Study SkillsStudy SkillsStudy Skills Support for International StudentsStudy Skills Support for International Students

Becoming an independent learnerWhile you are studying your vocational course YOU are responsible for your learning. You will While you are studying your vocational course YOU are responsible for your learning. You will need to be an independent learner.need to be an independent learner.

As an independent learner you are expected to: As an independent learner you are expected to:

• process informationprocess information• evaluate what you readevaluate what you read• ask questions and form opinionsask questions and form opinions• manage your time effectivelymanage your time effectively

Managing your time

What are your commitments:What are your commitments:

•WorkWork•ClassesClasses•StudyStudy•Family/friendsFamily/friends•RelaxationRelaxation

What is your current approach

How do you manage your time?How do you manage your time?

• Do you like routine?Do you like routine?• Are you always on time?Are you always on time?• Do you like organising your time and writing up “to do” lists?Do you like organising your time and writing up “to do” lists?• Do you leave things to the last minute?Do you leave things to the last minute?

Every person has a different method of study but there are some guidelines which help Every person has a different method of study but there are some guidelines which help everyone’s study.everyone’s study.

Planning your time

Yearly planner: for all important dates and Yearly planner: for all important dates and deadlines deadlines

Weekly planning: use a chart divided into 1 Weekly planning: use a chart divided into 1 hour blockshour blocks

Daily timetable: use your diary and make ‘to Daily timetable: use your diary and make ‘to do lists’do lists’

A good study area

Is your study area:Is your study area:

• available to you whenever you need itavailable to you whenever you need it• free from interruptionsfree from interruptions• free from distractionsfree from distractions

Does your study area:Does your study area:

• contain all the study materials you needcontain all the study materials you need• contain a large enough desk or tablecontain a large enough desk or table• have enough storage spacehave enough storage space• have a comfortable chairhave a comfortable chair• have enough lighthave enough light• have a comfortable temperaturehave a comfortable temperature

Communication skills

•Planning and delivering an oral presentationPlanning and delivering an oral presentation

•Asking questions and being confident to speak up Asking questions and being confident to speak up

•Listening to lectures and understanding them Listening to lectures and understanding them

•Working in a group Working in a group

•Planning and negotiating teamworkPlanning and negotiating teamwork

•Communicating more confidentlyCommunicating more confidently

Reading & note taking skills

•Taking Taking fastfast and and usefuluseful lecture notes lecture notes

•Reading effectively Reading effectively

•Reading critically – asking questions like: Reading critically – asking questions like:

What position is the writer presenting?What position is the writer presenting? What evidence is the writer giving to support his/her position?What evidence is the writer giving to support his/her position? Is the evidence presented accurately?Is the evidence presented accurately? Has the evidence been collected using appropriate methods?Has the evidence been collected using appropriate methods? Do I agree or disagree with the writer’s point of view?Do I agree or disagree with the writer’s point of view?

Taking notes when reading – underline, annotate, summariseTaking notes when reading – underline, annotate, summarise

Skills for completing assignmentsUnderstanding and meeting the assessment criteriaUnderstanding and meeting the assessment criteria

Planning better essays and reportsPlanning better essays and reports

Researching, referencing, bibliographies – Researching, referencing, bibliographies – Harvard referencingHarvard referencing

Avoiding plagiarismAvoiding plagiarism

Plagiarism

What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s work without referencing or recognising that the Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s work without referencing or recognising that the work is not yours. work is not yours.

When should you reference? When should you reference?

Any time you use the work of someone else from a book, internet site, journal etc.Any time you use the work of someone else from a book, internet site, journal etc.Any time you use someone else’s ideas in your work.Any time you use someone else’s ideas in your work.

Plagiarism is a kind of stealing!Plagiarism is a kind of stealing!