Effective Learning:
Lecture 1
Learning Strategies
With thanks to David Smith
Why Am I here!?!?



Social Interaction
Critical Thinking
Learning
What Are You Trying to
Achieve?



Friends
Personal growth
Degree
Planning Your Time
Short-Term Planning
Have a Routine
 Fill Gaps Constructively
 Break-up Study into Tasks
 Balance Work… With FUN!

Re-Evaluate Your Plan

Be flexible
Essay Deadlines
 Exam Revision
 Reading Weeks


Know Yourself

Be Honest….and Realistic!
Workload and Deadlines






Know your deadlines well in advance
Familiarise yourself with module information and
assessments
 http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/study-schemes/
Break up tasks into long, medium and short term
Allow time for preparation
Allow for the unexpected (illness, hangovers etc.)
If you can’t meet a deadline, request an extension via
your department office (not automatically granted)
What to do if it’s all going wrong.

Personal
Student Advice and
Counseling
 Residential Support Team
(Wardens)
 Friends
 Nightline (contact Students’
Union for details)




Personal Tutor, Module Coordinators, Part One
Coordinator
Effective Study Collection
Study Practices Programme (Student Support):
• Classes for writing, seminar/lecture skills,
information skills
• Individual consultations with RLF Writing
fellows

http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student-support/study-skills/

Students Union for equal opportunities advice
Health Services (contact Student Welcome
Centre)

Approaching Difficult Study
Material
Find more general sources to lead
you in
 Check your lecture notes
 Form a study group

Pool your reading
 Explain things to each other

Ask your tutor
 Ask in the relevant libraries (specialist
librarians can advise)

Why go to lectures?




Provide a frame of
reference
Good introduction to the
topic
Give clues as to what is
important for essays and
exams
Focus on aims of
modules
Taking Notes





Familiarise yourself with the topic before the
lecture
Is there a handout? It might be easier to annotate
that
Are handouts available through AberLearn
Blackboard?
Develop a personal shorthand
Go over your notes afterwards




Correct errors and illegibility
Add more detail
Mindmaps may help
Have a system for organising and filing your
notes
Taking Good Notes
Leave lots of space for later thoughts
and analysis
 Mark Key Concepts

Colour
 Icons
 Highlighting

Categories and Hierarchies
 Number the pages!

Reading

Why?


Selection



Greater depth of knowledge
Understand the library
Know why you are reading
Organisation



Reading lists
Checking availability through
libraries and online resources
Prioritising reading
Seminars
Take the opportunity to share ideas
and find out what others think
 Support your position with reasoned
argument
 Take notes
 Be prepared to make presentations
 Don’t be shy – everyone is nervous
 Be tolerant too!

Summary…
Goals
 Time management
 Sources of assistance
 Lectures
 Note-taking
 Reading
 Seminars

The End
 Any
 The
questions?
next lecture will be on
essays and assignments.