1 End of Term 2 Review Wednesday 18 March 2015 Please note the workshop on the day may be delivered in a different format Adam Sandelson LSE Student Counselling Service
Jan 04, 2016
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End of Term 2 ReviewWednesday 18 March 2015
Please note the workshop on the day may be delivered in a different format
Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service
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Aims
Revision strategies Revision psychology/
Practical tips Stress management
skills
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Revision Strategies
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Best use of time Complete and practise exam tasks
Produce answers to show
You can think (answer the question) You’ve done the reading (references /
context) Expertise (detailed knowledge, locate the
debate etc)
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Revising How many topics – 2n + 1 Look for repeated questions on same topic Find links, key ideas – see the whole Pareto Principle – 20% gets 80% of marks
Reduce each week to a single page Pare down further as you get closer
New material if necessary and interesting Find work you enjoy – motivation is key
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Resources
Each other – read each others essays, try the same questions and talk through the solutions (good end of day task)
Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset, marking preferences etc.
Office hours – take answers / plans rather than questions of detail
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5 minutes exercise What are your top revision tips?
Revision strategies Planning last two months Managing workload Use of time Keeping fresh
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Practical tips
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Practical approaches Time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Plan short term targets and
longer term strategies Recognise your achievements Talk to others Concentrate on the task, not the
outcome
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Focussing on the task
Monitor perfectionism Remember past successes Recognise you are likely to pass Be methodical, and allow time for
breaks and space to breathe and think
Use mind maps, scribble ideas Go for a walk, talk out loud
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Procrastination top tips
10 minute rule –at least make a start! Time scheduling – SMART – specific, measurable,
achievable, realistic, timetabled (by when) Utilise when you work best Practice imperfection – aim for 80% or even 60% Imagine looking back on this task in 3 months, 1
year Talk to others/ check out if your fears are
reasonable – can help get a sense of perspective
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Perfectionism
Perfectionism can reduce achievement Trying to be perfect can reduce your
satisfaction and make you achieve far less It’s an undesirable illusion
Experiment with your standards for success Try for 80% or even 60%
Focus on the process of doing an activity not just the end result. Evaluate the outcome - what did you achieve? Did you enjoy the task?
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Underlying dynamics
The family / historic context for your success
Wanting to be the best Trying to please others Setting yourself impossible targets Re-enacting anxiety, fear of failure
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Dynamics of study
Pastrelationships
Relationshipwith LSE or
course of studyor tutor or …
Currentrelationships
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5 minute exercise
What are you top 3tips for good
revisionPsychology?
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Stress Management Skills
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Stress Management Skills Regularly switch off with some kind of
physical activity Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine,
alcohol Allow yourself time out without guilt Acknowledge anxiety, rather than
denying it. Ask if your negative thoughts are
realistic
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Challenging negative thoughts Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine
this being tested in a Court of Law
Identify the negative thought Eg, I am going to fail the Course
Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative
thought
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Thinking errors
All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive Believing a catastrophe will
happen Emotional Reasoning
If I feel it then it must be true
Overgeneralizing Because something bad
happened in the past it is certain to happen again
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LSE Student Counselling Service
Free and confidential Short term counselling Appointments need to be booked in
advance Drop in sessions – each day at 3.00 Relaxation MP3’s Links to self help resources on a wide
range of student issues, including study – related and personal difficulties