Three Most Important Academic Skills a Information Literacy

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

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

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

Problem Solving a. Subject specific b. Complexity increases with level c. May involve group work a. Different types of assessment? d. Support from department e. Clearer expectations

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

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

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

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

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

TASH

The Meta-Skills Approach a. Academic Skills b. Personal Skills c. Communication Skills

Academic Skills a. Analysis b. Research c. Synthesis d. Support a. Through courses and contact with staff e. Enhance a. Move from learn-by-error to tuition

Personal Skills a. Time management b. Confidence c. Self-organisation d. Support a. Haphazard b. Needed from Level 1 – comprehended from Level 3 e. Enhance a. Provide opportunities b. Personal tutor

Communication Skills a. Written language b. Presentations c. Groupwork d. Support a. Variable by department e. Enhance a. Through link to existing material

One way of summarising all of this 1. Communication skills - writing 2. Communication skills - other forms of communication (presentation, multimedia work, online literacies) 3. Problem-solving and working with data 4. Reflection - being aware of where you are, and where you need to be 5. Academic literacy - referencing, time management, induction and awareness of changes at different levels 6. (Inter)personal skills - groupwork, self-organisation, selfmotivation 7. Analytical skills