Study skills needs to be more than mindmaps and flashcards

Abstract

Our school career culminates in a set of exam results, but if students want to do well, attending lessons is not enough: the implicit expectation is that all students will reinforce learning independently outside of the classroom. Really effective learners employ effective independent study techniques, but when, how and where do they learn to do this? Currently there is no coherent consensus on how we should teach young people to become effective independent learners. Most schools, as far as it is possible to know given the scant research, do not teach study skills effectively – using one off sessions or PSHE sessions simply to teach strategies (Purdie & Hattie, 1999 & a very unscientific social media poll, 2024). Many students, as they move through the educational system, need to make significant behavioural changes to the way they learn independently To support students in this I have developed a curriculum that draws on a wide range of psychological domains to help students not only learn effective study techniques, but also to help them develop more helpful study habits. Whilst ever evolving and difficult to evaluate, the feedback from students and parents has convinced me that the course curriculum is impactful, enabling students to tackle independent study, revision and exams with confidence.