O/A/IGCSE Computer Science Blog

Dear students, as we have transitioned back fully to in-person classes after the COVID-19 lockdowns and the era of online learning, I've noticed that many of you seem to have given up on note-taking. I understand that habits may have changed during this time, but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of notetaking for your academic success in computer science. Remember, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think," as Albert Einstein once said. Let's dive into how notetaking can transform your learning experience and unlock your full potential. Rediscovering the Art of Notetaking Note-taking: A Powerful Learning Tool: Taking notes is an active learning process that helps you to better understand complex concepts, improve retention, and engage with the material. In the fast-paced world of computer science, where new ideas and technologies emerge constantly, note-taking can be the difference between merely passing a course and trul...

Preparing for exams can often feel overwhelming. Many students are unsure whether to study in short, spaced-out sessions or pull all-nighters just before the paper. It’s easy to fall into the trap of cramming, believing that long hours right before the exam will make a difference. But what if I told you that  how you distribute your study time is far more important than how long you study? This brings us to  The Theory of 24 Hours of Learning  — a strategy that argues that  24 hours of study on a subject can yield very different results depending on how those hours are spread out. Let’s break it down. What Is the Theory? The theory is simple: Suppose you dedicate 24 hours to preparing for one subject. You can use those 24 hours over: One month  (1 hour per day) One week  (about 3.5 hours a day) Two days  (12 hours per day) The content you're covering may be the same, but the outcome will not.  Your understanding, retention, and exam performance wi...