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Skills Required for University

Skills Required for University. David Holmes Senior Examiner Edexcel and Geography Advisor to Field Studies Council. Making the leap?. What is different about university?. Content : more complex, harder topics, depth of study, controversial. University. School.

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Skills Required for University

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  1. Skills Required for University David Holmes Senior Examiner Edexcel and Geography Advisor to Field Studies Council

  2. Making the leap?

  3. What is different about university? Content: more complex, harder topics, depth of study, controversial University School Exam style: longer answers, more demanding command words, less data stimulus Research: you are expected to be more of an independent learner and researcher Way of learning: lectures rather than lessons; less contact time with staff

  4. Skills and attributes of a geography undergraduate • Practical: • GIS computing • Lab work • Presentations • Intellectual: • Research • Evaluation • Analysis • Personal: • Time control • Adaptability • Enterprise • Interpersonal: • Teamwork • Empathy • Listening

  5. University staff want geography students to have…. • Computing skills • Ability to critically assess information • Community Awareness • Appropriate skills • Far seeing • Do the job • Interpret • Synthesize • Literacy curiosity • Capacity to think • Capacity to apply knowledge in a range of relevant contexts

  6. And they also want…. • Able to articulate ‘debates’ in written/oral form • Confident, independent learners • Know about geography at an appropriate level • Confident, articulate flexible • Application of knowledge • Ability to research independently • Request assistance • Numeracy & Literacy • Good communicator • Good researcher

  7. Doing your initial skills audit

  8. Learning at University: Lectures True or false?: • In good lectures, you takes lots of notes and it is silent • A good lecturer speaks slowly so that you can get word-for-word-notes • Everything you need to know to get a 1st class degree can get got at lectures

  9. Tips for lectures… • Get there early so you have a good spot • Have your writing equipment ready • Read through last sessions notes • Collect all handouts and get weblinks etc • KNOW HOW TO TAKE EFFCETIVE NOTES

  10. Learning at University: Tutorials Usually a 50 minute discussion meeting with 4-8 students. Chaired by academic. Normally they are ‘workshops’ based around a set topic or theme. • Prepare the topic! • Prepare bullet points and questions in advance • Take notes on other peoples ideas, work etc.

  11. Learning at University: Research process The research process is rarely simple or straightforward

  12. Being a researcher I will have to be a good ‘hunter-gatherer’ and get myself organised to keep things….. Start with the basic (‘recommended’) textbook, then go for the ‘specials’

  13. Research options

  14. Researching in teams

  15. Student Books

  16. Specialist and student magazines

  17. Newspapers – issues and bias

  18. Further journals and magazines Remember to use their websites

  19. Library vs internet

  20. More to life than Google?

  21. Probably the best geography websites (1)

  22. Probably the best geography websites (2) • Physical

  23. On the web…always consider • Who published the information - a site maintained by a university or government organisation is probably more reliable than one maintained by a private individual. • Who wrote the information - you can probably assume that material provided by a known expert in the field is likely to be reliable. • The age of the material - if you need current statistics, carefully check the age of the material you've found. A site dealing with historical hazards information may not need updating as frequently as one related to news and current events. • Why the material exists - many special interest groups have web pages. And while this doesn't necessarily mean the material is biased, it's something you should consider. Think about whether they might have some reason, other than pure helpfulness, for posting information

  24. Essay Skills (Thesis)

  25. The Dog!Ways to structure an effective essay

  26. Indirect feeding – cash crops to make money Deconstructing a title Opposition to GM technology. In MEDC environmental political opposition Direct feeding – subsistence food crops, soya, maize, rice, wheat What is GM technology? Possible deals with LDCs. Role of India, China, Brazil etc Who owns it – role of TNCs, Monsanto etc The true potential of GM technology lies in feeding the World’s poorest people. Discuss Arguments against – environmental issues etc. Case studies of trials in poor countries Arguments for issues of increased yield. Is food problem actually related to FAD, or FED. GM can overcome issues of pests and drought Worlds poorest ~ synonymous with worlds poorest countries (HDI?), or poor within other countries

  27. University essay assessment criteria

  28. Handling complex numerical data

  29. Handling complex graphs

  30. Organising revision case studies and notes

  31. What is the greatest problem we face with our students? • Retention • Engagement • Attending lectures • Attending tutorials • Results: too long a ‘tail’ • ie too many 3rds and 2iis, or too few 1st and 2i

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