will need help as they tend to write down everything at first. Something that I found worked very well is helping your first-time-note-maker by writing simple questions which they then must answer by searching for answers in the text. These questions and answers can then be used as notes to study from. Just beware of the ‘perfect-notes’ trap. Do not spend so much time making perfect notes that there is no time left to actually study the notes! Allow your child enough time to memorise and understand the notes just made. It should take an average Grade 4 child about 30-45 minutes to memorise one page of notes (which should represent about 3 to 4 pages in their books). Break this into two 20/25 min sessions with a 10 min break in between. Test retention immediately, if possible. Up to Grade 7 your child will definitely benefit if you are available to take a few minutes after a day of studying to check if they have retained the information studied. This will give you an indication if the study time was spent productively or not, and also if the study load (as set out in the schedule) is too little or too much for your child. The day before the exam, study only from the notes or listen to the recordings of your notes. Then do a past paper or mock exam paper to highlight any areas that still need attention. Super study schedules A schedule is an important part of exam preparation as it gives you a complete overview of exactly what needs to be done and how much time you have left. A schedule also give you a sense of accomplishments when you are able to draw a line through a day and know that you have achieved your goal. Your help will be needed with compiling the schedule, maybe even for your older child. Planning is an advanced skill that some children only learn a lot later in life. A few tips and ideas on schedules: Start by studying the subjects first that you write last in the exam. Effectively this means that at least your child would have gone over the work he or she writes at the end of the exam, when they would not be that eager to study anymore. Schedule time to makes notes and to study the notes. It is advisable to only make the notes for the topic or pages allocated for that day and then to study those notes. If possible, break each subject into topics and study a topic in a session. This will give a more coherent picture and understanding of the work. Do not over-estimate your child’s ability to study a lot of work in a short period. Rather allow for more time and more breaks than you think are necessary. Remember that normal school activities like sport and cultural activities will continue and should be factored into the schedule. The schedule should be updated and amended when necessary. The schedule should end two days before the exams start. The day before, only the subject/s written the next day should be revised. Download these brilliant apps to help you set up a schedule: My Study Life This app provides a complete schedule and calendar solution and has a separate section where exams can be scheduled. It is relatively easy to use and reminders can be activated or de-activated for classes, exams or tasks. 30/30 30/30 allows you to set timers to complete specific tasks. The interface is sharp and innovative, allowing users to control the app easily with swipes and gestures. 30/30 Can also give you a better understanding of how long it really takes to do certain things. This is less of an exam planner and more of a timer that ensures you do not spend more time than planned on a specific task. myHomework myHomework is simple, reliable and works even without an Internet connection. Like the other apps, you can set tasks

May 2, 2019

MATRICS: USE THE NEXT 6 WEEKS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR STUDY SUCCESS

University choices may feel like a distant priority for this year’s Matrics who are currently settling into the rhythm of their final year at school. But now is, in fact, the optimal time to be investigating what they want to study and where, because making the right choice takes time, and will ultimately impact on study success and employability 4 years from now, an expert says. “Prospective students will start applying from around the April holidays onwards, whereafter the applications will start coming in thick and fast, and the rush to secure a place will intensify. Once your fellow learners start applying, you will really start to feel the pressure to do so as well, which could lead to you settling for a generic qualification or taking the traditional route that others in the same boat as you are following just to make sure you don’t miss your chance,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution. “The gravity of the choice you need to make about your future in coming weeks can’t be overstated. The right study choice at the right institution is a solid foundation for future success, but the wrong choice can exact a costly financial and emotional toll for a long time. It, therefore, makes sense to use the relative calm of the coming weeks – a calm that will not again be repeated in your Matric year – to make absolutely sure about what you want to do next year,” says Payne. She says there are two main questions around which Matrics should focus their investigations: 1) What should I study and 2) Where should I study. 1) WHAT SHOULD I STUDY? “If you have more or less of an idea of your strengths and ideal work, that’s a great start,” notes Payne. “However many people have no idea of what they want to do with their life after school. These learners should start by investigating potential careers that interest them, and importantly, investigate the demand for suitably qualified professionals in these fields.” Payne advises Matrics to scour job advertisements, see which positions excite them and devour any media they can lay their hands on to get an idea of the kinds of careers that are out there. “Remember that new careers exist today that are vastly different from the careers of the past, and you may even land upon something you’ve never heard of before. Once you’ve identified your ideal career, you should then investigate what you would need to study to do the kind of work that excites you.” A major consideration is whether to opt for a traditional academic degree or a work-focused one, says Payne. “In our tough job market, the closer a degree is aligned to the realities of the world of work, and the greater a qualification’s ability to make you land on your feet from the first day on the job, the better your chances of success. So ask institutions about their lecturers and curricula – are they still involved in their profession beyond teaching, and does the institution have close ties with companies and industry professionals? “The days of academic ivory towers disconnected from the demands and requirements of the real world are numbered, and prospective students must endeavour to find an institution that understands and responds to what is needed in today’s workplaces.” 2) WHERE SHOULD I STUDY? With South Africa’s 26 public universities and countless private higher education institutions, prospective students have their work cut out for them in determining where their goals and ambitions would be best realised. Because if an institution is registered and accredited, its qualifications will be valid and recognised in the workplace, regardless of whether they originate from a private institution or a state-funded one. But there are other important issues to consider. These include proximity to where one currently lives, class sizes, student support and career guidance services, and the degree to which the curriculum is aligned and able to adapt to modern workplaces. “Opting for a uni closer to home means savings on the financial front, as well as proximity to your existing support structures which can be helpful when the going gets tough,” says Payne. “Large class sizes can make you feel invisible and like a number, while smaller class sizes mean more attention and a greater feeling of belonging. Getting real-life work experience and assignments prepare you for the workplace in a way theory only can never do, while student support services can make a crucial difference in your success. “Make sure you get satisfactory feedback on all these issues before signing up with an institution,” she says. Payne says making the right choice, based on thorough research and investigation of all options, has a huge role to play in student outcomes. “Many students drop out of their first year because they made their study choice under pressure, or because they realise after a few weeks or months that there are other qualifications more suited to their aspirations. Some only get exposed to interesting fields and other higher education institutions once they leave school and are already studying – a situation that can be avoided if proper time and attention is given now to exploring what’s out there. “We urge teachers, parents and guardians too, in coming weeks, guide the young people in their care to enable them to make informed choices calmly and with clarity. This will allow learners to put the anxiety of their 2020 plans behind them, and focus fully on doing their best in the important series of exams that lie ahead this year.”

March 8, 2019

GREAT RESULTS, NO UNI: STUDY OPTIONS IF YOU PERFORMED BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Many Matrics from the Class of 2018 currently find themselves in the fortunate position of having performed better than anticipated in their National Senior Certificate examination, achieving a Bachelor’s pass and qualifying for higher education access. But while they are now in a position to apply for further study, these prospective students need to ensure they do their homework before signing up with institutions still accepting applications for study in 2019, an expert says. “In particular, parents and Matriculants must ensure they don’t fall prey to institutions that are either not registered and accredited, or whose qualifications are not recognised,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution. “The good news however, is that there are still exciting study options available, particularly in the private sector, where good institutions have a strong focus on work-ready programmes,” she says. Payne says now is also a good time for even those prospective students already accepted into a programme, to consider whether they have chosen the right study path. If there are any doubts, they should have another look at available options rather than adopting a potentially expensive wait-and-see approach in their first year. “This coming month provides an opportunity for prospective students to investigate all their options and sign up for a quality qualification with an accredited institution, whether they left it too late, or performed better than envisioned. And those who have already signed up, should honestly assess whether they are excited about the degree on which they will soon embark, as well as the institution they will attend. “It is better to change course now, before spending time and money trying to make the wrong thing work, and becoming part of SA’s high first year dropout statistics,” says Payne. “Make sure that you are studying for the right reasons, and that your qualification will provide clear access to a specific career, whether it be a professional qualification such as accounting, law or teaching, or in a new exciting career path such as brand management, digital marketing, network engineering, game design and development, and application and cloud development. Don’t just apply for any degree at any institution for the sake of earning a qualification,” she says. Payne says South Africa’s single quality assurance system and one National Qualifications Framework means that any institution offering a registered and accredited qualification – whether public or private – is offering a qualification of equal standing. She says all registered and accredited higher education institutions – whether they be public universities or private – are registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). They are only registered if they have been accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). “To look up a qualification on the NQF, search for it on the SAQA website, or ask the institution for its SAQA identity number, which should be readily available. If the institution is recognised by the DHET and the programme is listed on the NQF, prospective students and their parents can be confident about the bona fides of any qualification they want to pursue,” says Payne. She says that as the world of work changes and evolves, new programmes are constantly developed in response to workplace demands. “This means there will regularly be new and more exciting options on offer compared to the past, and potentially fields of qualification that are more aligned with the career aspirations of prospective students. However, it is imperative that one does one’s homework carefully, because unscrupulous operators have become increasingly sophisticated in their methodology. Fraudsters are making the most of the often hard-to-understand language related to legitimate private higher education, which means that they are able to present offers that appear legitimate, but are not. “It is good to have more choices, but make sure you make smart decisions,” says Payne.

February 10, 2019

Exam tips for first-timers

If your child is in Grade 4, she may have been exposed to class and term tests since the start of the year. But the idea of writing examinations for the first time can be daunting. Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to help her prepare. Get organised The first thing to focus on is creating a dedicated study space. There should be no distractions, and everything your child may need – coloured pens, paper, note cards – should be on hand. It is also important to work out a studying schedule. It may seem unnecessary for such young children, but it is important that they learn to plan and manage their time early on. Print out the schedule and put it up in the study area – give her stickers to help count down and tick off milestones as she achieves them. When drawing up the schedule, keep in mind that studying large chunks of information can be overwhelming. To digest it more easily, encourage your child to break the work into bite-sized pieces. 25 minutes of studying followed by a five-minute break works well for younger children. Consider her learning style Children learn in diverse ways, and now would be a good time to determine your child’s learning style. Auditory learners learn best by hearing information and processing it by repeating it aloud. These children usually talk non-stop, know all the words to songs and prefer movies to books. They often find that reciting key points out loud is a helpful way to process and store information. Exam tip: Speed up the learning process by recording information, then let your child listen to it while following it in her book. Visual learners notice everything, prefer reading and absorb information best by seeing it. They like books and puzzles and will write things down to remember them. If your child is a visual learner, she will likely learn best using notes and summaries. Exam tip: Try flash cards to help her memorise key points. Kinaesthetic learners grasp things best by touching or experiencing it and prefer participating in activities and performing tasks. They are often regarded as a hyperactive, are usually good at sports, and prefer sitting on the floor or bed while studying instead of at a desk. Exam tip: Let her sit on a gym ball instead of a chair while studying. Prepare using actual exams It is important to make sure that your child understands the exam format of each subject. So, look at old tests or exams (ask her teacher or look online) and explain what is required in each section, look at the mark allocation for each question, and discuss ways to approach the exam paper on the day itself. Marks are often lost because children don’t know how to answer specific questions, or because they don’t give enough information. Teaching your child to pack everything she needs for the exam the night before is also a good habit to foster. This will reduce the risk of her leaving important items behind. It will also minimise the morning rush – and the stress that often accompanies it. Finally, reassure your child. Ask her to simply do her best and let her know that you will support her no matter what the results turn out to be. Providing positive feedback for her efforts, celebrating her successes and encouraging her to keep trying will help her face upcoming exams with confidence. By Danielle Barfoot

November 7, 2018

Help! My child is unwilling to study for their exams

The long-anticipated year-end exams are upon us and so are the challenges and pressures that, so often, go hand-in-hand with the experience. Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres explains “ It is crunch-time now and Grade 4 to 12 learners are busy working on the preparation necessary to achieve the best results possible. But, alas, not ALL learners feel motivated or willing to put in the effort that is needed at this time. Some learners may, in fact, show little or any interest in studying for their exams, leaving parents and teachers feeling worried about what can be done about it.” Is your child unwilling or unmotivated to study for the exams? Cindy gives the following top tips to help you and your child through this stressful time: Remember that most negative behaviours are rooted in fear. Have a conversation with your child to try and establish what they may be afraid of. Fear can make them feel completely overwhelmed and it may just seem easier to look the other way when it comes to exam preparation or, worse, give up altogether! Help them put their fears into perspective – help them to understand that all they CAN do is their best. Break the seemingly overwhelming task into bite-sized manageable pieces. Help or encourage your child to concentrate on working through past exam papers. Structure study times so that a goal is set to achieve a certain amount of work in the given time. This will give your child a wonderful sense of achievement when each task is completed. Remind your child that, in life, there are some ‘yucky’ things that need to be done to get where you want to go. It means that, despite perhaps not enjoying the necessity of study, it needs to be done. Explain to your child that the first 10minutes of any challenging activity is the worst. Once you get past that 10 minute mark, you seem to ‘roll’ more easily. Just get to it and see how it works! Help your child understand that exams are their responsibility. You are there to encourage and support them, but ultimately, the responsibility of whether to honour themselves by putting in the effort that is needed, is up to them. Make sure that your home environment is conducive to effective studying. Keep the noise levels down, speak positively, encourage and praise any progress. Try and have something to look forward to once the exams have been completed. A movie evening, a day at the beach, or the promise of enjoying a favoured meal. This needs to be a reward for the hard work that was put into the exam process. Cindy concludes by saying “Exams can feel overwhelming and fear can cause some children to’ shut down’ at this time. All children want to achieve-whether they admit it or not! Don’t give up, the rewards will be worth it!”

November 2, 2018

What to do if your parents don’t agree with your study choices

Many Matrics considering their study options for next year are finding themselves in the difficult position of being at odds with their parents or guardians about their preferred direction. While this conundrum has always been around, it is even more pronounced today, given that there are a myriad qualifications and careers that didn’t exist even a few years ago. “Parents often have expectations of the potential careers they see their children pursuing, and it can be hard for them and their children to get on the same page when the parents are in favour of the more traditional qualifications, while the child would prefer to pursue a qualification the parents don’t know much about,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution. She says it is important for families to have a respectful dialogue based on facts and research when they find themselves in this position. “If you are the young adult who would like to pursue a career in, for instance, digital marketing or game design and development, but your parents would rather you do a BCom at a public university, there are ways to get them to see your side of things,” she says. “And if you are the concerned parent, worried that your child’s preferred qualification is lightyears away from what you think they should be doing, there are also a few ways you can set your mind at ease,” says Payne. She says it can be helpful for parents and future students finding themselves at loggerheads to approach the situation as follows: DO THE RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS There are many more study options today than in the past. The range of qualifications on offer has grown exponentially, while the institutions offering them have also multiplied. All registered and accredited higher education institutions – whether they be public universities or private – are registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). They are only registered if they have been accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Looking up a qualification on the NQF is as easy as going to the SAQA website and typing in a few words. An institution should also be able to give you the SAQA identity number immediately. This means that prospective students and their parents can be confident about the bona fides of any qualification they want to pursue, provided that the institution is recognised by DHET and the programme is listed on the NQF which can be found on the SAQA website. FACE REALITY The world of work looks a lot different today than it did a decade ago, with numerous new and emerging careers on offer, such as brand management, big data analysis, app development, and digital design, to name a few. The traditional, generic 3-year degree is no longer a golden ticket to landing a job. Prospective students would do well to pursue a career-focused qualification which fits well with their talents and interests, and which will prepare them to step into the workplace with confidence. Career-focused qualifications will often also include work-integrated learning, which allows students to build a portfolio of work throughout their time at varsity. This puts them in a much stronger position after graduation when applying for a position. UNDERSTAND THE MARKETPLACE What can you do with your qualification after graduation? That is an important question to ask before committing to a programme. A great way to determine the demand for a qualification and your future earning potential, is to look at career sites and job ads, to see how much demand there is in marketplace. Speaking to an advisor at a higher education institution’s career centre can also go a long way to clarifying your prospects post-graduation. UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION FOR STUDYING Pursuing a degree requires a substantial investment of time and money. And handling the demands of higher education and young adulthood is not a walk in the park. The dropout rate among first years is very high, in part because the reason for heading to university wasn’t sound. So if the motivation for further study is for the sake of status rather than to lay the foundations for a specific and successful career, or if a student is only studying to fulfil the wishes of their parents, it would be better to wait, investigate all the options, and only apply when they have found something that gets them really excited about your future. “Parents need to understand that the best approach now is to study and prepare for a world that’s changing, and that the traditional way and ‘safe’ careers may not be the best course of action,” says Payne. “And prospective students need to understand that while the difference in opinion may be frustrating, it is up to them to present their case calmly, clearly and respectfully, with the research to back up the viability and prospects of their choice.”

October 25, 2018

The PROVES Method – the perfect strategy for mastering your matric mock exams

Matrics from the Class of 2018 should now be deep into preparing for their upcoming mock exams – which are only a few weeks away – and ultimately the final exams of their school careers in two months’ time. With only a handful of weeks left to revise, they now need to up the ante to ensure they get the best marks possible on their prelims. Doing so will enable them firstly to see which areas need more work before they write their finals, and will also ensure that they get the very best marks to allow them access to the higher education institution and qualification of their choice. “Learners now need to go beyond reading and re-reading their textbooks and notes, and employ a more holistic strategy which will position them to bring their very best to the exam room,” says Wonga Ntshinga, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education institution. Ntshinga says that at this stage of the game, the PROVES method is a great approach to follow, as it helps to cement the academic work in the learner’s mind, while expanding understanding from different angles. Additionally, it gets learners in the right frame of mind, to withstand the anxiety and stress which can negatively impact performance. The PROVES method can be broken down as follows: PRACTISE by writing past papers or example questions rather than just reading. Most schools should make past papers available to their learners, but it is also a good idea to get ones in addition to those provided by your school. Good higher education institutions also help matric learners by providing past papers, so go visit a registered and accredited one in your area, and ask a student advisor to assist. As a bonus, the student advisor might even be able to talk through some of your concerns about the exams and your post-matric options, which will further help to mitigate any anxiety you may have. REFRESH by making sure you are eating, sleeping and exercising enough. Cramming into the early hours of the morning before an exam will leave you stressed, exhausted and unable to focus. It is important now to look after your physical and mental health as well as throwing your weight behind your books. Learners still have enough time to cover what they need to cover ahead of the exams, but then the plan needs to be put into motion right away, to avoid last-minute panic and the resultant impact on their physical wellbeing. ORGANISE yourself, your time and your work. Having a neat working environment and a clear plan for what you need to do and study every day, as well as having the relevant materials sorted and on hand, will go a long way to reduce anxiety and optimise learning. Follow the plan closely but avoid spending hours every day on the plan rather than the implementation of the plan. Don’t allow yourself to feel overwhelmed, but focus on the small efforts – hour after hour, day after day – which, when compounded, will ultimately make a big impact. VISUALISE by using colour and mind maps and other strategies rather than just words, so that you can use more of your brain. EXPLAIN by answering questions or telling friends or relatives about your work. It is not until you have tried to explain what you know that you can assess if you know enough to answer the questions. SOCIAL MEDIA can be used as an academic tool to expand your understanding and grasp of your work. This can best be done by getting together a study group of equally dedicated and committed peers, and using the various platforms for specific purposes. Being part of a study group helps you track your progress, can quickly help you clarify your understanding of issues or set you on the right track if you have misunderstood something, and it also acts as an early warning system if you are falling behind. The various channels and apps can be used as follows: GOOGLE to find a wealth of online resources. From how to handle exam stress, to self-marking mock papers, study timetable templates and content/concept lists. Do a search for “Matric Exams 2018” which will provide many excellent results which can assist you in your preparation and motivation. A dedicated WHATSAPP study group enables discussion, last minute clarifications and sharing of notes. It is best to align study breaks within the group, and put your mobile on airplane mode while you’re hitting the books. When taking a break, connect with your peers via WhatsApp to share your understanding, successes and concerns. FACEBOOK groups for specific subjects is a great way to share materials and visuals, while enabling group discussions. When it’s time to take a break from the written word, go to YOUTUBE to find videos related to the content you are studying. Sometimes seeing something explained in video format will clarify things you just weren’t able to pin down while going through your textbooks. “The next few weeks and months are going to be taxing for learners preparing for their final exams, but by following a strict study strategy and doing what needs to be done every day – without allowing panic and procrastination to set in – there is still sufficient time even for learners who aren’t quite where they should be at the moment,” Ntshinga says. “And by incorporating this strategy into their approach right now, many learners will also find a new feeling of empowerment to take on the additional burden that higher education will bring.”

September 18, 2018

Matrics: use the calm before the storm to get your study options sorted

With the holidays almost over and preliminary exams on the horizon, Grade 12s are on the cusp of entering one of the most stressful periods in their school careers. The relatively calm few weeks they still have ahead of them should therefore be used to plan their post-school options, which will free up their physical and emotional energy so that they can wholly focus on doing their best in their final exams. “Deciding what to study and where to study can be hugely stressful, particularly when you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do with your life, which is the case for many thousands of learners,” says Natasha Madhav, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider. “It is therefore important that learners don’t add this burden of anxiety when trying to prepare for exams. This can be avoided by taking the time right now to investigate their options and, ideally, already submitting their applications for the qualifications and institutions of their choice,” she says. She says the most important advice she has for prospective students, given the difficult economic climate and associated challenges of finding suitable employment after graduation, is to look at qualifications and institutions that will prepare them for a specific career and the world of work. Additionally, they should ideally line up at least one or two additional options, as they may find their circumstances and preferences having changed by the end of the year. “The worst courses of action, are to sign up for an arbitrary qualification with no real understanding of how you can leverage it post-graduation, spending valuable time and money on something that may not lead to a career, or following your friends’ lead because you are not clear on your own aspirations,” she says. Madhav says learners who don’t know what to study, should consider what kind of work they would find interesting, and then work backwards to determine a suitable qualification. “It is also worth remembering that there are literally new fields and careers opening up every year – things that your teachers, parents and friends may not even have heard about,” she says. “So don’t settle on a university and then only investigate what they offer in terms of qualifications. Do it the other way around – determine what you would like to do, determine what qualification would enable you to do that, and then find out which institutions offer that.” If, for instance, a learner is interested in Game Design, it makes sense to find an institution that offers that qualification rather than doing a generic 3-year degree and then attempting to break into the industry thereafter. Or if they are interested in brand management, to determine the best place where they can study this, rather than doing a general business undergraduate degree. The same principle goes for a host of other career-focused fields, such as copywriting and communications, digital design and marketing, IT and networking qualifications, and business qualifications. “The world of work is rapidly evolving, and to be competitive in the job market, candidates must try and match their qualification as closely as possible to the work they would want to do one day,” says Madhav. “Making that determination takes time and clarity of thought in the face of all the options out there, which is why Matrics should make the best of the few weeks of grace they have left and get their future plans sorted now.”

August 13, 2018

Help! My child is writing exams for the first time

The idea of writing exams rarely brings about emotions of excitement and happy anticipation! In fact, feelings of anxiety, panic and outright fear are what most parents and learners experience when exam time comes knocking at their door! Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres says “Generation after generation, people have passed on the baton of fear, anxiety and dread when it comes to exams. The stories are familiar to us all:

July 25, 2018

Children get stressed too!

It’s a new school year! It’s exam time! Both of these occurrences during your child’s school life come with their own level of stress – for your child. When your child starts a new school year, or begins exams parents often focus on the stress that they themselves are feeling, rather than taking into account that their child is feeling the pressure as well. “Children don’t deal with stress, or show stress the same way that adults do, and often parents can over-look these clues,” says Carla Yssel, brand manager for Linctagon®. “When children are stressed they are not sure how to deal with it, and this can often manifest itself in a complete change of behaviour – being moody, crying, withdrawing from activities, and even complaining of stomach aches and headaches. Parents need to be on the lookout for these types of behavioural changes when big events in their child’s life occur, such as starting school, or tackling exams.” Although, some stress can be a positive as it can motivate your child to overcome what is worrying them, being over-stressed can cause illnesses. The stress hormone corticosteroid suppresses the immune system, and results in your child getting a cold or even the flu. “We are often consumed with whether our children have the correct stationery, or have prepared enough for their exam, that we forget to actually take care of them,” says Yssel. Yssel provides 5 tips on how to look after your child during stressful times: Be prepared in advance: Make sure that your child has everything they need long before school starts, and gets through all their studying with enough time to revise before an exam. This will give your child the peace-of-mind they require to overcome any stress they may be feeling. Get enough sleep: A good sleep is sure to improve your child’s concentration, and also allow them to feel ready to take on the new day with confidence and a clear mind. Talk to your child: Your child needs to know that you support them, and that you understand what they are going through. Talk to them about what they can expect on their first day of a new school term or year, or that no matter how they do in their exam you will support them through it all. Give them the edge: When your child starts to feel a cold or the flu coming on, give them Linctagon® Effervescent (which can be used from age 12) or Linctagon® Effervescent Junior (can be used from the age of 1) to help get over colds. Linctagon® effervescent and Linctagon® effervescent Junior contain the active ingredient Pelargonium sidoides and with its active support can shorten the duration of the common cold as well as reduce the severity of symptoms with the added Vitamins A and C, anti-inflammatory MSM and immunity enhancer Zinc (Alt Med Review, 2007). This will allow your child the opportunity to get back to what really matters; quicker than usual (Lizogub et al, 2007), and it is suitable for children and adults who are diabetic. Take time out to laugh: Just because your child is writing exams, or getting ready to go back to school it doesn’t mean that all fun needs to end! Laugh with your child; let them forget what they are stressed about, and just have a moment to breathe. Sharing our content with parents you know will go a long way to making us smile for the day

January 10, 2018

Grade 11’s – Now (not next year) is the best time to consider your study options

With three months left before they enter their final year of school, Grade 11 learners could be tempted to make relaxing their only priority before the whirlwind year that is Matric. However now is precisely the time they should be investigating and even pinning down their further study plans, an education expert says. “Once you’ve started your Matric year, you will have very little time to focus on ensuring you choose the right course and the right institution for you, because of the workload, endless rounds of revision and exams, and all the fun and functions that go with your last year at school,” says Peter Kriel, General Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider. Kriel says many Grade 12s get so caught up in the social and academic demands of their final year, that they don’t spend enough time ensuring they investigate all their options and apply timeously to university or private higher education. This could lead to them missing out on a space, settling for second best, and diluting their Matric study efforts with stress and anxiety about what they are going to do after school. “Another thing that Grade 11s are often not aware of, is that they can submit applications on the basis of their Grade 11 marks, which means that they can then focus wholely and completely on Grade 12, without further concern or distraction about what happens the year after. In addition, knowing what you want and where you are going at the start of the year, will also help you focus your study efforts, as you’ll know exactly what you need to achieve during the year and at your final exams.” Kriel says that the changed Higher Education landscape in South Africa means that prospective students now have many more options than what they had in the past, when the default approach was to enter a public university for a 3-year degree. But he warns that because there are so many more options now, prospective students also have more work to do to ensure that they find the right course and right institution for their unique goals. “Finding the right study direction should be on top of your priority list when finding out about what and where to study,” he says. “In addition, selecting an institution that will meet your needs is the most important aspect of helping you prepare for your future.” Kriel warns that while the websites and brochures of institutions may provide one with the basic information about which programmes are on offer, the process of applying and cost, merely looking at brochures and websites may not give you the type of information that would really allow you to make an informed decision. “In fact, all institutions would provide you with course information, but no institution will state that the size of the Business Management 1 class is over 500 or that it is really challenging getting academic support on campus. Therefore, the only way to find out about such underlying aspects is to ask the right questions. And to do so thoroughly takes time – time which you are not likely to have next year.” Kriel says when evaluating institutions, future students should attend open days, physically visit the campus, and make telephonic or written contact. “These actions and the way your inquiries are handled will provide a solid indication of what you can expect from an institution going forward.” For Grade 11s who are serious about getting their ducks in a row before jumping in the Matric pond, Kriel has a handy checklist that will help them determine which institutions will be able to provide them with the highest quality education. He says prospective students should ask institutions the following questions: How do your class sizes in this particular programme compare to other institutions or universities? (Keep in mind that the institution may not have in-depth information about the class sizes at other institutions, but you want to hear about this particular institution). How is classroom contact time and self-directed study balanced? (Self-directed study is an integral part of higher education and therefore as important as classroom contact). How is technology supporting the learning experience of students at this institution? (Merely having a data projector in classrooms or lecturers making presentations available electronically is not the response you are looking for). How important is employability of students after studying at your institution? (You want to listen out for responses that relate to industry ties, industry input into curricula, work readiness programmes, career centres, as well as the lecturing staff’s industry experience and relationships with industry). If I get stuck with an assignment or project, which resources and courses of action are available to me? (Only talking to your lecturer is not an ideal response. You want to listen for reference to, for example, library support and resources, writing centers and other forms of student support). Even if not applicable to you, it may also be a good idea to ask about the institution’s policy and support for students with special needs, for example needing extra time in assessments. (If they stumble in answering this question, it may be an indication that they are not really focused on this aspect of student support, which may be a sign about their overall student centeredness).

November 24, 2017

No more headaches about exams

Examinations are stressful enough for learners and students, without them having to worry about headaches and migraines. Unfortunately it has become an ordinary occurrence for students and many of them feel helpless when dealing with this problem. They can feel so overwhelmed that they completely forget about the effects this is having on their health. Dr Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s pioneer in the field of migraine surgery and the medical director of The Headache Clinic, says headaches and migraines can have adverse effects on the performance of students and suggests the following measures: Be aware of your posture when studying as this can result in a tension headache. Use a good chair that supports your back and that gives the ideal posture. Visit www.headacheclinic.co.za to get a free copy of the Ideal Computer Posture. Learn the right stretching exercises to stretch the muscles of your head, face, neck and jaw. Finding out what triggers your headaches by keeping a diary. Each time you suffer from a headache, make a note about the warning signs, triggers and severity. If you can discover some of your personal triggers, you may be able to avoid future headaches. This diary is important as it will give your medical professional an accurate history of your headaches. Dietary migraine is a common affliction. These are usually triggered by foods that assist with energy such as chocolate. Chocolate raises the blood sugar levels quickly and then allows it to drop quickly again. Low GI (Glycaemic Index) foods give a more even blood sugar level. Use the nutritional facts label to help choose healthy foods when shopping. A dietary trigger diary is available on www.headacheclinic.co.za under “Free Assistance”. Beware of Medication-Overuse Headache (MOH). Medication is only appropriate for someone who suffers a few times a month. According to the International Headache Society, if you are taking medication more than twice a week you are at risk of developing MOH. This means that the drugs you are taking will cause the migraine to become more severe and more frequent over time. Dehydration is a common trigger, adequate intake of fluid throughout the day to prevent headaches. The human brain is more than 75% water, and it is very sensitive to the amount of water available to it. When the brain detects that the water supply is too low, it begins to produce histamines. “If the problem persists, it is imperative that you get an accurate diagnosis” says Shevel. “There are a number of treatment options that can be investigated. The longer the headache persists, the more damage will be done. One must get to the bottom of the problem and resolve the pain permanently.”

November 17, 2017

Drink Rooibos Tea to Improve Concentration During Exams

Coffee and energy drinks are usually the go-to beverages for high school learners and students to help them cram for finals during the stressful months of October and November, but science suggests they drink rooibos tea as an alternative to help them stay on top of their “A” game. Several studies point to rooibos tea’s ability to protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals and that its high level of antioxidants could reduce the effects of oxidative stress, which learners and students typically experience in the lead up to and during end-of-year exams. Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council explains that the brain appears to be especially susceptible to excessive oxidative stress, because of its high demand for oxygen. “Dietary antioxidants, like the polyphenolic compounds found in rooibos, have been shown to protect neurons against a variety of neurodegenerative conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or more commonly referred to as ‘free radicals caused’ by poor nutrition, cigarette smoke, excessive alcohol intake, pollution, among other factors, are harmful elements that trigger oxidation (disruption of a living cell) in the body and brain. The stress hormone, cortisol, which is elevated during exam time, increases inflammation, and further intensifies free radical production. “When these free radicals cause oxidation in the body, they damage the healthy cells which could hinder one’s ability to learn and retain information. Rooibos counters this impact by reducing the effect of oxidative by-products in neural pathways thereby stimulating concentration and focus. “Unlike coffee, which could give you the jitters followed by a crash, rooibos tea is a cleaner-burning and longer-lasting fuel for the body since it doesn’t contain any caffeine or tannin. An added bonus is that it also relieves tension and headaches,” she remarks. While consuming small amounts of caffeine daily is not harmful, drinking too much, such as during exam time, could prove dangerous and lead to a physical dependence since it is highly addictive. The temporary boost of energy it gives you, may also keep you awake for longer than is needed, which could lead to unwanted fatigue on exam day. Du Toit recommends six cups of rooibos tea a day for optimal replenishing of critical antioxidants. “Rooibos tea has no side-effects and contains some of the strongest and most unique antioxidants in the plant kingdom, including aspalathin and nothofagin. Students should make the most of this natural energy drink, which is tasty, affordable and can be enjoyed hot or cold.” Here’s a few fun twists on rooibos tea to get you through your finals: Basic rooibos iced tea: One litre of Rooibos tea using four to six teabags Sweeten the tea with honey to taste and leave it in the fridge to cool overnight Experiment with this basic iced tea, by adding mint, lemon, orange, granadilla, mango or apple, or a combination of flavours until you find one that you love. Juiced or squeezed fresh fruit usually delivers the best results, but you can also use honey and preservative-free fruit juice. Mixing it with cold rooibos will make it go further and keeping a jug of it in the fridge should mean you don’t have to keep buying juice. Rooibos can be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks without spoiling. Rooibos and berry iced tea: 8 rooibos tea bags or flavoured rooibos of your choice 1 cinnamon stick 4 whole cloves 6 thin slices ginger 4 cups (1 litre) boiling water 4 cups (1 litre) 100% berry juice, chilled Lemon juice to taste Place tea bags, spices and ginger in a large glass jug and pour over boiling water. Stir well and allow to cool for about two hours. Remove tea bags, ginger and spices. Add berry juice to the tea and season with lemon juice to taste. Enjoy cold with ice and mint leaves, fruit and lemon. Rooibos ice-lollies: By pouring some Rooibos iced tea into popsicle containers or ice-cube trays and freezing it, you can also enjoy it as a refreshing treat when you get the munchies while you’re studying. For more info about the health benefits of rooibos, visit www.sarooibos.co.za

November 9, 2017

Exams: Study Time vs Screen Time – Striking the Balance

Helping children to build a healthy relationship with technology, and knowing how much of what is enough, is challenging for parents under the best of circumstances. Exam time however throws a whole new spanner in the works, an education expert warns. “While some parents might want to introduce new house rules or impose a total ban on screen time during important periods such as exams, that approach could be counter-productive,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider. “However it is necessary to review and agree on how devices and especially social media will be used during this period,” she says, “and parents and guardians should play an active role in assisting young people to strike the right balance.” Payne warns that parents will face a lot of resistance if they implement a total ban on social media interaction, which will not be conducive to a positive studying environment. “Matric and other exams are already very stressful, and social media can help learners and students unwind and let off steam by sharing their concerns, clearing up study material confusion and encouraging each other. “A better approach would be to rather restrict social media during focussed 1-2 hour study sessions so concentration is not interrupted, and allow it during breaks – preferably away from the desk – in conjunction with a healthy snack and some fresh air.” Payne says that in general, parents should assist their children to build a healthy relationship with technology from an early age, noting that technology has become an integral part of children’s lives. “While there are of course dangers and concerns, technology has also brought many advantages and opportunities. Our children need to build a set of skills – hard skills and common sense ones – around technology as it will always be a huge part of their lives, whether when researching school work, investigating higher education options or searching for career opportunities, or whether for entertainment or engaging with social media contacts.” She says that approaching technology positively and pragmatically right from the start can help families engage better. “It can improve their resourcefulness, open up new avenues for learning and help them better understand how to manage social interactions. Parents need to be honest about their own concerns and should support and mentor their children by creating the right environment in the online world, as they would in the offline world. “Encourage the learning, whether it is online or offline, but set boundaries and time limits on digital engagement, study methods (which should also include pen and paper and not just digital learning) and also digital social interactions during exam time. There are thousands of mobile apps and software applications that support learning in a fun and constructive way, and that can ensure that study time is in fact study time, and not Facebook time in disguise.” Payne says there are 4 simple things parents can do to ensure healthy technology habits for life: Create and schedule fun offline activities and spaces where the family can interact without technology. Spend time with your younger children sharing your “tech time”. You can sit with them and create study notes or play an educational game together. This form of interaction can open up interesting discussions, in a natural way, and not feel like it is a forced conversation. The interest you show in your young child’s technology interactions will build a feeling of trust between yourselves and technology will be seen as a constructive tool for learning. Respect your children’s privacy. This could be as simple as asking for their permission before you share and tag pictures of them online. If they don’t want you to do it, then respect their wishes. Set boundaries (which the adults need to adhere to as well), for instance not interacting with technology during dinner or if someone is talking to you. “Parents need to embrace our changed world and work with their children to encourage a balance between technology and the physical world,” says Payne.

November 6, 2017

Turn Prelim Panic into Finals Advantage

Writing Matric prelim exams and receiving your results can be a distressing eye-opener, but learners who perform worse than they would have hoped still have time to use the experience to their advantage before the final exams, an education expert says. “Time is fast running out, and some learners may feel things went so badly with their prelims that they might as well throw in the study towel. However prelims are there for a reason – to serve as a test run for the finals, and to guide learners in their last week of studies. If that is kept in mind, and learners actively take control over their preparation in coming weeks, dire prelims don’t have to be the forerunner to disastrous final marks,” says Dr Gillian Mooney, Dean: Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider. Mooney says learners should also keep in mind that prelims are often pitched at a slightly more difficult level on purpose, to serve as a wakeup call, and that the most important steps to take right now are firstly to avoid panic, and secondly to take back power by putting in place a winning strategy for the weeks to come. She says the following steps can turn a poor performance into a good one, and a mediocre one into a great one: REVIEW YOUR FINALS STUDY ROSTER Your prelims will have given you a good indication of how much time you require to master your various subjects, which in turn will help you with drawing up an accurate and effective study roster. See where you can save or create time, and where you can put in an extra hour or two every day. Every little bit helps, and the time you took to do a mock paper could mean the difference between being accepted into your course or institution of choice next year or not. Very importantly, stick to your roster and don’t fall victim to procrastination and constant re-arranging of said roster. Right now, you DO still have enough time to get through and master all your work. At the end of the month, that picture would have changed quite substantially. FIND ALTERNATIVE STUDY METHODS AND GET EXCITED ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT If you’ve left room for a movie on a Friday night, why not make that movie one which covers your setwork? You’ll be approaching the subject from a different angle (and use even your downtime efficiently), which deepens your understanding of it. For other subjects, you can find TED talks about topics you find particularly challenging, for instance. These will not only help you to better understand something, but are quite likely to also increase your enthusiasm and inject some much-needed inspiration into the study process. GET A TUTOR It is not too late to get someone to help you master your most frustrating subjects. There might be a retired teacher or recent graduate in your community who can help, or you can enquire at your school whether such assistance is available. Getting the insight and assistance of someone who is not your regular subject teacher can provide fresh perspective and approaches you may not have been aware of before. ROPE IN RESOURCES FROM YOUR FUTURE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION Whether you are going to study at a public university or a private higher education institution, any good institution will be able to provide guidance and resources to their future students. Student counsellors will be able to provide insights into how current performance matches future options, and what is required in terms of intervention to ensure you can access your choice of qualification. Additionally, good institutions will be able to provide you with practical resources, such as papers from previous years. “The importance of prelims should not be underestimated, because they may very well influence your options down the line. For instance, a higher education institution may decide to withdraw a conditional offer if you did not perform well,” says Mooney. “However, using the learning from your prelims if things didn’t go to plan is one of the major reasons these exams exist in the first place. So if you resolve right now to take stock and take action, and throw yourself into preparing for your finals, there is a very good chance that you can turn things around and put in a final performance that will render unfortunate prelim results almost inconsequential.”

October 11, 2017

Help Your Child Develop Study Strategies

Parents and guardians can, and should, help their young children develop good study habits from an early age, to help them achieve academic excellence throughout their school years and beyond, an education expert says. “In primary school, learners will start bringing homework assignments from school, and be required to study for tests. These early years are the best time to guide children and equip them with the strategies and tools to ensure that study discipline comes naturally in later years,” says Clare Pretorius, Senior Deputy Principal at Trinityhouse High Randpark Ridge, a brand of Africa’s largest private education provider, the ADvTECH Group. Pretorius says once parents have left behind the frazzled and often anxious toddler years, they will be faced with a whole new myriad of uncertainties and frustrations once their school going children are required to start studying and performing to the best of their ability academically. “Every young person differs when it comes to attention and dedication to studies, homework and exam preparation. Some parents have intrinsically motivated children, while others need to constantly spur them on. Regardless of where a child falls on the spectrum however, parents can guide and equip them to ensure they are able to grow and develop to ultimately realise their full potential,” she says. It is important for parents and guardians to first establish what a child’s intrinsic learning style is – auditory, visual, or a combination of the two? “It is possible that the child learns through doing rather than seeing. The preferred method, if used correctly, will facilitate successful learning.” It is also vital to ensure that children have a suitable study environment. “This refers to both the physical environment and the atmosphere created for the studying child,” says Pretorius. “Daily routine needs to be established, and this includes when meals are served and when family outings are arranged, as children need little to distract them from the task at hand. Preparation of the environment also includes ensuring that all necessary equipment is available. As children get older they will organise this themselves, but initially a parent needs to assist and demonstrate best practice.” Once the groundwork has been laid, parents should assist – with varying degrees of involvement – with the actual study process. “Intrinsically motivated children may need firmness and guidance as to when enough is enough. Avoid allowing children to study into the small hours of the morning only to sit their exams in an exhausted state. On the other side of the spectrum, many children will need firm encouragement just to get going. These children do well when study schedules are drawn up with the help of parents, with lots of encouragement to get with and stick to the programme.” Pretorius says study programmes must be realistic and give adequate time to each subject. “It must be flexible and make allowances for last minute emergencies such as power failures or illness. Such a programme should be set up well in advance, as that in itself brings a sense of control to the situation for both parent and child,” she says. “Supporting your studying child can be a cause for stress, which is exacerbated if the child also doesn’t enjoy writing exams or studying. So parents should understand that they are key to the maintenance of a relatively stress free environment. There are years ahead of our children that will be filled with homework, tests and exams. If we can engender a positive attitude and a diligence in approach to academic work right from the start, it will go a long way to cultivating positive and diligent young adults who realise their potential.”

September 1, 2017

Exam Stress

A moderate amount of stress can be a good thing. It can sharpen concentration and performance and help to create the energy and motivation we need to keep studying. Too much stress, however, can be overwhelming and stop us from being able to study and function healthily in life. Undoubtedly, it would be disappointing if you do not do as well as you hoped. Thus, instead of thinking negative thoughts it is helpful to challenge the thoughts (I won’t get a good job, people will think I am stupid, my future is over) with a more realistic assessment of the situation. Enlist the help of a friend, counsellor or tutor to help you to do this. It is very common to think that we will be judged solely on our academic achievements rather than as individuals with contributions to make in all sorts of ways. If someone believes that his/her self-worth depends on academic achievement, there will be considerable anxiety surrounding any academic assessment. Too much anxiety can be paralysing. If the pressures to succeed from family or others is extremely high it may help to contact your local counselling service in order to talk about this. WHAT IS STRESS? Stress is part of the body’s natural response to a perceived threat. It causes our bodies to go into a fight or flight response. The main physiological reaction is the release of a rush of adrenaline which gives us the energy to act. If the perceived difficulty is not physical but psychological, the adrenalin is not used up and this can cause increased muscle tension, heart rate and breathing rate. This then leads to physical changes (headaches, neck aches, stomach problems), mood changes (irritability, tearfulness, feeling low or anxious) or behaviour changes (sleeping problems, increase or decrease in appetite, difficulty in concentration). Exams lead to stress because the marks will influence final degree results. Thus, the stress is derived mainly from the additional meanings which get attributed to exam results. ORGANISING YOUR TIME Draw up a weekly timetable including everything you need to do such as revision, eating, sleeping, lectures and relaxation. Allow for sufficient flexibility due to the unexpected. Be realistic about how much time you can spend revising – if you divide the week into 21 units (3 a day), you should work for a maximum of 15 units per week. You should have 6 units to do other things. Allow yourself time for relaxation as it will decrease your stress levels. This is not wasting time as it will help you work more effectively. Plan how you will use your time during your revision periods. Decide on the order of topics and how much time you will spend on each. Stick to your deadlines. Prioritise – do the most important topics first and allow more time for subjects you find difficult. Set specific goals for each revision period. WHAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN DO TO HELP Listen to the individual’s concerns, be sensitive and give him/her support. Encourage him/her to take breaks and go out from time to time. Inform them about various strategies. Help them to seek additional help if the stress is getting too much for the person. Reassure them that this is a sign of strength, not weakness. Ensure that they are having regular meals, times of relaxation and emotional support. Give positive feedback. Keep distractions to a minimum. SLEEPING BETTER Do not work in or on your bed. Stop working at least an hour before you intend to sleep. Stick to a regular bed time and getting up time. Maintain good sleeping patterns – 6 to 8 hours a night are recommended. Do not drink too much alcohol – it will prevent you from sleeping properly. STUDY PATTERNS Take regular breaks from studying. When you notice that you are distracted, get up and take a break. Fifteen minutes when you can concentrate is better than three hours of staring into space and feeling guilty or anxious. TECHNIQUES TO COPE WITH STRESS Some individuals may use alcohol, smoking and drugs as a means to manage stress. These may have a calming effect in the short term, however, they are not ideal solutions since it may cause one to feel worse afterward and thus impair the ability to think clearly. Eat at least one proper meal a day and keep the body hydrated. Exercise. This increases the blood flow around the body which increases clearer thought. Just a 10 minute walk a day can be helpful, especially in using up some of the extra adrenaline created by the stress. BASIC REVISION METHODS Step One: Read your notes and seek answers to questions. Be as active in your reading as possible – talk to yourself, walk around the room, speak into a tape recorder. Step Two: Close up your notes. Step Three: Actively recall what you have just been reading, asking again the same questions without looking at your notes. Write down what you have recalled in brief notes. Step Four: Check the original notes with the new ones. If you recalled all the answers to the questions then you have created a master card which you can use to re-revise without having to consult lengthier notes. Step Five: If not all the questions have been answered, re-read your original notes, looking particularly to those you missed. Repeat steps two to four. ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM Do not try to learn any new topics since this may impair your ability to recall those you have learnt previously. Look at some brief notes or revision cards. Do not study for the last hour before the exam. Time your arrival at the exam room so you do not need to wait about outside with others who may increase your anxiety level. Give yourself time to settle before reading the questions and starting to write. Use a breathing exercise to regulate your breathing and calm yourself down. Have a plan for how you will use your

November 3, 2016

It’s okay to fail!

From very young we are taught that getting something wrong is a bad thing. Mistakes are something to be ashamed of and chances are some form of punishment followed a failure. This follows through into the working environment. We are all too aware when emails do the rounds in an effort to deflect blame when something goes wrong. We’ve all been in meetings held specifically to “find the culprit” rather than finding a solution and putting a process in place to prevent the same thing happening again. Inevitably, our kids get to hear about this because we talk about it at home. They learn through us that making mistakes as an adult is just as much of a problem as when you are a kid. What this means is that throughout our lives we are sensitised to failure being a bad thing. Sadly this often leads to people not trying anything new because of the “What if I fail?” voice that lurks in our minds. Failure means the end. A favourite quote of mine by A.P.J Abdul Kalam says this: “If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L means “First Attempt In Learning”. End is not the end, in fact E.N.D means “Effort Never Dies. If you get No as an answer, remember N.O means “Next Opportunity”. So let’s be positive.” As parents we need to teach our kids about the positive side of failing at something. It means that you have at least tried. It means that you have an opportunity to look at a process and make a change so that you can do better next time. It is a chance to learn something about a situation and about yourself. Being a parent you need to walk the talk. Our kids need to see how we fail and what we do to pick ourselves up and turn the situation around. We need to be the ones who model the concept of “Effort Never Dies”. And yes, this moist definitely applies to test and exams. Sometimes all the effort does not show in the results. Instead of berating our kids we need to take a step back & assess what has happened. Is there something happening at school that is creating anxiety? Is your child possibly not using the best method for them to study? Are they leaving their studies to the last minute? And yes this applies equally to sport. You might have been the A –team netball player, that doesn’t mean that your child will be too. Allow your child to try out all of the sports possible until they find what works for them. Of course there is a big difference between putting in the effort and failing and not putting in any effort and failing. As a parent you know when your kid is not applying themselves. Before getting upset with them, try and figure out why they are not applying themselves. It’s very easy to lose the plot. I know I’ve had to pull myself back from the edge on a number of occasions. The key is to remember what it was like being a kid, take the time to understand the developmental phase your child is in and work with that. Let’s not make the mistakes of the generations before us. Let’s encourage our kids to try everything, find what works for them and encourage them to excel in what they love.

October 18, 2016

5 Steps to study success for working parents

In today’s challenging economy, many parents are taking on further studies, often in an effort to better provide for their families after graduating. But studying while having to balance work and family responsibilities is not for the faint of heart, and could have a detrimental effect not only on the existing family budget, but also the general wellbeing of a family, if not approached with a clear strategy. “In the past, people studied in a particular discipline and were largely committed to that for life,” says Tammy Oppenheim, Head of Programme: Faculty of Humanities at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider. “But in 2016, the landscape has altered completely. People are exposed to a great deal more information and experiences, and many choose to alter their career path, which may require further study later in life. Even for those who stay in their selected field, study is vital to ensure they remain relevant and up-to-date on the requirements of your field,” she says. “If approached correctly, further study can fast-track a career and give access to promotions or financial rewards that would have been otherwise unachievable.” In addition to financial reward, a change of career path and upwards mobility can also contribute beneficially to self-esteem and self-actualisation, helping parents to be the best role-models they can be for their children, says Oppenheim. “Modelling life-long learning and good study habits can help your children on their own study path and also provide valuable common ground and conversation opportunities, particularly in the teenage years. But to successfully handle the increased pressure and demands study brings to the family dynamic, everyone needs to be on the same page.” So what can parents do to make a success of further study while keeping up with their parental responsibilities? Oppenheim says there are 5 important facets to making it work: DO YOUR RESEARCH Choose an academic institution that caters to your needs as a parent, such as those offering part-time and distance studies. Attending lectures on the weekend or from the comfort of your own home gives greater flexibility, especially for parents who work full-time. Smaller academic institutions also tend to offer greater individual support and flexibility, both of which are invaluable to a busy parent. HAVE A PLAN B IN PLACE FOR EVERY EVENTUALITY Arrange for back-up childcare for those times when you are absolutely unavailable, for instance when you have an exam or presentation scheduled, just in case your original plans fall through. BE HONEST WITH YOUR CHILDREN Explain what you are studying and why, and show your children the value of a life-long-learning philosophy. School-age children often take great pleasure in having learning as a common interest with parents. Sitting together for study-time is both good bonding-time and a great way to model good study habits for your children. MENTALLY COMPARTMENTALISE People are complex. An individual may be a mother, a worker, a student, a spouse and a friend all at the same time. However, it can be daunting to have your head-space filled up with all of your roles at the same time. Careful scheduling can help avoid this. Carve out blocks of time for each of your responsibilities, and don’t allow guilt or distraction from one area to intrude when you are focusing on another area. GET SUPPORT Taking on tertiary studies as a parent will be challenging and time-consuming and can feel isolating and overwhelming. Speak to fellow students with children, join an online parenting forum and seek out others who are going through the same experience. Simply verbalising your challenges can be helpful, but chances are there may also be some useful advice in response. “When you are in the middle of an exam period and your little one has a cold and wants to be held all night, and your boss is drowning you in work, it can feel overwhelming and never-ending. But it is important to remind yourself that your studies have an end-date,” says Oppenheim. “Visualise your journey: In one week I will have finished my first set of exams; in 6 months I will have finished my research proposal; in two years I will be walking across the stage at my graduation. Studying is not going to be easy; but it is most definitely going to be worth it.”

July 19, 2016

How to help your teenager cope with exam stress

In an increasingly competitive world, young people writing exams are arguably under more pressure than ever before, knowing that their results need to give them an advantage when applying for higher education or employment. Unfortunately, this means that they are also exposed to increasingly higher levels of stress – stress that can, if not managed properly, become debilitating and even affect their performance. Dr Gillian Mooney, Teaching and Learning Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider, says it is therefore vital for parents and other caregivers to monitor the mental wellbeing of learners and students in addition to their preparation, as there are a number of ways that stress can be manipulated to improve performance rather than allowing it to be an unnecessary hurdle. “At this time of year, it is not unusual for young people to experience peak levels of stress because of the nearing exams,” she says, adding that “it is important to remember that stress can both be motivating and managed”. Mooney, who has also spent more than a decade and a half as a Psychology lecturer, says adults should understand that stress is subjective, and that what is stressful for one person, may not be stressful for another. “Stress is your body’s physical reaction to certain situations. Your body has a biological response – that is chemicals and hormones are released – in order to help you cope with a stressful stimulus. As a result, stress can affect your physical health, your mental health and your behaviour.” She says while some stress is healthy in the short term, and can help one be more productive and motivated, negative stress will cause ‘distress’, leading to feelings of anger, irritability and fear. “Negative stress may also cause physical symptoms such as a headache or stomach cramps. Exam anxiety is a kind of stress that involves excessive worrying about exams, the fear of being evaluated, and, of the consequences of exams. Exam anxiety is experienced by many students and is not mysterious or difficult to understand.” Mooney says this type of stress can be easily managed if a student takes heed of the following ten tips: Believe in yourself: If you have worked consistently since the start of the year, you should be fine and there is no need to worry excessively. Don’t try to be perfect: It’s good to have goals, but these need to be realistic. If you believe that anything less than 100% means you have failed, then you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself. Don’t keep things bottled up inside: A good way to alleviate worry and stress is to confide in someone that you trust and who will be supportive, for example your parents, friends or lecturers. Keep things in perspective: Exams may seem like the most important thing right now, but in the context of your whole life, they are only really a small part. Life will be worth living regardless of an exam. Give yourself credit for getting as far as you have. Be proactive in tackling your problems: If you do not understand some of the material, merely feeling stressed about it will not help. Rather make an appointment to see your lecturer, talk to your classmates, or review a past exam paper. Get accurate information: Check all the course information and ask your lecturer. You need to know what will be in the exam, how it will be marked, where the exam will be written, and when the exam will start and end. Structure your study time: You need to study in regular sessions of about 50 minutes each, separated by 10 minute breaks. Plan for the exam: Try to arrive at the exam venue early. Wear a watch or make sure you know where the clock is in the exam venue. Wear layers of clothes so that you can adjust when you feel hot or cold. Make a list of all the materials you will need in the exam room and be sure to pack it before you go. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle: Your anxiety levels will increase if you feel tired and run down. You can improve your resilience by getting enough exercise, eating nutritious food and getting regular and adequate sleep. Avoid the things that won’t help: Try not to drink too much coffee the night before and the morning of the exam. Avoid other students who are anxious and talkative before the exam. And avoid talking about the course material just before the exam. “If you manage your emotional approach to stress, the physical response will also become manageable,” says Mooney. “Parents and caregivers should be vigilant and ensure that if they start seeing the signs of excessive, unproductive stress, they timeously assist by providing the practical and emotional support required to help students and learners perform at their best.”

June 2, 2016

Relaxation And Exam Preparation

I don’t think any of us associate exams with being relaxed, but bringing these two together is the answer to exam success. You see, when we activate the stress-response in the body, that fight or flight mechanism, we actually decrease the blood supply to our higher thinking functions. See it like this: If you were in the bush, running away from a hungry lion you don’t really need to be able to do calculus at that time – what you need are fast reflexes and pumped muscles. This is the same mechanism in place when we get stressed about exams. The more stressed you are, the less clearly you can think. This is why I believe that continuous assessment is a much clearer indicator of what kids know and have understood than these highly intense end-of-term exams. But hey, if you’re stuck with them for now, let’s look at what you can do to help your kids through… Firstly, remove the pressure to excel. Bribing or threatening kids into doing well on their exams is more likely to activate this fight or flight mechanism. Even the way that you speak about the exams can make a difference – be very matter of fact about it – “it’s not a test to see who you are or if you’re a worthy human being (you’d be surprised how many kids believe this at some level) but just a way for the teachers to see how much you’ve learned and if THEY need to improve their teaching methods or help you out in areas that you haven’t understood. And it’s ok if you don’t do well!” Taking this pressure off makes it more likely that they will. And I’m not saying they don’t need to study, they do, but in a stress-free way. The next thing is to introduce some kind of relaxation exercises into their study routine. Deep breathing is a simple, easy way to de-activate the stress response. Breathe in as you count to 3, hold on the count of 4 and then breathe out to the counts of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. In other words your out-breath is twice the length of your in-breath. This is a typical breathing pattern used in stress-biofeedback, a medically proven technique for reducing stress and all the negative side-effects that come with it. Take a 5-minute breathing-break for every 30 minutes of studying. My personal favourite for staying in a relaxed, and therefore beneficial studying state, is to get your brainwaves to a Theta level (4-8 cycles per second / Hz). From the ages of around 2-6 we are predominantly in a Theta state which is why we absorb so much information so easily. I call this the Learning State, and it’s very easy to get back into it. Pick a spot on the wall in front of you above eye level. Stare at this spot intensely until you start to feel a strain on your eyes. Then, while still looking at this spot, expand your vision to include the peripheral vision (ie as far as you can see to either side while still staring at your spot). Then you can look back down (at your study material or teacher) but keep a constant awareness of the periphery. When we are stressed (the lion is chasing us) we tend to be very focused on our foveal/central vision – one small spot in front of us. When we’re relaxed (reclining on the porch of our beach house), we tend to open up our vision to include the whole scenery. So by getting into the relaxed Learning State, we “trick” our bodies and minds into believing we are relaxed, and we open up to much more information. Staying in the Learning State while learning and while writing exams is a simple and effective trick for marrying exams and relaxation for best effect. Good luck and stay calm!

November 11, 2014

Brain Food For Exams

Our brain, a mass of fat and protein weighing about 1.4 kilograms (equal to 3 bricks of butter), is the organ that makes us human, gives us the capacity for art, language, moral judgments and rational thought. It’s also responsible for each of our personality, memories, movements, and how we sense the world. So, one would think that it is the organ that we would take the most care of. We have days dedicated to heart, kidney and bone health, but how often do we take time to appreciate our brain and make sure we are looking after it! What we eat can have a direct impact on how well our brain works. Our brain is a hungry organ and reportedly uses 20-30% of our daily energy intake. Relative to its size and weight, that is rather demanding and if we don’t take in adequate nutrition, our brain is going to go hungry. None of us feel good when we are hungry, so just imagine how your brain must feel when it goes hungry. Just by skipping breakfast alone, you can adversely affect brain functions like fluency when speaking, ability to solve problems and motivation to tackle tasks. What we need to realise is your brain works just like your car. Just like your car requires good quality petrol, oil, water, brake fluid and other components to function well, so does your brain. The nutrients key to your brains health and function include glucose, vitamins & minerals and other essential chemicals. If you want to keep your brain fit and healthy and make sure it serves you well, keep reading to learn more about food and brain health. Glucose = carbohydrate = brain power The ability to concentrate and focus comes from the adequate supply of energy – from blood glucose – to the brain. The glucose in our blood comes primarily from the carbohydrates we eat – foods including fruit, vegetables, cereals, bread, sugars and lactose in milk. Eating breakfast and regular meals containing some carbohydrate ensure you will have enough glucose in your blood. Low GI carbohydrates are the best choice as they will ensure a steady supply of glucose to your brain. Not having enough glucose in the blood makes us feel weak, tired and our minds cloudy. This may happen when we don’t eat enough carbohydrate-containing food e.g. when you are following a low carbohydrate diet or if you have an erratic eating patterns. However, though glucose ensures good concentration and focus, once your blood glucose is within the normal range, you CANNOT further boost your brain power by eating more carbohydrates and increasing your glucose levels. This will not make you smarter but only cause you to gain weight! Your dietitian would be able to guide you on how much carbohydrates you need to prevent weight gain. Choose fats wisely Our brains are made of around 40% fat, and our cells need fats to maintain their structures, therefore an adequate supply of healthy fat is needed to maintain brain health. Healthy fat choices include the mono-unsaturated fats like olive oil, avocado pear, nuts and seeds and omega 3 rich foods like pilchards, sardines, salmon, trout and walnuts. If you don’t like fish you may decide to take an omega 3 supplement. Make sure your omega 3 supplement has a high proportion of the active ingredients – Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Take up to a total of 1g/day of these essential fatty acids every day. We stock various omega-3 supplements at the practice that meets the recommended dosage. Include protein at each meal Tryptophan is one of the building blocks of protein, and has been shown to play a role in depression. Studies have shown that adding pure tryptophan to the diet of people with depression can improve their mood. Tryptophan is found in most foods like seafood, dairy, nuts, seeds and legumes, but is found in the largest quantity in turkey, chicken and red meats. Protein also contains essential nutrients and eating it little and often helps to keep us feeling full, which in turn, can prevent overeating. Fresh meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and eggs are the best sources of protein. Fill around one-third of your plate with a protein food. Don’t forget your fruit and veggies and wholegrains Wholegrain cereals, peas, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables are rich in a range of vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to function well. These foods are also rich in B vitamins, (including folate) and zinc, which evidence suggests is important in managing depression. Try to eat at least five different fruits and vegetables daily to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. Drink enough fluid Water makes up 85 percent of the brain weight. So, it is but natural that lack of water can lead to brain shrinkage. Researches have shown that dehydration not only shrinks the brain tissues but also adversely affects concentration and memory. So, how much water is required by the body every day? Drink water according to your body weight. Dividing your weight in kilograms by 30 gives the amount of water in litres a day. For example, if you weigh 75 kg, drink (75/30= 2.5) 2.5 litres of water spread out over a day. Be careful of caffeinated beverages though. Caffeine may affect your mood and may lead to withdrawal headaches and to low or irritable mood when the effects wear off. Drinks such as coffee, cola, energy drinks, tea and chocolate all contain caffeine. Avoid all energy drinks, and try to limit intake to three cups of coffee, or five cups of tea a day. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to B vitamin deficiencies, and can make you more depressed or anxious. Try to limit intake to no more than two to three drinks on no more than five days per week. Try to include a super food each day Super foods

October 15, 2014

The Difference between Study Skills, Study Techniques and Study Methods

The Difference between Study Skills, Study Techniques and Study Methods When one considers learning and study, one should always keep in mind that there are three aspects that are of importance: Study Skills: The ability of any learner to study successfully depends to a great extent on his fundamental study skills, i.e. his ability to concentrate, to perceive correctly and accurately, as well as the ability to remember what has been perceived. Study skills should not be confused with study techniques and study methods. The difference between these can be explained by using the game of soccer as example. In order to be a soccer player, a person first has to master the fundamental soccer skills, e.g. passing, heading, and dribbling the ball. Only after that can he be taught techniques and methods. In the same way, in order to be a good student, a learner first has to master the fundamental study skills. Mnemonics training is often done without keeping this sequential fashion of learning in mind. A mnemonic is a specific reconstruction of target content intended to tie new information more closely to the learner’s existing knowledge base and, therefore, facilitate retrieval. There are a variety of mnemonic techniques, including keywords, pegwords, acronyms, loci methods, spelling mnemonics, phonetic mnemonics, number-sound mnemonics, and Japanese “Yodai” methods. An example of an acronym is to remember the word HOMES to recall the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. The purpose of number-sound mnemonics is to recall strings of numbers, such as telephone numbers, addresses, locker combinations or historical dates. To use them, learners must first learn the number-sound relationships: 0=s; 1=t; 2=n; 3=m; 4=r; 5=l; 6=sh, ch, or soft g, 7=k, hard c, or hard g; 8=f or v; and 9=p. To remember the date 1439, for example, the learner uses the associated consonant sounds, t, r, m and p, and will insert vowels to create a meaningful word or words. In this case, the word “tramp” can be used. There are, however, at least two problems in improving memory by means of mnemonic instruction. The first problem is — as already stated — that it overlooks the sequential fashion of learning. Mnemonics instruction is, to a large extent, instruction in memory techniques, which should be taught only after the skill of memory has been learned. It can be compared to a person being taught soccer tactics, such as the “wall pass,” while he has not yet adequately mastered the skill of passing the ball. As stated in Knowabout Soccer, “No matter how good your passing technique, if the quality of your passing is poor, your technique will not be effective.” The second problem is that by teaching memory crutches only, the result is, as stated by Scruggs and Mastropieri, “on more complex applications, generalization attempts [are] less successful.” If the skill of memory is taught, however, the learner can apply it in any situation. Study Techniques: There are three learning techniques that can be employed to make study more successful. 1. Association: This is probably the most important and most effective of all the learning techniques, of which mnemonics is probably the most commonly used association technique. 2. Thinking in pictures: One is able to remember much better what has been seen in the mind’s eye than what has been thought in abstract terms. Therefore, one should always consciously try to think in terms of pictures. 3. Reduce frequency of brain waves: The brain usually vibrates at 20 cycles per second or higher. Dr. Georgi Lozanov was probably the first who discovered that, if the frequency of the brain waves is reduced, more effective study becomes possible. He found that playing slow Baroque music could reduce the frequency of brain waves. José Silva was probably the first who discovered a method to reduce the frequency of brain waves at will. Study Methods: Most learners have the bad habit of only studying the day before a test or exam. There are two serious disadvantages attached to this method of study: 1. There is never any regular practice of study skills. 2. It has been found that within 24 hours — on an average — one forgets up to 80% of what one has learned. If, however, the study material is reviewed after 24 hours, it takes 7 days before 80% is forgotten again, and if another review is done at this point, then it takes 30 days to forget 80% again. Research has shown that, if the correct pattern or review of studied material is followed, memory consolidation is enhanced significantly, and the overall time spent in learning is slashed dramatically. The following pattern of initial study and subsequent review will certainly deliver excellent results: 1. Set up a timetable that is divided in study periods of 30 minutes each. On the first day on which this new timetable will be implemented, take the first study period to learn some study material thoroughly. It must be brief enough so that it can be absorbed in only about 15 minutes. Once the full study program is in operation, as you will soon realize when you read further, one only has about 15 minutes in each study period of 30 minutes in which to study and absorb new material. The rest of the time is spent on reviewing previously learned material. The piece of work must be summarized and thoroughly studied in these 30 minutes. Take a rest of 5 minutes at the end of the study period. 2. Review after 5 minutes. Take 3 minutes of the next study period to review the study material of the previous study period, before new material is again summarized and thoroughly studied. 3. Review after 24 hours. Take 3 minutes to review the material that was studied the previous day. Then take 3 minutes to review the work that was studied 5 minutes ago, before again studying and summarizing new material. 4. Review after 7 days. Take 3 minutes

December 17, 2013

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