Being An Effective Learner LT1H02N

Lecture Aims u To highlight key skills and attributes that you will require to succeed as a student u To focus on the various ways in which students can develop these skills and abilities

Learning Outcomes u You will be aware of the main forms of assessment used at university. u You will appreciate the fundamentals of effective note taking. u You will understand the concept of plagiarism and be aware of its seriousness.

Overview u Academic Reading u Note Taking u Types of Assessment u Plagiarism

How can you comprehend and recall information? By reading and making notes

Objectives of Reading u To understand a theory or concept u To enhance understanding u To expand your applied knowledge of a subject u To find alternative view points

Effective Reading 1. Skim or survey 2. Ask Key Questions:  why read this?  which bits are important?  how will it help my studies?  how will I use this information?

Assessing Information Is the information you are reading / hearing: u Important? u Relevant? u Credible?

Identify the Main Points u What are the key facts or key arguments? u How do these compare to what you already know? u Can you identify alternative theories? u Are the ideas convincing?

Remember and Recall Once you have read a passage try and note down the key points in your own words Highlight key words Code Information (colour / anagrams) Try and think of your own examples

Keys to Meaning u Read opening and closing paragraphs first u Get a feel for the chapter / article u Identify the key general points u Identify the keys points in each paragraph u Check your own notes against the original source

Note Taking Note taking is one of the most important skills you need to develop to be an effective learning. You will need to make notes of: u key readings u lectures

Objectives of Note Taking u To understand a theory or concept u To enhance understanding u To act as a future reference u To enable the retention of information u To act as a revision aid

Importance of Note Taking u Note taking helps you to organise the ideas that you are learning about u Helps to familiarise you with the language and concepts of the discipline you are studying u Note taking is a memory aid

Common Errors I u Illegible handwriting u Notebook is too small u Too detailed u Poor organisation u No labelling u Listing u Poor sub-headings

Common Errors II u Wordiness u Meaning is not conveyed u Key ideas are missing u Notes are not in your own words

Lecture Notes Good note taking is an active process which requires you to be selective u Prepare for the lecture u Look out for cues from lecturer (headings, emphasis, etc) Always revise your notes soon after the lecture

Styles of Note Taking There are a number of different note taking styles / systems You need to find out which one works best for you u linear note taking (headings) u key points u pattern notes (diagrammatical)

Pattern Notes Note taking Types Highlighting Diagrams Marginal notes Precis Objective Organizing thoughts Notes on Lecture Seminar Textbook Electronic Revision Future reference Meaning& understanding

Intro to Assessment The purpose of assessment is to measure whether you have successfully met the learning outcomes of each module  maintain standards  progression  recognise achievement Assessment is also an active part of the learning process

Key Principals in HE u Most examiners are not interested in only testing memory and / or recall u The key aim is to test how well you understand each topic u Assessment also measures how well you have mastered key ‘graduate abilities’

Common Forms Different forms of assessment are used to measure different skills The most common forms of assessment you will encounter at Certificate level are: u Examinations u Essays u Oral Presentations u Portfolios

How To Do Well Make sure that you understand the learning outcomes Ensure you understand what you are being asked to do Plan out your answer in draft form Learn from experience (esp. by making use of feedback)

Plagiarism What is plagiarism? Passing off someone else’s work as your own

Plagiarism Defined If you fail to acknowledge the original source of material you are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence! Plagiarism is easily detected! Many students plagiarise unintentionally because of poor study skills

How to Avoid Plagiarism Plagiarism is easily avoided once you have developed some basic skills The most important point to to always acknowledge the source of all key ideas and information This is most commonly done through referencing

Good Practice u Always record the source of any notes you make u Present information in your own words u Always use quotation marks when repeating something directly from a text u When in doubt – reference it!

For Next Week u Ensure that you attend your correct seminar group u Complete the ‘Group Member’ questionnaire and bring to next week’s seminar u Work within your group on the Tate Modern case study