The Study Sessions: from The Study Buddy

Well, that was quite a year! It might not have panned out as any of us expected. But, one thing is for sure, our young people have shown themselves to adapt well to the changing circumstances and, in the overwhelming majority of cases, resilient to the setbacks that 18 months of a pandemic have thrown them. In this episode, we’re going to be looking at some of the big questions that come up time and again, with reference to the previous episodes in this season.

This week is the Season 2 finale. Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy looks back over the last 41 episodes to answer some typical questions that we’ve had from parents and students.

Six listener's questions have been answered, covering topics including:

* How grades are being assessed in 2021
* What is happening in 2022 with exams
* Teenage study anxiety
* Summer revision
* Notes and study techniques
* Mock exams

If you have any questions that you would like to put to The Study Buddy on any aspect of supporting your teen pleased drop us a line [email protected]

We're taking a break now for the Summer but will be back with Season 3 in September. Don't forget to follow/subscribe so you don't miss out!

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

"Studying’s boring. I’ve already done enough. The test’s not for ages. The teacher told us it wasn’t important. What’s the point, I’m rubbish anyway?" I could go on with the list of typical student reactions to the prospect of revision. Not only have I heard them from my own children and other students, but I know for a fact I churned a few of these out to my parents all those years ago. But is this as easy to dismiss as a stereotypical teen response or is there something that we can do to help overcome this roadblock and help our children reach their goals?

This week we’re looking at what it takes to be motivated.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Mark Enser. Mark is head of geography and research lead at Heathfield Community College in East Sussex. He is a frequent columnist with the Times Educational Supplement, an author and, as well as regularly blogging along with his wife Zoe Enser (who you may remember from our previous episode on generative learning) – he is an avid twitterer.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

There’s something comforting about seeing a teen’s notepad with actual notes inside it! Of course, the occasional diagram has its place too. The written word reassures us that they are working. Simply the more notes, the harder they’re working. After all, that’s how they did it in my day. However there are a number of ways of presenting information:  from companies trying to persuade us their products are more effective than another to Professor Chris Whitty and the Covid-updates. So is the long form writing-out of notes the most effective way of learning and revising? 

This week we’re looking at organising ideas and information.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Oliver Caviglioli. Oliver is a former headteacher of a special school and currently the go-to educational book designer and illustrator – certainly according to the office book collection. He has authored, co-authored and contributed to several books on teaching and learning strategies including the forthcoming “Organising Ideas: Thinking by hand, Extending the mind” alongside David Goodwin. He also maintains his website olicav.com which is packed with resources and ideas for teachers - and parents and students too.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

Teaching and learning are something that has been happening since the dawn of time – or thereabouts. And we do it all the time in non-school contexts, as do our children. But that doesn’t mean, necessarily that the things we need to learn stick, especially when there is an entire world of excitement and interest out there competing for our attention. So, just how can we focus our efforts and be more deliberate about our learning?

This week we’re looking at what was called a whole-brain learning approach and how it can help students.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Nimish Lad. A Physics teacher by training, Nimish is an experienced and passionate senior leader with a particular interest in curriculum design, research and leadership. In addition to maintaining a blog – researcher teacher – Nimish is about to release his first book – Shimamira’s MARGE: Model for Learning in Action.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

In normal times, exams can be a cause of stress and anxiety for students. Even those students who have studied and you’d think are well prepared are subjected to the mounting pressure. In fact, these abnormal times are no different. Exams have been replaced with Teacher Assessment and a process that for some feels uncertain and perhaps even out of their control. However, a significant number of schools have finished gathering evidence and many students have been released. But, given the interruption to education over the last 12 months and more, do we have the balance right between downtime and catching up?

This week we’re looking at the 2021 exam series and anxiety in the face of assessments.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Jill Duffy. Jill is the Chief Exec of OCR. OCR is a leading UK exam awarding body, providing GCSEs and A Levels in over 40 subjects and offer over 450 vocational qualifications. Jill joined OCR as CEO in November 2018 and has over 25 years of experience in education in various roles across teaching and education publishing. 

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

The end of the academic year is upon us. For GCSE and A Level students, the worst is now over. Many have finished their courses and looking forward to a couple of extra weeks of the British summer. However, for other year groups throughout secondary school, just over the horizon looms the prospect of end-of-year exams. Typically, schools use these as an introduction to the high-stakes terminal exams they’ll face later. They can also serve as a fantastic proving ground for how our young people will get on with revision – or not. So, maybe this is an opportunity for us to find out how we can best support them too? 

This week we’re looking at project management and how it can apply to supporting your teen.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Catherine Walker. As well as being one of the most fabulous people you could have the pleasure of working with, Catherine is a formidable and highly sought after Project Manager. With qualifications and a wealth of experience in both traditional Prince and more contemporary Agile projects, Catherine has consulted on and managed multi-million-pound projects for numerous multinational and blue-chip companies. 

In this episode we explore some of the key traits to successful project managers and how you can apply that to supporting your teen.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

The pandemic has resulted in canceled exams for hundreds of thousands of pupils across the UK. In their place,  we have Teacher Assessed Grades; where teachers are using their professional and holistic judgment to determine the level that a student is performing at. On the face of it at all sounds relatively straightforward. However, as we get closer to the deadlines, and as teachers, students and parents grapple with the realities of not having terminal exams, a myriad of complexities and questions seem to be appearing. The most pressing one seems to be, how can we make sure that this process is fair, and the grading is consistent.

This week, we're looking at the challenges facing teachers and indeed Exam boards in ensuring consistency across centers and students results.

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Ian Morgan. Ian is the Chief Executive of WJEC, having joined the organization in 2002. WJEC is an exam board based in Wales, providing bilingual qualifications. And it's also responsible for the Eduqas brand, which runs qualifications across schools and colleges in England. He is also a board member of the Joint Council for Qualifications.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

In any normal year, the GCSE and A Level exam period would be starting about now. But, there’s scarcely any need to point out that this isn’t a normal year! You might be forgiven for thinking that in the absence of exams there would be less pressure and a distinct lack of need to revise. However, across the country – but to varying degrees – schools are rolling out assessments in a bid to secure much-needed evidence for grades. So just was is it about the cancelled exams that is giving rise to the need to test?  

This week we’re looking at the grade awarding process for 2021, with the head of the organisation that helped to shape the process.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Dr Philip Wright. Philip is the Director-General of the Joint Council for Qualifications. JCQ is a membership organisation comprising the eight largest UK qualification providers. Philip has over 20 years of experience working in public and regulatory affairs largely in the life sciences sectors, including leading educational outreach and activities in a number of different organisations.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

Between finding things that explode or pop or fizzle and trying to not set notes alight with Bunsen burners many of us will have fond memories of Chemistry lessons. But it's not all parlour tricks and safety goggles, there’s a considerable amount of content to be learnt. Between the scientific terms and symbols, it can feel like an alien language for students and parents alike. So, just what are the best study methods to yield good results?

This week's podcast episode is looking at Chemistry, why an understanding is important beyond school and how to prepare for the exams.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Dr David Paterson. David is Chemistry Teacher and researcher. Previously David has been a subject advisor with a UK exam board. As well as being an author and blogger, David is active in working on teacher training and support with the Royal Society for Chemistry, amongst others.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

As we’re now well into the swing of the Summer term, the end is firmly – and finally – in sight for our GCSE and A Level students. Unfortunately for many, that goal post can still seem a little blurry. We know that, like last year, disrupted and unequal access to schooling has resulted in the cancellation of exams. We also know that teachers will be making the assessment of grades. But just what are the implications for our young people?

This week we’re looking at the alternative arrangements for grading, and what it means for students. 

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Colin Hughes – the Chief Exec of AQA. AQA is England’s largest provider of academic qualifications – setting the exams for around half of all GCSEs and A Levels. Before joining AQA in June 2020, Colin was the Managing Director of publisher Collins Learning and has also chaired the Education Publishers’ Council.

This episode touches on questions of consistency and quality assurance in the 2021 exam series. A frank and open conversation with the head of one of the UK's largest exam boards. 

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to organising revision, time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.