The Study Sessions: from The Study Buddy

Legend tells of students who will settle down to studying – of their own volition! They want to do well - and are prepared to work for it - without it becoming all-consuming. However, up and down the country exam year households tend to be filled with the same sorts of questions: “have you got much homework?” and “don’t you think you should be doing a bit of revision?”. Of course, at the other end of the spectrum, students can put themselves under too much pressure, struggling to find a balance. So, just how can we help our young people to find this route to efficient self-managed study and is it even really necessary?

This episode looks at what it takes to be a self-regulated and independent learner

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Louise Lewis. Louise is a biology teacher at a secondary school in East Yorkshire. Alongside the day job, she is a research lead, a governor and a columnist for the Times Education Supplement. She also writes a blog under the genius title of Miss Understanding Education which looks at, amongst other things, evidence-informed teaching practice. 

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, and resulting interruption to education, has led increasing numbers of parents and young people to think about whether being at school is the best place for them. While, for many of us, this period of remote learning reinforced the need for our children to be in class, others saw it as an opportunity to address the individual educational needs of their children. But does taking them out of the mainstream make it more difficult for the young people later in life with qualifications and the like, or is the benefit of tailored and focused learning too great to miss out on?

In this week's podcast episode we’re looking at home education.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Hannah Titley. Hannah is the Founder of The Home Schooling Association. The HAS was created so that parents can make informed decisions and get the most out of home schooling. Hannah is also a qualified teacher and director of The Golden Circle, the UK’s first professional home-schooling group.

In a wide ranging conversation we explore why more and more parents are turning to alternatives to going to school, the impact of this year's exam cancellation and calls for a register of home-school children.

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 previous years a student’s idea of success – and many parents – is the grade they get. Essentially boiling down to how they do in their exams. And there is absolutely no denying that getting good grades is, for many, the key that unlocks the next door. But if this global pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that life can take unexpected twists. This has presented a lot of us, young people included, with a rare opportunity to question what’s important. So, is it time for us to re-evaluate the notion of success to be more about fulfilment than about attainment?

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Fabienne Vailes. Fabienne has over 20 years' experience in teaching across all age groups (from nursery right through to Higher Education) and is currently the French Language Director at the University of Bristol. Fabienne is the author of “The Flourishing Student” and co-author of “How to Grow A Grownup”. Through her work and research, Fabienne is on a mission to change the face of education – by embedding well-being into the curriculum.

For our students – as with most every student in the country – their results don’t just validate their achievements, they seem to view them as the sum total of what they’ve achieved. The results define them. Fabienne explores whether we’re placing too much emphasis on these numbers and letters to the detriment of our young people.

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.

When we look back at the last year of various lockdowns, it’s easy to see why the usual amount of course content hasn’t been taught. And, with the best will in the world - and heroic teacher efforts across the board - there’s no way that remote learning could be a substitute for being in a classroom. Of course, it follows then that some learning hasn’t been as effective amongst students as you’d normally expect. While it’s clear there’s no fault here, the impact is being acutely felt by our young people. They are expected to not only pick up where they left off but “catch-up” to where they should be. In the immortalised words of teens everywhere: isn’t that “so unfair”?

This week we’re looking at how best to deal with the issue of post-Covid catch-up.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Alex Fairlamb. Alex is an Assistant Headteacher and Teacher of History for a Secondary school in the North East of England. Alex regularly writes for a variety of publications and has designed learning resources for national distribution. Alex’s teaching interests and research are focused upon creative Teaching and Learning strategies and resources; including recently how best to motivate and manage student’s learning post-lockdown.

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.

Time flies when you’re having fun. But apparently, it also goes fairly quickly when gripped in a global pandemic, enduring various tiered lockdowns, and a feeling that we’re not so much working from home as living at work. And let’s no get started on remote learning…. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a whole year since we started this humble podcast. Back then the world was a different place. Students were studying to greater or lesser extents and parents often struggled to know how best to support them. Well, it’s good to know that Covid hasn’t altered everything, I guess.

This week, in a special year-in-review episode, Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy, is taking a look back at some of the themes and topics that we’ve explored over the past 12 months and 44 episodes. Each expertly produced by the fantastic team at Pineapple Audio Productions.

For the second only time in our history, Nathan is podcasting solo! Although, it’ll feel like we’re amongst friends as we remember some of the over 50 expert guests who’ve featured on the show. So, cue the wavey lines while I slip into a Noel Coward style jacket and stoke the fire, for this “Study Sessions” retrospective.

From our very first episode with Dr Dominique Thompson looking at perfectionism and the fear of failure amongst our teens to the interview with Ofqual's Chief Regular, Simon Lebus, looking at the alternative arrangements for this year's students; Nathan explores the themes and topics we've covered and some of the invaluable lessons we've learnt.

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 many subjects, it all hinges on the final exam. It’s seen by many as the culmination of 2 or 3 years worth of study. It’s a source of great anxiety in the run-up and often huge relief when they’re finished. However, just like last year, the class of 2021 will not be sitting these terminal exams. Which leaves a rather significant question: just how will these students get a grade to move on to their next step?

This week we’re looking at exactly how students will be awarded their grades in GCSE, AS and A Level courses, following the decision to cancel exams. 

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Simon Lebus. Simon became the interim Chief Regulator – and Chief Exec -  of Ofqual on 1 January 2021. He has a wealth of experience in education technology and curriculum delivery, most notably as a former Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment – who deliver, amongst other things, GCSEs, AS and A levels and iGCSE qualifications around the world.

In January, Gavin Williamson – the Education Secretary – announced that exams wouldn’t take place for GCSE and A Level students in England this year. Shortly after, Ofqual launched a consultation paper, jointly with the Department for Education, inviting opinions as to what the alternative arrangements might be. This is quite a divisive topic and so we can only imagine the variety that might have come from the more than 100,000 responses. However, at the end of February, the arrangements for this year’s exam cohorts were confirmed.

In this episode we take a look at the alternative arrangements that have been put in place to award students their grades. Simon explains the reasoning behind the decision and exactly why Teachers are best placed to make the assessment. We also touch on the appeals process and how it might apply.

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 a universal truth that teens lock themselves away in their darkened bedrooms, headphones on, and within an arm’s distance of a screen – whether that’s a phone, laptop or a video game. This isn’t a new phenomenon. But even with a pre-disposition to languish in their caves, lockdown has curbed what little outside interactions our young people may have had. But should we be concerned about our children being cooped up, or should we lay off encouraging them to “get more fresh air”?

This week we’re looking at light and the role that it plays in our teens’ wellbeing. 

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Dr Shelley James. Shelley is an experienced Arts professional with an international career that combines consultancy and teaching with scientific and creative research. Shelley is leading the charge on highlighting the importance of “light” amongst teens with a number of freely available online workshops and a number of hugely popular Tik Tok videos.

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

Growing up in the 80s, there was a real drive to teach children foreign languages at school – something you can still see today with introductory lessons often taking place in primary schools. And although there are fewer students taking GCSEs in modern foreign languages than a decade ago, French, Spanish or German are still popular options for students to take. But if you’ve ever tried to learn a language independently, you’ll know it can be really tough. So has lockdown impacted student’s ability to continue their language studies, perhaps more than other subjects?

This week we’re looking at the benefits of learning a language at GCSE, and ideas to effectively prepare for assessments.

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Rebecca Nobes. Rebecca is the Head of Spanish in a large secondary school in Essex. She is a Council member of the Chartered College of Teaching. And if that weren’t enough, Rebecca is an active podcaster and blogger at learninglinguist.co.uk

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

There is an insta-perfect perception of remote schooling and revision. It's the one where parents are casually teaching their children quadratic equations; while perfecting cold fusion as a side hustle. In this world parent and child move in some magical symbiotic harmony. And the kids probably even volunteer to put the bins out. Yeah right! The very real reality is that parenting and schooling in lockdown is tricky. It can feel like there’s little to no respite. But although friction is to be expected, is there something in how we deal with it that will unlock a more positive outcome?

This week we’re looking at how parenting might be getting in the way of getting the most out of our children.

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy, is joined by Ayesha Murray. Ayesha is a professional coach who has built her career working with parents to find balance. She is also the host of the popular “parent equation” podcast.

In this episode, we look at some simple coaching techniques that will help you to connect with your teen at a time when they are likely to be feeling unsettled and demotivated.

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

The idea that we have a 'best way' to learn - whether it's visually, verbally, via touch or one of another 67 ways is not new. At the same time, neither is the research that debunks this theory. Odd then that not only do we as individuals and parents still hold on to this idea but that the overwhelming majority of teachers do too. Just what is it, that makes Learning Styles so hard to reject?

This week we’re looking at “Learning Styles” why it is considered to be a neuromyth and whether it matters. 

Nathan McGurl, Founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Professor Phil Newton. Phil is the Director of Learning and Teaching for the Swansea University Medical School. Phil teaches Neuroscience across a variety of programmes in the School. He also teaches evidence-based education as part of the School’s online programme and has written numerous papers including recently “How Common Is Belief in the Learning Styles Neuromyth, and Does It Matter?”

In this episode, we look at the Learning Style concept and touch on the dangers of trying to determine a preferred style in students. We also examine why it can be so hard to dissuade people of its effectiveness as a cognitive theory and why it is more important to focus our attention on the science of learning instead.

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