Summary of Easter Break and what's to come ...

Note-Taking and Revision Ideas

Writing on the lines


 The old-school way of learning, and to be honest it still works perfectly for some people. You follow the lecturer and write down the things that are important, that stand out to you, or (if you're a visual learner like me) just so you can see it on paper and print it in your mind before filing it away and never looking at it again (okay, do as I say but NOT as I do on that one!).

Bullet Points


 I LOVE my bullet points, and to be fair they get involved with all kind of note taking, but rather than write odd words here and there, or complete sentences or phrases that are often repetitive and unnecessary, incorporate bullet points.

Highlighting and Different Coloured Pens!

 Okay, maybe  this is my OCD side coming out, but I highlight in a colour co-ordinated fashion, purple is references, yellow are key facts, and when it comes to trying to find out that key bit of information from hundreds of notes, it really helps.

Interacting with Printed Slides

 Lecturers will often put up their slides on BREO prior to their talk (and if they don't you can always ask). I did this a lot in my first year AND used it for revision to remember everything I had learnt.

Mind Maps

 I actually picked this one up recently at a training day in my school, and I realised I already used mind maps but perhaps not to its full potential! You start with your main theme, ideologies for example (but it could be childhood perceptions, welfare systems etc.) and create branches on the different stems like Marxism (or Universialism, Feminism, etc.). Marxism would then have branches to define what it stands for, how it is perceived in today's world, or you could even start a new mind map on a new piece of paper. This is great for in class note taking or for revision too.

 Check out this youtube clip on Mind Maps for language learning (we're learning our own academic language remember) and the guy explains how powerful it is for our brain connections.

and don't forget the Recommended Books

Essential

Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook, 3^rd edn., Houndmills: Palgrave

Moore, S., Neville, C., Murphy, M. & Connolly, C. (2010) The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook, Milton Keynes: The Open University

Background

Greetham, B. (2008) How to write better essays, 2^nd edn., Houndmills: Palgrave

McMillan, K. & Wevers, J. (2006) Smarter Study Skills Companion, Harlow: Pearson

Pears, R. & Shields, G. (2010) Cite them Right: the Essential Referencing Guide, 8^th edn., Houndmills: Palgrave

Stogdon, C. & Kiteley, R. (2010) Study Skills for Social Workers, London: Sage

Top 5 Luton Night Life Locations

…as told by my lovely friend who's name is also Anna :)

Happy (We Are From Luton!) - Pharrell Williams

Thank You Mandela

Wednesday saw the University of Bedfordshire join with students to create a celebration of Nelson Mandela who died last Friday the 5th of December. This was when the staff and students of southern Africa came together; singing, dancing and reading of poems and prayers, I realised how much it means to be with people who know where you have come from, as Alexa told us in her interview below.

As 6 doves were released into the sky, symbolising peace and love for this great man and his nation, I thought about how a man of 95, across the world, had impacted and empowered so many lives, setting a precedent that we and our future generations will live with. This is what I wrote in the memorial book that was laid out for students and staff to write their thoughts in about this man.

Whenever I think of you Mr. Mandela, I remember how one man, just one, can make a difference. You maybe didn't know that your life would effect an entire nation, an entire generation, but you gave your life for others. Thank you for your gift to the world. Thank you for your inspiration.

Some background on Mandela...