Module overview
This module is non-credit bearing and forms part of Pre-sessional Course A. Within this module, you will develop a set of skills, strategies and techniques that will collectively contribute to your understanding of learner autonomy in a UK Higher Education environment. This professional skills set is transferable and will be valuable not only in the immediate context but also in your further education and employment.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Reflect on you individual learning styles and employ methods to aid your own learning
- Employ referencing conventions and have a general knowledge of referencing management software
- Understand strategies for learning such as time-management, organisation and motivation
- Understand what is expected of you as an autonomous learner in the UK Higher Education system
- Employ critical researching skills
- Efficiently and effectively identify reliable sources appropriate for your discipline
- Understand and effectively use digital tools and systems to enhance your learning
Syllabus
A. INTRODUCTION TO INDEPENDENT LEARNING
1. Understand the importance of Independent Learning during the module and in a UK university.
2. Understand classroom expectations during the module.
3. Understand expectations of seminar groups and skills in independent learning sessions.
4. Learn how to book advising sessions. Brief introduction to the importance of Blackboard on the Pre-sessional programme. Introduction the EAP Toolkit.
5. Become familiar with Library resources
B. LEARNING RESOURCES
1. You will learn how a range of materials and resources available to you at the university can be best applied for independent language learning and academic study. This will include materials based at the library, as well as virtual materials.
C. DEVELOPING AWARENESS OF CRITICAL THINKING IN YOUR SEMINAR SKILLS
1. General review of the concepts of critical thinking such as analyse, argue, question, evaluate and reflect.
2. Seminar skills review such as preparation, active participation.
D. RESEARCHING SKILLS
1. Introduction to researching effectively.
2. Planning and directing your research.
3. Using the library databases.
4. You will learn how to effectively plan a library session using the Internet
5. Using search engines effectively and critically analysing materials found over the internet
E. REVIEWING REFERENCING
1. Having identified materials this is a review as to how to use and cite resources in an academic context.
F. USING FEEDBACK AND REFLECTION TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE LEARNING
1. Identifying feedback as a resource.
2. Responding positively to feedback.
3. Implementing feedback.
4. Strategies to improve.
G. ACTIVE LEARNING
1. Identify and implement successful active learning/studying strategies.
2. Recognising and reflecting upon key comparisons between active and passive learning/studying.
H. TIME-MANAGEMENT, ORGANISATION AND MOTIVATION
1. Considering how to manage time and how to manage it more effectively.
2. Considering cultural norms in relation to time keeping.
3. Introduction to different ways of organisation, paper based and electronic.
4. Introduction to reference management software, Endnote, Mendeley and Zotero
5. Learning about what motivates us and how we can stay motivated throughout the Pre-sessional programme.
I. CRITICALLY ASSESSING RESOURCES
1. Critically assessing resources.
2. Peer review, who wrote it, when it was produced, suitability.
3. Rigorous research methodologies
J. EXAM STRATEGIES
1. Explore approaches and attitudes to exams in the UK including collusion and cheating.
2. Identify and discuss examination strategies.
3. Identifying needs and targeting needs.
4. Using appropriate study strategies and learning resources.
5. Time-management.
6. Managing exam stress/nerves.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
You will experience a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including: workshops; individual, pair and group work in class; set tasks to be completed outside class; use of technology for learning; advising sessions.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 1 |
| Teaching | 32 |
| Total study time | 33 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
A wide selection of study skills books are also available in both Avenue and Hartley libraries.
Internet Resources
Textbooks
Northedge, A (2005). The Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: Open University.
Cottrell, S (2008). The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Lowes, R, Peters, H, and Turner, M (2004). The International Student’s Guide: Studying English at University. London: Sage.
Reinders, H, Moore, N, and Lewis, M (2008). The International Student Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Pears, R, and Shields, G (2010). Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.