1. Effective Learning: Lecture 1 Learning Strategies With thanks to David Smith

2. Why am I here? Social interaction Critical thinking Learning

3. What are you trying to achieve? Friends Personal growth Degree

4. Planning your time

5. Short-term planning Have a routine Fill gaps constructively Break-up study into tasks Balance work… with FUN!

6. Re-evaluate your plan Be flexible, but do not overlook Essay deadlines (know the regulations) Exam revision Reading weeks Know yourself Be honest… and realistic!

7. 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)

8. What to do if it’s all going wrong.

9. Personal welfare For advice and counselling, contact the Student Welcome Centre: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student- support/http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student- support/ Students’ Union for equal opportunities, counselling and Nightline http://www.abersu.co.uk/advice/http://www.abersu.co.uk/advice/ Health Services (contact Student Welcome Centre) Residential Support Team (Wardens) Friends

10. Academic support Personal tutor, module coordinators, part one coordinator Effective Study Collection in Hugh Owen Library (F Floor) Study Practices Programme: Classes for writing and information skills Individual consultations with RLF Writing Fellows: writers@aber.ac.uk writers@aber.ac.uk Additional language support for international students: tesol@aber.ac.uktesol@aber.ac.uk http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student-learning- support/undergrad/ http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student-learning- support/undergrad/

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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

14. Taking good notes Leave lots of space for later thoughts and analysis Mark key concepts Colour Icons Highlighting Categories and hierarchies Number the pages Keep a running bibliography and note references for all sources you use

15. Reading Why? Greater depth of knowledge Selection Understand the library Know why you are reading Organisation Reading lists Checking availability through libraries and online resources Prioritising reading

16. 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!

17. Summary… Goals Time management Sources of assistance Lectures Note-taking Reading Seminars

18. The End Any questions? The next lecture will be on essays and assignments.

19. Any questions? Study Practices Programme (Student Support): Classes for writing, seminar/lecture skills, information skills Individual consultations with RLF Writing fellows. Contact writers@aber.ac.uk for appointmentswriters@aber.ac.uk learner-support@aber.ac.uk – for any learning difficulties e.g. dyslexialearner-support@aber.ac.uk http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student-learning- support/

20. Feedback Please provide some comments for further development of this seminar: http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/aber/learning A link is also provided at the main Student Support Study Practices page: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student-learning- support/effective-study/