GENERAL ADVICE ON SCHOOL CLOSURE
This is not wasted time but instead is an ideal opportunity for students to revise before summer or state examinations. In many schools, on-line learning is taking place through MS 365 or G suite for education. Thismay not be possible due to broadband connectivity and, so, many students will have to take responsibility for their own learning over the coming weeks. The following are possible suggestions in this case: • For first and second-year students, continue to read the chapter of the textbook that you were studying in school and try to answer the chapter questions. When you have finished this, begin to revise chapters and topics from first semester. Look back over your class tests from this time and try to answer these questions again.
• Third-year students can gain a lot of ground over the next two weeks in terms of getting ahead on their revision. Make out a revision timetable and stick to it – allow 40 minutes per subject with a five-minute break in between, and try to stay disciplined about this. In as much as possible, mirror your normal school day and take breaks and lunch at the usual times – your brain is already programmed to this routine. Start each study session by reading your notes or textbook, then use your exam papers to try to answer questions on that topic. Check themarking scheme for the question and see where you could improve and most importantly make the corrections. (All exampapers andmarking schemes can be accessed on wwww.examinations. ie but other websites such as studyclix.ie allow you to answer questions by topic). If you have practical examinations such as Music or Home Economics, use this time to practice your skills.
• Fifth-year students have quite a bit of their courses covered and, again, should focus on revising their work from first semester. Once you have revised a topic, you too should try to answer exam questions on that topic and then correct your answers using the marking scheme online. You could also arrange with a friend to study the same topic on a particular day and then answer the same questions. If you are comfortable enough, you could then email each other your questions and peer review them using the marking scheme online.
• Leaving Certificate students are most anxious about school closure but should try to stay focused on their work. Continue to prepare for your Oral and Practical examinations. Portfolios and projects must still be completed, and this is an ideal time to perfect these. In all subjects, set out a revision timetable. Start the day with subjects that you find most difficult and move on to subjects that you find easier at the end of the day. Do no leave out any subject, nomatter what level it is or how confident you are in it. Focus on exam paper questions and perfecting your technique in answering questions. Look up the marking schemes for each subject and compare them with your own answer:
Useful resources: www.examinations.ie for past exam papers; www.studyclix.ie for past exam questions by topic; www.khanacademy.org which has excellent online tutorials for LC students across a range of subjects; www.scoilnet.ie which has a wide range of resources www.mangahigh.com is a game based platform forl earning maths.