This module provides an opportunity to practice creating a cheat sheet with course materials. Review helpful study tips along the way!
Navigate between the steps by using the arrows or the left menu.
When you have completed all the steps, you can save your documentation as a Word document.
Note: Your data will not be saved or collected.
Let's start by identifying study materials you want to summarize from a current course. This example asks you to select one set of lecture notes to walk you through the process, but it can be applied to create a full-course cheat sheet.
Tip: Consider ways to divide a cheat sheet before diving into the materials. Chronologically? By concept? By module or learning outcomes/objectives? By type (formulas, theories, etc.)?
Read the selected lecture notes once.
Tip: Reviewing the Learning Outcomes/Objectives before reading the lecture notes can help to provide structure when studying, as well as improve memory!
Write down one concept per box. Click the "Enter a new concept" button to add more boxes. Include as many as you can remember from the lecture notes. We will be sorting these concepts in the next section.
Click on "Learn More" in the top right corner to find why this activity is an effective study strategy.
Compare what you have written on the last page to the original course to identify knowledge gaps (categories 1 and 2) and isolate what you are familiar with (category 3).
Tip: It is counterproductive to include information you know on your cheat sheet. Try starting with concepts in categories 1 and 2 when creating your cheat sheet.
Sort course concepts into the different categories below:
Tip: Cheat sheets can have limited space - try to express concepts concisely. Full sentences are unnecessary; consider personalized abbreviations (e.g., ATM - atmosphere), visual drawings, keywords etc.
Take a concept with knowledge gaps from category 2 or 3 from the last page. Write them in the text box with as much detail as possible.
Write the same concept but shorten it using different strategies.
Tip: Information on cheat sheets are anchors or points of recall to prompt memory (sometimes even one keyword can be sufficient).
To complete your cheat sheet for this lecture, repeat the same practice of concisely communicating concepts for all the points identified in categories 2 and 3.
Voila, you are well on your way to creating a great cheat sheet!
Tip: Print this document and add highlights to enhance it! Colour-coding the information can help with navigation during timed exams.
Press the "Create document" button to download the submitted text as a Word document.