Making the most of the study break

Well, well. It’s that time already. Only a week or two ago that the deluge of assignment work heralded the arrival of the end of semester. It is the final banking and descent of an airplane that has broken away from autopilot and is preparing to rush onto the landing strip. Boom, the signature burst of smoke from the initial contact of tyre to asphalt and the forward momentum comes to an end which signals the finale of the journey.

Sometimes it feels like the exam block is like this. The university semester has come and gone, but it is all pretty routine. The take-off sees an initial spike in activity as the summer lull ends and the weight of responsibility forces bodies from the couch (or the beach) into the lecture theaters, classrooms and the library. Then autopilot kicks in. You have found a pattern and cruise through most of semester doing the odd assignment and then exams sneak up and some of us go into emergency landing mode, while others, after months of preparation, enjoy a smooth descent into the study block and then the exams.

So, the question is, how to I make the most of the study block? If we are linking this to the aviation metaphor (allowing me to indulge a little further in my passion for flight), then the study block most directly relates to the descent toward the tarmac. Keeping the right speed and a steady decline at an appropriate angle will make the landing much smoother. So it is with the study block.

The most important thing to do in the study block is to plan! Know when your exams are and write them up on a calendar or somewhere that you can visualise where they sit in relation to one another. That way it is possible to effectively work out what you need to study and when it needs to be done.

After you know what to do and when, work out how many hours you want to study each day. This step should be easy, it is important to remember though not to burn yourself out too quickly. It’s better to pace yourself, planning 5-6 hours a day and then finding extra time to study, rather than planning 8-9 hours and not meeting your expectations. Hitting targets helps to boost confidence and also maintain focus during times of study.

Next up you can plan your days to get the hours of study in. This is totally up to personal preference, some people thrive on study before breakfast (definitely not my preferred hours of study) whereas others love studying at night. Tailor the program to suit you but be sure to include a couple of key elements:

1. Meals – these may not seem important, however, regular and healthy meals will improve focus and energy over long periods of time.
2. Breaks – Research shows that spacing out study with short breaks improves recall and performance in testing situations. Some research suggests that it is better to study 30-60 minutes at a time with a 10-15 minute break and moving onto a different subject after the break. It is worth googling this topic as there is some very interesting evidence supporting break times and their impact on study. (It is worth noting too that social media tends to distract for longer periods of time than it’s actual usage – so getting on Facebook during the break will probably cause more harm than good).
3. Exercise. Make sure you get the blood flowing regularly! Whether a brisk walk or afternoon gym session, the break from study combined with increased heart rate never ceases to improve general wellbeing as well as energy levels and focus.
4. Sleep! This one should be obvious, however, maintaining good sleep patterns will help with feeling motivated and energised for both study and exams.

Now that’s done, all that is left to do is actually study! With good planning and effective study techniques; the descent toward the exams should be somewhat smooth and will hopefully set you up for great results when it comes to exams. All the best!

Josh

P.S. One last study tip: keep digital devices away – if possible. One study demonstrated that “some students, even when on their best behavior, can’t concentrate on homework for more than two minutes without distracting themselves by using social media or writing an email.”

What is your long-term goal?

I have one exam and one assignment to go. That is it. In one week, I will have finished my four year degree.

I was asked recently, ‘what is your long-term goal?’. For once in my life, I was actually speechless.

My ‘long-term’ (at least it had seemed long term) goal had consisted of working hard at uni, achieving the best GPA possible, finishing my degree and then passionately teaching maths and/ or art to high school kids somewhere.

However, when I was asked the question recently, I realised that the once seemingly massive task of completing my degree was almost complete. I had focused so much energy into doing well in exams, assignments, pracs and internships that somewhere along the way, I forgot that this was all leading somewhere.

I began thinking back to the reasons I began the degree in the first place. There are many reasons, but a few pivotal moments stand out.

When I was in middle primary school, I was truly over-excited about learning. I would come home, quickly open my homework sheet, complete it, parade around with it in front of my parents and then set about creating a ‘homework’ sheet for my younger sister to complete. I loved teaching her new things. Though I had waited a few years after high school to begin formal study, I think that becoming a teacher was predetermined.

This passion for teaching and sharing what I knew continued throughout my life. It was then extended through travel, where I realised my passion for teaching overseas as well as helping those who are less fortunate.

The passion still exists. The degree has almost been attained. So, where do I see myself in 2, 5, 10, 20 years? What will be in store for the Rickard’s, long-term?

I think the answer here is teaching internationally and participating in long-term volunteer/ charity projects within the country. Ideally, of course.

How has USQ assisted with this? I have attained (almost) an internationally recognised degree from a university which is highly regarded throughout the world for its Education program. It is because of USQ’s connections with partner-schools around the world that I was given the opportunity to teach in Thailand, as one of my pracs. I have been given great guidance from lecturers, have met a wonderful bunch of like-minded friends and have found my inner-confidence.

The journey has been challenging. This is felt most during exam block, the current time of this semester. However, I think it is important to be reminded that this is a road which is leading somewhere – to a realisation of your hopes and dreams, the achievement of a goal in which you have chosen.

For me, it is with an excited heart that I reveal the new chapter in which I am about to begin, thanks to my journey here…

I have secured a mathematics teaching position in Bangkok, Thailand!

Thank you for sharing the latter part of my journey with me through my blogs. All the best.

Nearly there, nearly there…NEARLY THERE!

Hi!

As I am a preservice teacher, it will probably come as no surprise that I like to talk. A lot. In the classroom, out of the classroom, to big crowds, to little crowds… to anyone who will listen really. So in light of this, I have created a short recording – of me talking   I hope you enjoy it!

NEARLY THERE!

The Beginning of the End

Here it is. The beginning of the end. After 3 and a half years, 28 courses, 56 assignments (roughly) as well as several exams and quizzes, I am now staring into the face of my final semester at USQ.

For many, this semester will be their first. It will be marked with new and exciting experiences; the starting point in working to achieve their goals and dreams. For me though, this semester will be characterised through a series of ‘lasts’. The last uni textbook I buy, the last courses I complete, the last assignment I submit, the last prac I participate in – my university life is drawing to a close.

While I am excited about the doors that will unlock and open in the completion of an Education degree, I can’t help but feel nostalgic. I have loved my uni life from the very first lecture. I have changed, I have grown and I have discovered who I am as well as what my passions are. I have met some wonderful and inspiring people, many of whom have become part of my ‘uni family’, and have had some amazing experiences.

I have done things that four years ago I would never have dreamt that I would do. This is very true of an experience that I have had recently. I remember back to my first ‘O Week’, when I attended all of the information sessions that I could (in a desperate bid to ease my nerves). One of these was a lecture on professional placements (pracs; going out to schools to teach). Sometime through this, two fourth year students made their way to the front of the lecture theatre and discussed their recent prac, in Thailand. I remember thinking two things. My first thought centred on the public speaking aspect, I wondered if I would ever truly be comfortable speaking in front of such a large group. Secondly, I thought about actually teaching kids in another country. What a seemingly impossible task!

Less than three years later, I was boarding a plane with two other USQ students (who I had met previously but really didn’t know). We were off to teach in Thailand! The three week experience was unbelievable. I taught maths to high school children in Chiang Mai, observed and participated in many cultural traditions, rode elephants, played with tigers (yes – real life tigers) and was able to share these amazing experiences with two other USQ students who I now regard as family.  Since then, I have given presentations about this prac to large groups of students – just as the two students I envied had done! Through these reflections of the past 3 and a half years, I can see how much I have grown as a person as well as a teacher.

My first lectures of my final semester have just started. So, it is with my last textbook, pen and notepad in hand that I leave nostalgia behind (for now) and refocus on my goal – finish the degree. However, like a good Hollywood movie, I will leave you now with a small reflective montage of my uni life over the past few years. Enjoy