Three Most Important Academic Skills Information Literacy Referencing Finding Information Evaluating Information How to write for different audiences Essays Lab Reports Problem Solving Application of IT Knowing where to get help

Information Literacy

Referencing

Finding Information

Evaluating Information

How to write for different audiences

Essays

Lab Reports

Problem Solving

Application of IT

Knowing where to get help

Information Literacy Different skills at different levels Expectations of first year differ to expectations of 3 rd year Approaches to learning impact on IL required Context specific Library MOLE tutorials ELTC & WAS Embed into course – Greater buy-in from academics

Different skills at different levels

Expectations of first year differ to expectations of 3 rd year

Approaches to learning impact on IL required

Context specific

Library MOLE tutorials

ELTC & WAS

Embed into course – Greater buy-in from academics

Writing for different audiences Very subject specific Department specific Complexity increases with level “ I’ve never been taught how to write a lab report” Clearer expectations & guidance

Very subject specific

Department specific

Complexity increases with level

“ I’ve never been taught how to write a lab report”

Clearer expectations & guidance

Problem Solving Subject specific Complexity increases with level May involve group work Different types of assessment? Support from department Clearer expectations

Subject specific

Complexity increases with level

May involve group work

Different types of assessment?

Support from department

Clearer expectations

3 important academic skills for independent learning Discipline / Motivation / Reflection / Self aware Analysing and evaluating (making judgements) exploring texts/reading How to find/locate resources / Time management / Strategic learning / Note-taking Subject-specific Support and development

Analysing and evaluating

(making judgements)

exploring texts/reading

Three most important academic skills Reflection, Resourcefulness, Communication… some unfinished thoughts…

Reflection Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles Supported already Generally: PDP, personal tutorials Subject specific: e.g. education/medicine/vocation subjects/… Enhance: encourage to keep learning journal…

Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles

Supported already

Generally: PDP, personal tutorials

Subject specific: e.g. education/medicine/vocation subjects/…

Enhance: encourage to keep learning journal…

Resourcefulness Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles Supported already library paper based and on-line material, dyslexia learning material, ELTC WAS, MOLE vle Dept. specific: guidance on finding resources for learning or research Enhance -> incorporating research skills as part of course

Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles

Supported already

library paper based and on-line material, dyslexia learning material, ELTC WAS, MOLE vle

Dept. specific: guidance on finding resources for learning or research

Enhance -> incorporating research skills as part of course

Communication Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles Supported already dyslexia guidance, ELTC services, MASH Dept. specific: guidance on oral and written presentation skills (sometimes specific modules), opportunities to practise Enhanced: getting students on board – assess??

Generic to all levels/subjects/learning styles

Supported already

dyslexia guidance, ELTC services, MASH

Dept. specific: guidance on oral and written presentation skills (sometimes specific modules), opportunities to practise

Enhanced: getting students on board – assess??

TASH

The Meta-Skills Approach Academic Skills Personal Skills Communication Skills

Academic Skills

Personal Skills

Communication Skills

Academic Skills Analysis Research Synthesis Support Through courses and contact with staff Enhance Move from learn-by-error to tuition

Analysis

Research

Synthesis

Support

Through courses and contact with staff

Enhance

Move from learn-by-error to tuition

Personal Skills Time management Confidence Self-organisation Support Haphazard Needed from Level 1 – comprehended from Level 3 Enhance Provide opportunities Personal tutor

Time management

Confidence

Self-organisation

Support

Haphazard

Needed from Level 1 – comprehended from Level 3

Enhance

Provide opportunities

Personal tutor

Communication Skills Written language Presentations Groupwork Support Variable by department Enhance Through link to existing material

Written language

Presentations

Groupwork

Support

Variable by department

Enhance

Through link to existing material

One way of summarising all of this Communication skills - writing Communication skills - other forms of communication (presentation, multimedia work, online literacies) Problem-solving and working with data Reflection - being aware of where you are, and where you need to be Academic literacy - referencing, time management, induction and awareness of changes at different levels (Inter)personal skills - groupwork,self-organisation, self-motivation Analytical skills

Communication skills - writing

Communication skills - other forms of communication (presentation, multimedia work, online literacies)

Problem-solving and working with data

Reflection - being aware of where you are, and where you need to be

Academic literacy - referencing, time management, induction and awareness of changes at different levels

(Inter)personal skills - groupwork,self-organisation, self-motivation

Analytical skills