When interviewed them on their studying methods, no wonder they cannot clear the tests. Most of them dont really prepared themselves for tests, basically they just read the textbook and notes given by the teachers. To them reading from the notes and textbook is good enough to prepare them for the test.
Another experience I had with my 3E combined science....a weak group of students. When I conduct a very simple test on naming and writing the symbol for cations and anions, 1/4 of my 3E still cant pass the test. Amazing when the test just test on memory skills. Had another retest for these 1/4 students, few still cant clear the test. What !!! they cant even memorise...thats my impression ....or maybe ...they have lose their memory power....When asked how they memorise, students said they just read and looked at the list . Arrgghhh !!!!
This is my advise to them..........
I discovered that students dont read with understanding....they must learn to read with purpose.... acquiring information through reading.....they may read three or four times......
Students also need to know how to extract important details....meaning to locate in their reading the basis for main ideas...there is usually one important detail associated with every main idea.....this is also highlighted by teachers during their teaching as to what to take note....how it should be drawn, written or key points that must be included....in their answers....The more important details students can identify, the easier it will be to review for examinations because students have made a link between an idea and information that supports it. The more links they can make between details and ideas, the more fruitful will be the efforts of their study.
Well this is not the end of it.....The next part is to test their understanding of concepts ..........students always grumble...." I can understand the concept taught ...but I just dont know how to answer when given a question..." My next question to them is did you go through the questions in the worksheet. ..Did you try to understand the answers given and why is it approach in that way? Did you see any connection or link between the answers , the questions and the concepts that you have learned? If you dont understand...did you seek HELP...from friends or teachers....if not...you are not ready to sit for the test.............
I asked my students as to how they learned spelling when they were in primary school. As to what they actually did when they have to memorise new words ? ..." Teacher, I wrote down the words many times and asked my friends or parents to test me ." So why cant you do the same....when you are in SEc 3 or 4 .....
My advise to them :
If students are visual learner, they need to associate things with images or set them out in a way that is easy for them to understand. They can work on your visual memory by drawing diagrams, staring at them for a while, then re-drawing the diagram on a blank page until they remember the whole thing.
If you're an audio learner, you need to hear what you're trying to learn. You can do this by telling someone else what you need to remember and test you.
If you learn by actually doing things, then the best way is to write out what you need to learn and keep on writing until you remember.
Well , one sec 4E student did try out my advise...and it worked on him....GREAT ...at least he learned ...
the rest...still monitoring........
As teachers we cant simply ignore their failures , we are like doctors, we have to interview them, understand their difficulties or problems , identify the root problems and give solutions or alternatives approach.
At the end of the day, just like doctors, we cant guarantee 100% as students have to take ownership in their learning.....
I rest my case............
