WISER
Karen Smith
Barriers & Motivators to Learning
Barriers & Motivators to Learning
 My choice
 Not my choice
 exciting
 Too much pressure from
parents
 Confident in water
 Couldn’t practice
 Fear of failure
 De-motivated
 Peers: doing more fun stuff
 Beautiful environment
 Highly motivated
 buddies
 Cool instructors
Skills for Success at University
Academic Study Skills
To be a more effective student at University
students need to be able to do more than
remember facts.
WISER offers specialist study support to all
students at the university, from Year 1 to
postgraduates who wish to learn more
effectively and get better marks for their
academic assignments and exams.
Skills for Success at University
Sep 2009 - July 2010, 3,824 students had come to WISER.
Students who have used the service have commented:
• “ I improved by 20% after coming to your workshop and sending
you my last assignment”
Year 2 student
• “ I took on board all the issues you raised and I passed with 65%
so I would like to say thank you very, very much.”
Year 3 student
• Academic support is fundamental to me as part of the research
studies and WISER has been very helpful in this area.
PhD Student
Why come to WISER?
To find out about the demands and expectations of
university study in the UK
To develop & improve a range of academic skills that
are transferable across subject areas
Having academic skills allow you to focus on course
content
To help students with their Personal & Professional
Development Planning (PPDP)
Personal & Professional Development Planning
• A structured process undertaken by an
individual to:
– reflect upon their learning, performance and/or
achievement and
– plan for their personal, educational and career
development.
• All university programmes must initiate and
implement PPDP for students.
What is expected from
students in HE?
•
•
•
•
Independence
Self-motivation
Openness to working with others
Ability to
– work things out for yourself
– set goals to improve your work
– organise your time
– work out when, how and where you learn best
Bloom’s Taxonomy and Assessment
Comprehension
Knowledge
Evaluation
Analysis
Synthesis
Application
evaluation
synthesis
analysis
application
comprehension
knowledge
What are your tutors looking for?
Description: Content, knowledge of models, tools & theory.
Analysis:
Why? Why not? Cause and effect, reasons.
Synthesis: Structure, flow, logic in your assignments.
Making arguments.
Use of data/evidence to arrive at conclusions.
REFERENCES to research literature.
Evaluation: Pros/cons. Advantages & disadvantages.
Ranking. Strengths & weaknesses.
Study Skills?
• Do you know what academic style is, and how
to write in it?
• Do you know about referencing, and how to
do it properly?
• Do you know the difference between a report
and an essay?
• Can you give an effective presentation in front
of your course mates?
Note Making
In lectures…
…and from books
Academic Writing
Essays
Reports
Dissertations and
Research Projects
Presentations
Exam Technique
How can we help you?
WORKSHOPS
Wed & Fri 2 - 4pm
FY317
• No need to book, just
come along!
Topics include:
• Note taking
• Essay writing
• Presentations
• Exams
• and others...
How can we help you?
TUTORIALS
Mon, Tues, Thurs
12 -1 , 4 - 5pm
Wed & Fri 12 - 2pm
•
•
•
•
Drop in – FY315
2 hours everyday
Ask questions
Get feedback on your
work
Please note!
• assignments 500+ words require 3 working
days notice
• we will look at a maximum of 3000 words
• you can only submit 1 assignment per 5
working days
• write your name, email address & course at
the top of all work you hand in
The WISER team
Nick Gregson
Tania Horak
Karen Smith
Fylde 319
wiseraccess@uclan.ac.uk
www.uclan.ac.uk/wiser
Questions