There is no time like the present to highlight the importance of planning and setting realistic goals with your learners. Goals help us to achieve the things we want in life. They are different from dreams and wishes in that we need to take active steps to achieve our...
Who is Professor Bloom? If you haven’t met the mysterious and charismatic mastermind behind the study revolution you’re missing out and need to watch our introduction video to studying smart right now. Of course effective studying is not the only tool for success and...
Figures of speech are often used to make writing lively and interesting. The key to figurative language is to identify it, describe it and explain the effect it has. Discover the meaning of these frequently used figures of speech.
Despite the invention of smart phones, laptops and tablets, not much has changed when it comes to note taking. It doesn’t take long to realize that just writing everything down exactly as you hear it is going to give you a sore wrist, make your notebook disappear very...
Writing can be a lot of things: a simple Facebook status, an intricate poem, an 800- page epic, the instructions for a pack of noodles. Writing can always be what it needs to be and do what it needs to do. Academic writing is a vehicle for students to show their...
The teen years are renowned for transition, growth and change as many teenagers develop and come to know who they are. Some of these changes include the pressure of fitting in and being accepted by peers, and can be rather challenging for a large number of teens....
This year marks the centenary of Oxford University Press Southern Africa and its publishing legacy in South Africa. To celebrate this milestone a staff event was held at the world renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. The gardens showcase five of South...
This world-wide, age-old problem crosses the boundaries of race, age and gender, and creates serious barriers to learning. Share the different types of bullying with your learners to assist them in identifying when being bullied, and help keep them safe during the...
Realistic study planning should be designed to match your personality and lifestyle. Making general resolutions, such as ‘I will study X number of hours per day or week’, does not usually work and can make you feel frustrated, guilty, and inadequate. The...
It’s the start of yet another exciting school year with new learners, new activities and new challenges. This may all seem very overwhelming at first, but a new year brings with it an array of new possibilities such as making new friends, developing your skills and...
“To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces,” said iconic investigator Sherlock Holmes. No matter how great your ideas are or how well you can write, research is what gives academic work traction. Starting...
Whether it’s Laurel and Hardy, Calvin and Hobbes or Woody and Buzz, popular culture loves a good duo. There’s just so much on offer when the right match is struck; not only do we get two great characters but we get the synergy between the two of them. It’s not just...
The Flipped Classroom approach to teaching and learning is turning the tables on how modern education works. It radically reduces the contact time between lecturers and students but keeps classroom results constant. The New Media Consortium’s annual Horizon report...
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”- Abraham Lincoln It is important to follow a strategic decision-making process when making an informed career choice. Share this five-step process called the PACED decision making Process with your learners to help...
After a busy year in the classroom, deciding on what skills you would like to acquire or improve is essential. Have a look at some great ways you can develop and enhance your own skills as a teacher. Specialising in a particular area By specialising in a particular...
Exam questions don’t just ask for a specific area of information- they ask for that information to be given in a specific way. There’s a difference between name and describe or analyse and discuss. To really nail an exam it’s not just about having the answers; it’s...
It’s the time of year when learners in the Senior and FET Phases start to explore their interests and think about their career options. Research plays a significant part in this process and is a vital step for learners in order to make informed decisions about their...
While a sound knowledge of the subject being tested is integral to exam success, it’s also about how you answer the questions. Aligning your knowledge with the specific intention of the question will ensure you get the best results. There are many types of exam...
A SWOT analysis is a useful exercise to help learners know and understand their strengths and weaknesses as many of them contemplate life after school. Assist them to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to determine what type of career they...
No matter how well you’ve studied, everyone begins their exam with a blank piece of paper. Studying is like preparing for a journey and as soon as you start writing, you set foot on it. Here are some strategies for you to get the best mileage out of your studying...
We all know the feeling. You come across a word you’re not sure of. You take your dictionary, find the right place – but the word’s not there! If this sounds familiar, pause before you write off your dictionary as being no good except as a doorstop. Bear...
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war” wrote Sun Tzu in The Art of War. As dramatic as it might seem, it’s applicable to entering an exam. Students who study successfully do so by applying successful learning strategies. Cramming the night before is like...
One of the many basic human rights children across the African continent miss out on is the right to education in their mother tongue. This may not be as immediately shocking an image as children facing abuse or starvation, but in the long run the results are...