TOPICS COVERED

N C GARDNER MA PGCE

Study Skills

Study Skills: topics covered

1) Transition from GCSEs to A-Levels2) Goals and Aspirations3) Time Management Skills including meeting deadlines4) Independent Learning Skills5) Core Research Skills: Reading, note-making and

managing information6) Critical analytical thinking7) Writing Skills: writing assignments, extended projects8) Presentation skills, public speaking, answering

effectively

1 Transition

The transition from GCSE to Advanced Levels:

Use your non-contact time for the homework and revision needed at Advanced Level.

You need to analyse your essays, which is different from GCSE. A-Levels require analysis, interpretation and critical commentary, and are therefore different from GCSEs.

1 Transition

“Time management” is another new skill that Sixth Formers have to master.

But this sounds worse than it is – time management is your friend.

In free periods, for example, you may need to focus on just one project at a time and good time management gives you the time to do this.

1 Transition – Higher Expectations

Teachers expect more of you at A-level, and rightly so: you are older, wiser, more mature than you were for your GCSEs.

However, your teachers are here to help with the transition from GCSEs to A-Levels.

Your teachers expect that it will take time for you to adapt and will help you manage the transition.

1 Transition

Extra-curricular activities

You will need to incorporate extra-curricular activities which broaden your experience and are useful too when you come to write your Personal Statement for applying to university, or a CV to apply for jobs.

1 Transition

Work experience:

Gaining some work experience is another feature of the transition from GCSEs to Sixth Form.

Work experience placements are a good alternative way (rather than a part-time job) to gain experience of employment.

2 Goals and Aspirations

1) Learning can be an adventure2) Identify what attracts you3) Explore new ideas4) Engage in a wide range of new activities5) Find out about yourself, not least how you

rise to the challenge of academic study6) Consider the kind of person that you want

to be in the world7) Make the experience of Further

Education work for you

So, what are your goals and aspirations?

3 Time Management

Put the hours in: expertise is largely a factor of how many hours you spend on an activity. This applies to study as for other skills.

Using time effectively is all-important.

Get to lessons on time. Do not disrupt the learning and life-chances of fellow students by being late.

Plan your day and meet deadlines.

3 Time Management: Staying on task

4 Independent Learning Skills: Taking Ownership

Managing your own study in between taught sessions.

How to interpret reading material and assignment titles.

How to structure your answers.

Self-direction; self-management

4 Independent Learning

Keeping on target with little guidance.

Control over your study time.

Using free periods effectively.

Creating structures for your day

Taking responsibility for your learning and achieving your goals.

5 Core Research Skills

Highlight key words and phases in your text, underline the information you think may be relevant.

Ask ‘depth questions’:

1) What point is the writer making?2) Why is this detail relevant?3) Is the writer trying to answer a particular

question?4) What lessons can be learnt from this text?

5 Core Research Skills

Identify and sum up the main ideas of a lesson, a text or other learning materials.

Jot down a few words to summarize the main ideas.

Be selective: ‘Do I really need this information?’

Keep notes brief.

Use your own words.

6 Critical analytical thinking

Weighing up the arguments and evidence for and against.

Critical thinking calls for a persistent effort to examine any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the evidence that supports it and the further conclusions to which it tends.

Persistence: considering an issue carefully, and more than once.

6 Critical analytical thinking

Evidence: evaluating the evidence put forward in support of the belief or viewpoint.

Implications: considering where the belief or viewpoint leads – what conclusions would follow; are these suitable and rational; and if not, should the belief or viewpoint be reconsidered?

Critical analytical thinking: Professor Bethany Hughes, Tutor at Cambridge

University and author of ‘Helen of Troy’

7 Writing Skills

Write in an objective, analytical style, with appropriate use of evidence.

Make sure your assignments are well-written i.e. easy to read. Read it out aloud to get a sense of audience and a sense of voice.

Write drafts to take pressure away from you since you know the drafts will not be the final version.

Great writing: Haruki Murakami, one of the world’s leading novelists. Read good novels to improve your writing.

8 Presentation skills

The purpose of presentation:

1) To start off class discussion

2) To produce a variety of perspectives

3) To develop a skill required in many occupations

8 Presentation skills

1) Make a few main points. Don’t swamp the audience with everything you know.

2) Select a few concrete examples which are easy for the audience to visualise.

3) Structure the talk very clearly, using just a few headings.

4) Repeat main points, and summarise what you have said.

Analytical writing

1) State your position – sum up your argument in one brief, clear sentence.

2) Don’t be tempted to sit on the fence. You can sound callous, and show that there are strong arguments on more than one side