Books by Fiona Mcpherson

Being smart helps. Working hard helps more. But working effectively helps most of all.There's a great deal that research can now tell us about how to study effectively. For 20 years, I've been reporting on research into memory and learning, and explaining how these findings can be translated into practical advice. In earlier books, I have presented a lot of detail on strategies in specific areas: note-taking, mnemonics, practice and revision. In this guide, I attempt to provide an overview of how to approach your learning, and the strategies you should consider using.The book covers: preparing for learning approaching a text reading taking notes building understanding navigating non-linear environments dealing with lectures memorizing revising building expertise in skills how specific subjects differ in their needs & demands. The book can be used as an adjunct and quick reference for those who have the more in-depth workbooks, or as a simplified guide for those who want the bottom-line without the detail. This is not a book for students who want a magic bullet, who want a five-minute 'answer' to effortless study! But for students who want to know that their time and effort are being used wisely, that their diligence will be rewarded with better marks and more long-lasting learning, this guide may be the answer they've long been looking for.

Being a successful student is far more about being a smart user of effective strategies than about being 'smart'. In fact it is possible to predict how well a student will do simply on the basis of their use of study strategies.Mnemonics is one class of study strategy that is of proven effectiveness, but (like only too many effective strategies!) is used far too little. Despite many studies showing the effectiveness of mnemonic strategies, they remain the least frequently used formal memory aid used by students.While you can find basic information on the various mnemonic strategies in many books and websites, Mnemonics for Study goes far beyond the same tired descriptions, using the latest research to explain exactly how these strategies work and are best used.The hardest part of permanently improving your memory is changing your habits and becoming an effective user of effective strategies. The best way to do this, research has shown, is through understanding how different strategies work, and when and how to use them. Through examples and exercises, that is what this book aims to teach you.The 2nd edition includes multi-choice chapter review questions, extra images, and a very detailed step-by-step case study showing how to use mnemonics to learn the Geological Time Scale.This particular edition has an extensive English-Spanish glossary to assist Spanish-speaking readers. The relevant glossary is provided after each section, with the complete glossary in alphabetical order available at the end of the book.

Being a successful student is far more about being a smart user of effective strategies than about being 'smart'. In fact it is possible to predict how well a student will do simply on the basis of their use of study strategies.Mnemonics is one class of study strategy that is of proven effectiveness, but (like only too many effective strategies!) is used far too little. Despite many studies showing the effectiveness of mnemonic strategies, they remain the least frequently used formal memory aid used by students.While you can find basic information on the various mnemonic strategies in many books and websites, Mnemonics for Study goes far beyond the same tired descriptions, using the latest research to explain exactly how these strategies work and are best used.This concise book covers acronyms & acrostics rhythm & rhyme keyword strategies (including the face-name association method) the story method the loci or journey method the pegword method the link method coding mnemonics The hardest part of permanently improving your memory is changing your habits and becoming an effective user of effective strategies. The best way to do this, research has shown, is through understanding how different strategies work, and when and how to use them. Through examples and exercises, that is what this book aims to teach you. The 2nd edition includes multi-choice chapter review questions, extra images, and a very detailed step-by-step case study showing how to use mnemonics to learn the Geological Time Scale. This particular edition has an extensive English-Italian glossary to assist Italian readers. The relevant glossary is provided after each section, with the complete glossary in alphabetical order available at the end of the book.