Outside Your Comfort Zone Is Where The Extra Marks Can Be Found

Aug 19, 2013

One of my roles at the HSC CoWorks is to make our students feel comfortable outside their comfort zone as that’s where the extra marks are to be found.

Over the last week especially I have had five different students tell me that they can’t remember all of the syllabus for different content heavy subjects (PDHPE, Business Studies and Economics).

When I looked at how they were studying, I wasn’t surprised. Who can memorise 50 plus pages of typed notes?

In order to progress and improve students need to find a balance between stretching themselves beyond their current level but not so far that they feel overwhelmed and anxious. From a NeuroScience perspective without stretching beyond current capabilities the brain is not activating the Pre Frontal Cortex (which is where the real thinking and learning happens).

Compare the effectiveness of one student who spends 1 hour highlighting 20 pages notes for Business Studies to another student who is responding to Business Studies short answer questions under exam conditions for 45 minutes and then reviewing the answers for 15 with the help of notes. You really can’t compare. Unless the Pre Frontal Cortex is engaged (ie – you are stretching yourself with your study) you really are wasting your time despite having the best intentions.

Still not convinced?

While the activating of the Pre Frontal Cortex makes sense to me, it’s often helpful to use an analogy when explaining to a teenager. When trying to explain to a few students that without struggle there is no progress (one of our favourite quotes at the office) I used a few analogies that seemed to help.

For the surfer

Do you want to surf in 1 foot surf or do you want to get barrelled in 4 – 6 foot surf? Which wave feels better? Which conditions are better for improving your surfing? Where would Mick Fanning rather be surfing?

For the swimmer

Hanging out in the kiddies pool or swimming in the 50 metre pool. Which is better for your growth and fitness? Which feels better after you have finished?

Or for learning driver

Which is better for your driving, watching some car racing on TV or actually driving on the roads?

Studying that activates the Pre Frontal Cortex and strengthens brain connections: some examples

  • Practicing writing three introductory to paragraphs to different questions in 30 minutes
  • Write a full Modern History Essay using a question from the HSC of 2010 (45 minutes)
  • Create a mindmap for one topic for Business Studies/Economics/PDHPE/Biology/Geography in 45 minutes and 60 minutes later try and recreate the same mindmap without using your notes. (Repeat this process every 3 days)
  • Complete Question 7 – 10 in the 3 Unit Maths Exam from the HSC of 2009 in 40 minutes. Spend 20 minutes going over your answers.
  • Attempt a new HSC English essay each day(40 minutes) and spend 15 minutes typing it up and submit for feedback

Studying that does not strengthen the Neural Connections in your brain: some examples

  • Re-reading English texts
  • Highlighting notes
  • Reading notes
  • Re-doing your notes
  • Tidying your bedroom/your folder/the kitchen
  • Copying out your English essays 50 times
  • Copying your notes with your notes in front of you
  • Completing Maths problems and checking the answers every time you get stuck (without struggle there is no progress)
  • You get the picture

Over these final stages of HSC 2013 I will be on the look out to make sure our students are operating outside their comfort zone and utilising their Pre Frontal Cortex so when the final results come out in December 2013 our students will be grateful that they struggled in order to progress.The extra marks are out there so lets pick them up!

If anyone has any questions or would like to have a one on one catch up to look at how you can improve your study please let me know.

Jesse

Head Coach – HSC CoWorks

 

 

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Module C - The Craft of Writing

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PDF of our planning pad for download

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PDF of our Mind Map pad for download

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For most Year 12 students, Trial Exams are officially behind you! ๐ŸŽ‰ Take a few days to switch off, reset and enjoy the feeling of having made it through!

Then itโ€™s time to turn your attention to the final stretch. Trials arenโ€™t meant to be perfect. Theyโ€™re exactly what the name suggests, a trial run for the real thing.

So embrace the mistakes. Look closely at where marks were lost. Get feedback. Work out what needs to change and adjust your approach.

The next few weeks arenโ€™t about starting again. Theyโ€™re about refining, improving and building confidence from everything youโ€™ve already done.

Youโ€™ve come this far. Youโ€™ve got this. ๐Ÿ’ช

#HSC2026 #HSCTrials #HSCStudy #Year12 #HSCTips

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Open post by hsccoworks with ID 17887635177450005
For most Year 12 students, Trial Exams are officially behind you! ๐ŸŽ‰ Take a few days to switch off, reset and enjoy the feeling of having made it through! Then itโ€™s time to turn your attention to the final stretch. Trials arenโ€™t meant to be perfect. Theyโ€™re exactly what the name suggests, a trial run for the real thing. So embrace the mistakes. Look closely at where marks were lost. Get feedback. Work out what needs to change and adjust your approach. The next few weeks arenโ€™t about starting again. Theyโ€™re about refining, improving and building confidence from everything youโ€™ve already done. Youโ€™ve come this far. Youโ€™ve got this. ๐Ÿ’ช #HSC2026 #HSCTrials #HSCStudy #Year12 #HSCTips

Celebrating 30 years of HSC CoWorks! ๐Ÿ’ซ

In 1996, @fergusgardiner started working with a small group of HSC students in Bondi Junction. His ability to inspire a genuine passion for learning particularly in English quickly saw that small group grow through word of mouth.

Fergusโ€™ wife @carollgardiner alongside their son @jesseperformancecoach and his wife @sarahgards7 joined the business as it grew, helping to establish campuses in Mosman, Chatswood, Lindfield, Dee Why and Balgowlah. Jesse and Sarah now lead the organisation alongside an incredible team of more than 100 coaches, markers, teachers, an amazing Head Office and Web Development team, and also Emily and Nick who joined our team this year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, milestones, obstacles and lessons along the way, and HSC CoWorks wouldnโ€™t be where it is today without the incredible people who have been part of it over the years.

And to every student who has walked through our doors and every parent who has trusted us to play a part in their childโ€™s education, THANK YOU. Your support and trust over the past 30 years means more to us than we can say. We are so grateful to have worked with your child during the most important stage of their schooling career and thank you for championing our program as we strive to support young people develop the skills, habits and mindset that will support them long after their HSC.

And of course to our own family, especially our three children who put up with having both parents in the business and many weekends and evenings spent around the dinner table building new ideas, solving problems, packing study toolkits and everything in between!

Weโ€™re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past three decades, but even more excited about what comes next.

Thank you,
Jesse, Sarah, Fergus & Carol Gardiner

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Open post by hsccoworks with ID 18153572545519445
Celebrating 30 years of HSC CoWorks! ๐Ÿ’ซ In 1996, @fergusgardiner started working with a small group of HSC students in Bondi Junction. His ability to inspire a genuine passion for learning particularly in English quickly saw that small group grow through word of mouth. Fergusโ€™ wife @carollgardiner alongside their son @jesseperformancecoach and his wife @sarahgards7 joined the business as it grew, helping to establish campuses in Mosman, Chatswood, Lindfield, Dee Why and Balgowlah. Jesse and Sarah now lead the organisation alongside an incredible team of more than 100 coaches, markers, teachers, an amazing Head Office and Web Development team, and also Emily and Nick who joined our team this year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, milestones, obstacles and lessons along the way, and HSC CoWorks wouldnโ€™t be where it is today without the incredible people who have been part of it over the years. And to every student who has walked through our doors and every parent who has trusted us to play a part in their childโ€™s education, THANK YOU. Your support and trust over the past 30 years means more to us than we can say. We are so grateful to have worked with your child during the most important stage of their schooling career and thank you for championing our program as we strive to support young people develop the skills, habits and mindset that will support them long after their HSC. And of course to our own family, especially our three children who put up with having both parents in the business and many weekends and evenings spent around the dinner table building new ideas, solving problems, packing study toolkits and everything in between! Weโ€™re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past three decades, but even more excited about what comes next. Thank you, Jesse, Sarah, Fergus & Carol Gardiner

The HSC matters. But what students build along the way matters even more.

The HSC year is your training ground for life.. where you can develop skills like how to plan ahead, take ownership, tackle challenges, respond to feedback and perform under pressure.

These arenโ€™t just skills for getting through Year 12. Theyโ€™re the skills, mindset and habits that you will take with you into university, work and whatever comes next.

At HSC CoWorks, our role is to provide the structure, support, coaching and accountability that helps students develop these capabilities, while working towards their HSC goals.

#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudyskills #hscmotivation

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The HSC matters. But what students build along the way matters even more. The HSC year is your training ground for life.. where you can develop skills like how to plan ahead, take ownership, tackle challenges, respond to feedback and perform under pressure. These arenโ€™t just skills for getting through Year 12. Theyโ€™re the skills, mindset and habits that you will take with you into university, work and whatever comes next. At HSC CoWorks, our role is to provide the structure, support, coaching and accountability that helps students develop these capabilities, while working towards their HSC goals. #hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudyskills #hscmotivation

The HSC isnโ€™t meant to feel easy. But every time you choose to keep going, youโ€™re building the confidence youโ€™ll take into that exam room.

Do the hard work now. Thank yourself later. ๐Ÿ’ช

#HSC2026 #HSCMotivation #HSCStudy #HSCCoWorks

8 0
Open post by hsccoworks with ID 18094000577439395
The HSC isnโ€™t meant to feel easy. But every time you choose to keep going, youโ€™re building the confidence youโ€™ll take into that exam room. Do the hard work now. Thank yourself later. ๐Ÿ’ช #HSC2026 #HSCMotivation #HSCStudy #HSCCoWorks