Studywise is a year-long, thorough program for senior secondary school students to help them maximise their marks in (usually) Years 11 and 12.

It consists of a number of elements; student seminars, parent seminar, curriculum package, email access and follow-up letters.

Student Seminars

There are three seminars that occur through the year, the first - Students Guide to Getting Organised and Motivated - in Term 1, the second - Revision that Works - in Term 2 and the third - Managing Stress and Difficult TImes in Term 3.  Each of these seminars runs for approximately 40-50 minutes and is designed to be run with an entire year level.  A description of the seminars follows. 

1. Students Guide to Getting Organised and Getting Motivated

The students who are most successful at school are the students who understand how to make the best use of their time, how to motivate themselves and who use efficient study methods. In this presentation students learn exactly these skills. They learn how to organise their time, become more efficient in homework sessions, become more independent learners and more adept at thinking and planning ahead.

But this is not the “same old - do more homework” message young people have heard for years. This is a presentation which incorporates interesting psychological research which explains exactly how to get the best results without hours of study. It includes practical and useful suggestions students can implement immediately.

This is a fast paced presentation packed with humour, stories, relevant examples and is pitched exactly to where teenagers “are at”. Students will be engaged, interested and will not be bored.

Past comments made by students regarding this module:
It was good that we were told how, the best way to study, not just that we should study
You are young - you can relate to us! Plus you made it fun, and made me laugh.
This made me really think about my study habits
I learnt how to get more organised and it was effective and to the point
This has opened my eyes to different methods of study and organisation
This has helped me calm down about Year 12 and understand that you can get on top of things.
This made my remember that I CAN do it - not just on an academic level but on a personal level as well.
This showed me how to be self-motivated
This was a great way to start Year 12.

2. Revision that works

The two least effective methods of revision are exactly the same two most commonly used methods of revision by secondary school students! Students generally do not know how to revise. Students also delay revision because they believe (a) it is boring, (b) it doesn’t work and (c) they have more important school work to do. When they finally get around to starting to revise for exams, they then revise in ineffective ways.

This seminar addresses these problems. Students leave the seminar inspired to start effective revision immediately, they understand how revision can actually be interesting and they know how to revise in a way that works.

Again, this is not the “same old - do more homework” message young people have heard for years. This is a presentation which incorporates interesting psychological research which explains exactly how to get the best results without hours of study. It includes practical and useful suggestions students can implement immediately.

Past comments made by students regarding this module:
I believe I will do better in exams now
I really liked learning about revision and methods for revision
I think all year 10s and 11s should attend so they know what they are up for the next year
Thankyou - I’m not so scared now!

Parent Seminar

As part of the Studywise package, a short seminar to parents is also conducted.  This is usually conducted as part of an existing parent information night run by the school.  For example, many schools conduct SACE information evenings, beginning of the year programs, Parents and Friends acquaintance evenings and so on.   At these evenings, a short seminar (between 15 and 40 minutes) will be conducted on the topic of "Helping Students through Senior School".  A description of this seminar follows.

Helping Students through Senior School

Year 11 and 12 can be a stressful and worrying time for parents. They are often unsure about how to help their teenager, how to work with the school and what to do in difficult times. Research and experience shows that parents are often grateful for information that helps them care for their teens during this process. If seminars on these topics are included as part of a regular school evening, attendance rate increases dramatically.

In this seminar specific topics include:
Understanding the differences between generations
Helping young people with homework - without nagging!
Most common pitfalls in dealing with a Year 12 student
How to work with the school
Enjoying the year!
And others…

This seminar for parents is far from dry, dull and academic. Using humour, stories, anecdotes and real life examples, parents are usually engaged and interested from the very beginning.

Feedback from parent seminars in the past has been excellent:

• “There was lots of of information, it was extremely worthwhile and challenging”
• “Great to feel we were doing things right, I learnt practical suggestions of how to talk to my daughter
• “Wonderful to find out we are not alone. Many thanks.”

Curriculum Pack

The Studywise package also includes a curriculum pack.  This curriculum pack includes all the materials required to run three forty five minute follow-up lessons.  Each of these three followup lessons are designed to support and reinforce the messages in each of the three student seminars.  They consist of student worksheets, discussion topics and activities.  Each homegroup/pastoral care group/mentor group teacher receives a copy of a manual which provides a step by step guide to facilitating these lessons.

If the school does not have the time/resources to run these lessons, a discussion question guide is provided so that teachers are provided with ideas to start conversations on the seminar topics in any time they might have with individual students.

Email Support

For schools that book the StudyWise package, all students are provided, several times during the year, with  business sized "help" cards with Kirrilie Smout's email address (plus study skills tips).  They are encouraged to email anytime with any study skills/motivation related issues or questions and I will provide them with as much e-support as they need or want during that calender year.

Follow-Up Letters

Several weeks after each seminar, students are provided with a letter which covers the main seminar points.  This again serves to reinforce and remind students of how they can achieve their best grades, in a consistent, ongoing way.