Registration and HEE Themes Learning Styles Concentration and Time Management Reading Skills

1. Registration and HEE Themes Learning Styles Concentration and Time Management Reading Skills Lectures and Taking Notes Gathering Information Seminars and Group Projects Giving Presentations Planning Essays and Assignments Writing Essays and Assignments Writing Scientifically Revising and taking Exams Looking to the Future

2. Learning StylesJ. Skyrme

3. Tasks • Listen to the presentation from your tutor • Complete VARK questionnaire • Complete the Skills Self Assessment • Establish your learning style to assist you with your AS/A2 and HE studies

4. Objective:Understanding your own preferred Learning Styles can help you study more effectively by using techniques that can really improve the way you: a) perceive information; b) process information and; c) organise and present information.

5. Why tell me now? Studying at university makes very different demands on you compared with school and college.

6. Focus • In higher education the focus is on you; you will be expected to study on your own much more than you may have been used to. Schedule • You're given much more responsibility at university for organising your own schedule. Reading • You are expected to do much more reading at university than you've been used to — especially if you've been on a gap year or are a mature student. It's not called ‘reading for a degree' for nothing. Lectures • A lot of university teaching happens in lectures where you may be one of 200 students. Often it's up to you whether you attend — and whether you learn anything there. Essays • Essays at university are longer, you need to write in an objective academic style and give references. Time scale • They often set essays and assignments weeks before you have to hand them in. And there won't be anybody to remind you that they are due in. 100% • There are many subjects in which it's impossible to get 100%. First Class Honours Degrees are awarded for a ‘high level of critical and analytical ability' and ‘originality of thought' rather than for just getting the answers right.

7. Perceiving information • When we gather information about the world around us (including the information we need in order to study), we employ all our senses. But some of us employ one sense more than others. The VARK system assesses how much people rely on: • sight (Visual), • hearing (Auditory), • Reading / Writing, and Other sensations (Kinaesthetic, which includes touch and temperature as well as movement). People say things like, ‘I'm an auditory learner' (meaning that they are comfortable absorbing information which they've heard or discussed); or ‘I'm a kinaesthetic learner' (if they prefer to learn through practical classes and hands­ on activities, rather than by reading books and listening to lectures). In fact, each of us uses all available senses to absorb information. But you may find it helpful to confirm what your strengths are with regard to perception. If you want to do this, visit the VARK website, fill in the test, and check your results. http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

8. Processing information Once you've acquired information (by listening, reading, etc.), you then process it mentally (by thinking about it and memorizing it). You will have a natural preference for how you: Grasp information • Do you prefer to deal with: • abstract concepts and generalisations, or • concrete, practical examples?

9. Order information Would you rather receive facts: • in a logical, sequential way (to build up a picture one step at a time), or • with an overview straight away (to show the big picture first, then the details)?

10. Engage with information Do you prefer: • active experimentation or • reflective observation?

11. Complete the Skills Self Assessment Audit for HW: http://www3.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/pack/iolp.html Aim of task: to assess your style of information processing and get tips on making best use of your strengths. Note to tutor: Use R10 or book an ICT room?

12. Organising and presenting information Finally, there is how you choose to share information with others. You will have a preference for how you: - organise information — with a holistic overview, or with detailed and logical analysis - present information — verbally or using images.

13. What should I do now? • This is not just a matter of intellectual curiosity; it affects every student when they are at university. Most academics have stayed in higher education because they possess these characteristics: • VARK: auditory, reader / writer • Processing information: abstract, logical, sequential, reflective • Organising and presenting information: analytic verbal. NB: You will probably need to translate the style of university teaching into something which you find more congenial!

14. Seeing • If you are a Visual Learner, you will remember things best when you've seen them. • You will like a stimulating and orderly environment. • You probably like to use diagrams and charts. • You probably like reading, and may be a good speller.

15. Study tips to help people who are visual learners • Write things down to help you learn them: • Draw pictures, charts and maps to help you understand things • Use mind­mapping • Use planners, organisers or goal­setting charts • Highlight important points with colour (but not in books which you've borrowed!) • Try visualising ideas and facts in your mind • Try changing places in the room while you're studying, to get a different perspective • Use models if they're available • When you need to revise, read over and recopy your notes.

16. Hearing • If you are what's called an Auditory Learner, you will learn best when you're listening (for example, in a lecture) and when you're involved in discussion. • You will remember things best when you've heard them.

17. Study tips to help people who are auditory learners • The key thing is to make use of sound: • Talk things through as you learn them, with a friend or tutorial group • Get a friend to read aloud to you • When you have to learn facts, try reciting them to yourself, or even singing them aloud. • Find out if you study best in silence, or with music playing in the background • Realise that some people aren't as good as you at remembering what they are told.

18. Reading/Writing University education is ideal for you. You are comfortable reading text and writing notes and essays. When you are studying graphs, charts and diagrams, convert them into words.

19. Doing If you are what's called a kinaesthetic learner, you will learn best when you're moving around. You will remember things best when you've done them (rather than just read about them). You may have trouble with spelling. In lectures you may make lots of notes but tend never to look at them again.

20. Study tips to help people who are kinaesthetic learners • Move around as you learn and revise • Work through problems physically • Mentally review what you've been studying while you're swimming or jogging • Use models and machines when you can • Take plenty of breaks while you're studying.

21. Reflection • What is your preferred learning style? • What has worked well for you in the past? • What new techniques could you try?