Description

There is an increasing trend in Universities and Colleges towards independent learning, so moving towards independence in studying as quickly as possible is a major key to success. This practical book and the accompanying online course are aimed at helping you improve your skills, develop a personal development portfolio and become a more independent learner, empowering you to study more effectively and efficiently.

• Straightforward language and a pragmatic approach.

• An ideal package for pre-university students, those just starting university and for those studying in the UKfor the first time.

• A ‘how to do it’ book and a ‘practice as you go’ online course based on years of knowledge, experience and practice which will enable you to achieve success in your studies.

Features

Online course materials are provided for free with the book and accompany every chapter, allowing the reader to practice, improve and monitor their skills development as they go. Features include:

• Extra content
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Activities and Exercises
• Personal Development Portfolio templates to print off, complete and record your own development.

Textbook features enable you to learn how to do things quickly, to practice skills until they have improved and to identify whether you have achieved what the chapter intended. They include:

Learning Outcomes (the ‘map’ you can look at to decide whether you possess a particular study skill at a sufficient level of proficiency).

• Activities and Exercises
• Checklists and Suggestions
• Stop & Think and Remember boxes 
•  Chapter Summaries

New to this Edition

More of a new book than a new edition:

• The book has been re-structured to provide a more comprehensive coverage of topics, allowing students to dip in and out of the most relevant areas with ease. 
• The text has been broken up with lots of activities, exercises, checklists and suggestions.
• The introduction of 2 colour internal design helps visual learners.
• The introduction of brand new Study Skills Online Resources reinforces the topics and helps students to analyze, monitor and improve their own skills development and provides the basic building blocks for a Personal Development Portfolio.

 

Table of Contents

PART ONE - DEVELOPING STUDY SKILLS
Introduction
Learning opportunity

Chapter 1 - Learning to learn
How do we learn?
Lifelong learning
University or college learning
Independent learning
Learning styles
Factors that influence learning
Building on learning strengths and overcoming blockages to learning

Chapter 2 - Keeping a Portfolio
What is a portfolio?
Skills audit
Reflection in your portfolio

Chapter 3 - Employability
Conduct a self analysis
Explore the career options
Developing a curriculum vitae (CV)
Preparing for an interview

Chapter 4 - Reading for study
Why are you reading?
What happens when you read?
Ways of reading
Which technique?
Selecting reading material
Other useful techniques
How to read faster
Critically evaluative reading

Chapter 5 - Communication
The process of interpersonal communication
Non-verbal communication
Written communication
Words that are often confused
Spelling
Active or passive voice?
Transitional words and phrases
Style
Glossary

Chapter 6 - Making notes
Why make notes?
Ways of making notes
Making notes from text
Making notes in lectures
Making notes from a group discussion
Abbreviations and symbols
Keeping notes

Chapter 7 - Working with numbers
Numerical data
Making data easier to handle
Describing the data with pictures
Describing the data – numerical summaries
Spreadsheet software
Answers to exercises

Chapter 8 - Information technology skills
Some terms defined
Organising your work
Windows
Word processing software - Word
Spreadsheet software  – Excel
Presentation software - Powerpoint
Answers to exercises

Chapter 9 - Researching and obtaining information
A systematic approach to information gathering
Secondary sources
Printed resources
Other media
Other sources of secondary information
The Internet
Evaluation of information
When to stop collecting secondary information
Primary Data Collection
Analysis of data
Answers to exercises         

Chapter 10 - Group and Team Working Skills
Why should students know about group dynamics?
Small group dynamics
Development of norms
Roles
Cohesiveness
Developmental stages of groups
How to know more about groups
Differences between groups and teams
Working in groups and teams at university or college 

Chapter 11 - Time Management
How to manage your time effectively
Essentials of time management
Time wasters
Personal benefits from effective time management

Chapter 12 - Managing stress
What is stress?
Some consequences of stress
Causes of stress
Life events
Managing stress
Coping mechanisms
Specific stress associated with being a student
Manage your time

PART TWO - DEVELOPING ASSESSMENT SKILLS
Learning opportunity
Expectations
Assessment criteria
Presentation of assessments
Deadlines
Group assessments
Feedback

Chapter 13 - Case studies
The use of case studies
Framework for case study analysis
Presentation of answers

Chapter 14 - Presentations
Purposes of presentations
Preparation
Structure
Approach
The presentation
Visual aids
Questions
Assessed presentations
Creating a presentation using Powerpoint

Chapter 15 - Essay writing
Analyse the essay title
Finding your material
Making an essay plan or outline
Producing a rough draft

Back Cover

Developing Essential Study Skills 2nd edition

The time spent at university offers great potential for change. Being able to study effectively will allow you to gain more enjoyment and fulfilment from the changes that you will encounter. Aimed at students starting university, this book and accompanying Online Resources will give you the skills that you need to cope with the different expectations of study at a Higher Education level.

There is an increasing trend in universities and colleges towards independent learning, so moving towards independence in studying as quickly as possible is a major key to success. This practical book is aimed at helping you become a more independent learner, which will empower you to study more effectively and efficiently.

It concentrates on the trends towards self-learning and takes an 'active learning' approach within the text. 

• Learning Outcomes at the start of every chapter are the ‘map’ you can look at to decide whether you possess a particular study skill at a sufficient level of proficiency.
• Activities and Exercises are designed to enable you to practice different aspects of the study skill, to improve your skills and track your progress.
• Checklists and Suggestions provide the essentials that enable you to know ‘how to do’ something quickly.
• Stop & Think and Remember boxes encourage reflection on your progress.
• Chapter summaries will enable you to identify whether you have achieved what the chapter intended.
• Extra online content, activities and templates will help you to monitor, improve an demonstrate your skills in a Portfolio to take to employers in line with Government requirements.

Straightforward language and a pragmatic approach make this an ideal book for pre-university students, those just starting university and for those studying in the UK for the first time. This is a ‘how to do it’ book based on years of knowledge, experience and practice that will enable you to achieve success in your studies.

Elaine Payne and Lesley Whittaker are both at Leeds Business School, Leeds Metropolitan University.  They have taught an innovative skills programme for many years.