1. Effective note taking

Being able to take notes effectively is very important in a student’s life.

Many people realize how fast the memory fades and the brain can only retain a small percentage of what we learn daily.

Study on memory have show that, without review 47% of what a person had just learnt is forgotten in the first 20 minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day.

The notes taking effectively can help you to do well in education and not only even in day to day life. The first step to improve note taking is to pay attention and have good listening skills.

The method I use to develop an efficient note taking is:

Before the lecture:

·         Be prepared and arrive in time, have a positive attitude and try to concentrate, to pay attention and listening to the speaker

·         Avoid to seat around to someone who is not interested and can distract your attention

·         Have all equipment with you

During the lecture:

• Identify a note taking format that suits you
• Pay attention to the speaker and listen
• Don’t write full sentences, use your words
• Write down the key words. Symbols, formulas
• If you fill loss or can’t understand leave blank spaces
• Don’t be shy to ask teacher or class mates

After lecture:

• Review the notes as soon as possible
• Rewriting and fill the blanks
• Highlight the key words
• Make sure the notes makes sense

We all have our own ways of taking notes. My method can help you to improve those skills and be successful in taking notes efficiently.

                    

2. SQ3R Reading strategy

 Even the technology today is very high, yet many people still read.

I always liked to read different books, magazines or articles, but as my reading to be an effective one I started to adopted  the SQ3S method of reading, which helped me to understand how can I read efficiently and I became more organised with my study.

Dividing the symbol of SQ3S in words they mean:

Survey, Questions, Read, Recite, Review.

 S-Survey: scan the chapter, read the first paragraph and the conclusion, pay attention to pictures, diagrams and maps, note the key words or terms boldface. Look for any questions at the end of the chapter.

Q-Questions: ask yourself what the chapter is about, turning the heading into questions, write down questions in your own words, this will help you to retain the information more deeply.

R-Read: know you are ready to read the material. Taking care to understand all the points that are relevant. Try to answer all the questions and write them down, if you are stuck go back and re-read the material.

R-Recite: practising out loud what you have written down, talk to yourself, thinking about all the questions and try to answer them. The written questions and answers can help you for study in the future.

R-Review: go back through the material reciting the questions and answers. Test your memory. Review your study notes often to help you to remember the information.

The SQ3R is a great method to have an efficient study , I recommend it to you and I’m sure you will be an active reader. 

That easy !

                                       

4.Effective presentation

Some people are more relaxed and comfortable to speaking in front of others, but for me speaking in public is a nightmare. I thought that good presenters are born like that, it is not true. Everybody can learn the skills and improve them with practice.

When I knew I had to speak in front of my colleagues I started getting nervous and I started to think about what I could do to make my presentation to be good.

I tried to find an interesting and easy topic to capture the audience’s attention and also to be easy for me to deliver. After all I started looking for information, pictures, and statements, to help me and support my presentation. Presentation to get an efficiency should start with an introduction. The audience needs to understand what you want to submit, the body and the conclusion.

Time was running and presentation day was closer, then I began to practice every day. Even if I was alone in front of the mirror I noticed that emotions overwhelmed me and I did not have enough confidence to speak in front of my colleagues, then I took a positive attitude and I told myself  “I can do this”.

I want to share with you few of the techniques which helped me to develop my presentation skills and made me more confident to speak in front of people.

·        Introduce yourself.

·        Good preparation is the key of confidence.

·        Deal with your nerves, try to be natural.

·        Give a clear message to audience.

·        Use clue cards with the key words on it.

·        Keep the eye contact  with the audience.

·        Accept questions from public

·        Close positively, by thanking them for having patience to listen to you.