Study Skills in Groups:
a Complement to 1-to-1
Tuition
The pedagogic case for teaching
specialist study skills to groups
Robert Burwell 2012
• Enables tutors to focus on skills to overcome
students’ specific learning barriers and develop
their metacognitive awareness.
• Gives tutors an opportunity to teach a range of
academic study skills as a subject in its own right.
• Students can then learn these study skills in an in
explicit and structured way which they can apply to
their academic work.
Robert Burwell 2012
“It was useful learning how to
decode assignments, plan,
research and then learn to
structure essays and how to be
critical both when researching
and reading”. Rachel
Robert Burwell 2012
“The weekly subject packs help
me when I’m writing my essays,
there like a reference in what to
do as often forget the skills I have
learnt”. Manjinda
Robert Burwell 2012
Students can share learning
experiences, learn from each
other, in a supportive learning
environment.
Robert Burwell 2012
“What I enjoyed most about the group
sessions is the opportunity to talk to other
students with dyslexia and discuss and
learn together”. Claire
“Group environment helpful and
supportive, the constant feedback and
having people in the same position gives
you confidence”. Adam
Robert Burwell 2012
In 1:1 tuition, students can
contextualise the skills learnt in
the group sessions. Then apply,
develop and hone these skills
with the support of the tutor.
Robert Burwell 2012
Tutors can develop a toolkit of
materials which they can select
and use with students in their 1:1
tutorials, enhancing their
teaching.
Robert Burwell 2012
A review of the style and content of
my sessions and why I chose them
The order of the teaching programme
timetable was carefully designed to
teach the skills in a structured and
sequential order, mirroring the
students’ assessment demands
throughout the semester.
Robert Burwell 2012
Robert Burwell 2012
The packs help structure the
content of the lesson, helping
students to build a toolkit of
materials which they can use and
refer to as an aid memoir.
Robert Burwell 2012
My teaching style is quite discursive
and encourages student interaction
and each session topic has a small
task/activity, providing a multisensory
teaching approach.
Robert Burwell 2012
Each pack contextualises the
challenges SpLD students face when
tackling a literacy task, by explaining
their experience; thus fostering
metacognition.
Robert Burwell 2012
Session Pack 5: A dyslexic student’s
experience:
‘Dyslexic students often struggle decoding essay
questions and following assessment guidance in
module handbooks. Students can work extremely
hard on essays and reports, only to find out that
they have misinterpreted the assignment
question. In some cases dyslexic students find it
very difficult to interpret the key points in
questions, often because they don’t have a
confident grasp of the language used in
assessment questions’.
Robert Burwell 2012
The practicalities of setting up your
own group.
Robert Burwell 2012
Advertising and communication to students
• Requires ingenuity and variety!
• Posters are displayed in targeted areas.
• Timetables are emailed to all SpLD students.
• Timetables are emailed to all Disability Tutors.
• Group sessions are promoted by SpLD Tutors in 1:1
tutorials.
• The group teaching programme is repeated in Semester 2 to
capture new students/existing students who missed
sessions.
Robert Burwell 2012
Robert Burwell 2012
Email : Advertising to students
Welcome to this year’s studies at Hull University. The Specific Learning
Difficulties Tutor Team this Year are: Bob Burwell, Kerry Pace, Julie Dodsworth
and Helen Duncan. Please see enclosed the timetable details for the Dyslexia
and Dyspraxia Group Study Support Sessions for Semester One, delivered by
Bob Burwell.
These group sessions are very useful as they give you the chance to learn
different study tips and strategies from other students in a supportive
environment. The timetable is designed to teach you the study skills you need
to successfully meet your assessment demands for Semester One. It is worth
noting that attending these workshops are purely on a drop-in basis. If you
would like to attend, just come to the information point on the 3rd Floor of
University House.
Note, don’t worry if you miss a workshop session topic as I will be repeating
the full workshop programme in Semester 2 for newly assessed students.
For details or any enquiries please contact Bob Burwell. We look forward to
meeting you in October.
Robert Burwell 2012
Funding and record
keeping for SFE
Robert Burwell 2012
D-2 Non-Medical Helpers Allowance
Supplier: The University of Hull.
Disability Services
Third Floor, Student’s Union Building
The University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull
HU6 7RX
Tel: 01482 462020
Fax: 01482 466669
Item
Individual Specialist 1-to-1 tuition for approx. 30 hours per year @ £55.22 per hour.
Specialist group support sessions - up to 10 sessions per year @ £20.31 per hour. Each
session lasts 1.5 hours.
TOTAL
Price
£1,656.60
£304.65
£1,961.25
Robert Burwell 2012
Robert Burwell 2012
Challenges of Teaching Study Skills in Groups
• Group numbers fluctuate , but tend to develop into a small
but dedicated group.
• Getting students to start attending can be a challenge:
remembering new appointments. Having a set day and time
helps.
• Regular attendance often leads to better group dynamics, as
students learn and develop together.
Robert Burwell 2012
Challenges cont:
• Holidays; work-placements and assessment deadlines affect
attendance.
• Targeted emails sent to previous but lapsed attenders,
promoting the next session, can boost flagging attendance.
• As attendance is voluntary, tutors need to adopt a positive
and enthusiastic teaching approach , and provide materials
which are stimulating and practical. Do this and you will reap
the rewards!
Robert Burwell 2012