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Introduction
What concerns do students have about 'study skills'?
- Many students are concerned about their 'study skills' when they go to university
- Typically, these concerns are based on student fears that their 'study skills' are not 'good enough' for university
- Some students express doubts about how they will cope with their coursework and/or examinations
- Others worry that the way they have done assignments at their previous schools/colleges will not be acceptable at university
How can the ThinkUni site help?
- In these pages, we would like to challenge these fears, by showing that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way when it comes to the different ways we think and how we organise ideas or our time
- Instead, we would like to promote the view that when we 'learn', each of us has our own individual needs, which will (hopefully!) encourage you to develop study methods that are best suited to match your needs.
- In this way, we aim to encourage you to have confidence in choosing study styles and methods that work for you
- Some of these methods may be different from those of your friends or colleagues - this is to be expected, given differing needs
How these pages can help you:
- To do this, these pages aim to give you the chance to think about what 'study skills' are, but not just in an isolated way
- Through this, you'll be able to think about the kinds of 'study skills' that you might need for your chosen course
- You'll also be able to consider the kinds of support on offer within the institution you've chosen
- From your own point of view, you'll be able to think about your 'study skills' through the Self-Assessment Checklist in the Interactive Section
- Further information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section
- We've also provided some Study Skills exercises if you'd like to explore a particular aspect in more detail
Before you go to University
Making the transition from school or college to university can be quite
daunting, particularly if you feel your study skills need improving. Preparation
is the key! You can help yourself by identifying your study skills needs
by completing the study skills checklist at Virginia Tech - division of student affairs/
- You may also aware of your study skills needs by the feedback received from assignments. Take note of those
- Having identified some of your study skills needs, it might be useful to find out what type of learner you are as this will have a bearing on how you cope in a new learning environment with new teaching methods, ideas and concepts
- Depending on your learning style, you can then organise yourself by making the most of your strengths and addressing the areas of study skills that require improvement
- Invest in a good study skills handbook. Two that are highly recommended are - The Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cottrell, 1999. Published by Palgrave, and The Student Skills Guide by Sue Drew and Rosie Bingham, 1997, published by The Open University Press
- Attend 'Open Days' at the university. You will not only get an opportunity to see where the university is located, but you will have the opportunity to talk to the lecturers, inspect the classrooms and most importantly find out what study support is available. The schools and/or faculties within the university may have a student support tutor, if not they will certainly have a learning resources centre. And don't forget the faculty librarian - a wonderful resource particularly vital when researching for your assignments. Find out as much as you can during your visit as this will save time later
Moving On
After successfully completing your course, you will need to decide if you want to continue your education via post-graduate studies, seek employment or consider other options.
- Post-graduate studies offers a range of opportunities including higher degrees- masters, doctorates or specific qualification like the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Taking a higher degree will involve additional study skills to the ones used as an under-graduate. If you do decide to take the route of post-graduate studies, remember the financial implications
- Applying for a job will require you to think about the skills you have acquired in the last three years. An up to date curriculum vitae is therefore absolutely essential. Your C.V. should reflect your skills, knowledge, relevant work experience (if relevant), qualities and your future potential. Help with writing a C.V. is available either through student services and/or careers
Case Study
Before I went to university, I felt I was very well prepared because I had achieved fairly good grades at A level. I thought I was a good student!
The first semester seemed easy. I loved Freshers Fayre in the first week - you got loads of freebies. I had a great timetable - no lectures on Wednesday and Fridays! I made new friends in my halls of residence and on my course so enjoyed quite a social life.
I attended lectures; I even enjoyed some of them but really struggled when it came to the assignments. I really found it hard referencing my work. I was never formally taught. I lost marks in my first few assignments for not referencing properly, particularly when using the Internet. My tutor explained the importance of referencing - acknowledging your sources and writing them out correctly. She also gave me the library's leaflet on referencing, which I found invaluable.
I also did not realise how much work you had to do by yourself. At school the teachers were always there and it didn't matter if your homework was in a bit late, but at university I soon found out that you are penalised if you submit your work late. I had to start organising myself and soon no longer viewed Wednesday and Fridays as free days but time to organise my notes and prepare for assignments.
I suppose the key is to get into good study habits. If I could start my first year again I would:
- Organise myself and invest in a wall planner
- Attend study skill sessions
- Balance my study and social life
- Learn to prioritise
- Read the assignment sheets carefully
- Hang around with the 'workers not the shirkers'!
(Janice, 1st year student)
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Case Study 2
Before I say anything else, I should confess that I've been out of education for about twenty years - so I wasn't convinced even during the first induction week that I should have really been at university. I had to keep pinching myself to stop it all seeming like a dream. There I was, in the lecture hall, looking at all our lecturers introducing themselves, and it was me, really me, sitting there, listening to all of this.
I was really worried about the assignments. I didn't know how to write an essay - I had no idea what an essay was, although someone did come and talk to us about it, which helped a little bit. I ended up spending the first semester feeling like I was only just keeping my head above water - I went to my lectures, I took down as many notes as I could, I tried to read as much as I could from the recommended reading lists, and I managed to get my work in on time - just, although I never really felt as if I knew what I was doing with it.
I wished I could have done more, but I used to worry about not spending enough time with the kids at home. Some evenings I couldn't do any reading at all - if the kids were ill, or if Mom came over.
Anyway, I decided, after getting some of my work back and seeing my marks, to go and talk to some of these people who help you with your work. They'd come to talk to us in our first few days, so I dug out their leaflet and gave them a ring. I was a bit nervous, 'cos I wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out fine. They gave me information about essay writing, about referencing, which I'd done a bit of on my Access course, but never like this, and I talked to them about how to sort all this reading out - I wanted some better ways of coming to grips with it all.
It was such a relief to talk about it - I wished I'd have done it sooner instead of battling through on my own. I'd definitely recommend to any new students to get in touch with these support people from the beginning - I hadn't even gone to any of the extra sessions that our tutors had put on 'cos I'd felt a bit embarrassed. I didn't want to show myself up.
I don't feel a bit like that now though. I just go and get help when I think I need it - and I'm feeling much better for it.
(John, 1st year, Social Work)
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