Revision at Bishop Ullathorne
At Bishop Ullathorne, we want every student to feel confident and well-prepared for exams and assessments. Good revision isn’t about cramming the night before—it’s about using smart strategies to help information stick in your long-term memory. We use ideas from the Learning Scientists, who research the best ways to learn and remember things. Techniques like retrieval practice (testing yourself), spacing out your revision, and using visuals alongside words really work—and we’ll help you use them effectively. With the right approach, you can take control of your revision and do your best.
Who are the Learning Scientists ?
The Learning Scientists are a group of psychologists who study how people learn best. They use science and research to find out what really works when it comes to remembering things and doing well in school.
They’ve created six powerful study and revision strategies—like retrieval practice (testing yourself) and spaced practice (spreading out your revision)—to help students learn more effectively.
Their goal is simple: to help students, like you, become better learners by using smart, proven methods instead of just reading notes over and over again.
So when your teachers talk about using "Learning Scientist strategies," they’re giving you tools that are backed by real science to help your brain remember more and stress less!
How Your Brain Makes Knowledge Stick
- Taking In Info (Short-Term Memory):
When you first learn something—like a maths formula or a historical date—it lands in your short-term memory. That’s like a temporary “mental sticky note.” - Strengthening the Pathways:
Your brain needs repetition and meaning to stick this info long-term. Using active strategies like:- Retrieval Practice: Testing yourself without looking.
- Spaced Revision: Revisiting the info over several days or weeks.
- Elaboration: Explaining it in your own words or making connections.
- Building Long-Term Memory:
Every time you practice, your brain builds stronger connections—like creating a well-worn path. The more you revisit and use the info, the clearer the “mental pathway” becomes. - Stopping Forgetting:
If you don’t keep using it, that pathway fades—sort of like grass growing over an unused path. But regularly testing yourself or practising helps keep it clear and strong. - Retrieval Made Easier:
Once that path is well-trodden, you can access the information quickly and easily—like remembering a fruit snack recipe without thinking about it too hard.
In short:
- New info is “sticky” in short-term memory.
- You strengthen it by actively revisiting and applying it.
- Over time, it becomes an automatic, long-term memory.
Use this process in your revision—test yourself, spread it out, and explain it—and you’ll build strong, lasting knowledge!
Videos
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving
Spaced Practice
Elaboration
Concrete examples
Dual Coding