Study Skills for Foundation Degrees

Description

Returning to study but unsure whether you’ve got the skills to cope?

Study Skills for Foundation Degrees will prepare and guide you through the broad range of study-related issues you can expect to encounter in a clear and accessible manner. By helping you to develop a broad range of study skills essential for success on any FD course, you’ll soon have the confidence to rise to any challenge thrown your way! Key features include:

• data collection and presentation
• how to take good notes and read effectively
• developing oral presentation skills and effective writing techniques
• how to produce bibliographies, quotations and citations
• maintaining a work-life balance
• producing a professional development portfolio
• progressing to an honors degree and producing a winning CV.

Study Skills for Foundation Degrees is designed for mature students and those returning to an academic environment after a long absence, but it will also be useful to a wide range of motivated foundation degree students aiming to improve their confidence and study technique.

Contents

Acknowledgements

1. So you want to study for a foundation degree? Useful preparation prior to starting your course

What is a foundation degree?

Is this the right course for me at this stage?

Making an application

Creating a support network of family, friends and colleagues

Preparing a space to study

Some top tips for success

2. Learning as an adult

How do we learn?

Building on previous experience

Motivation for further study

3. Making good notes and reading effectively

The Learning Resources Centre

The internet and electronic resources

Reading effectively

Making notes

4. Developing your oral presentation skills

Why make presentations?

What makes a good presentation?

Preparation

The presentation

Group presentations

5. Data collection and presentation

Why collect data?

Determining what to research

Implementation

Collecting the data

Drawing conclusions from the data

6. Effective academic writing techniques: Producing your first essay

Writing your first essay

Writing for academic purposes

Essential checklist before submission of any written work

Tips for writing reports and other assignments

7. How to make quotations, citations and a bibliography and avoid plagiarism

Acknowledging sources of information

Creating your bibliography

What is plagiarism and how can it be avoided?

8. How to manage your time, handle stress and cope with revision and exams

Practical strategies for time management

Ideas for managing stress

Coping with exams and revision

9. Producing a professional development portfolio

Keeping a reflective journal

Producing a professional development portfolio

Personal development planning

10. After the foundation degree: progressing to an honours degree and producing a winning CV

What next? Using your careers service

Further study: how to find the relevant honours degree course

Expectations of study at HE level 3

Producing a winning CV: reflecting on your experiences

Now write your CV

Completing an application form

Writing a letter of application

Your next steps on the road of lifelong learning…

Appendix I: SEEC credit level descriptors

Further Reading

References

Related Subjects

1. Education Studies
2. Post-Compulsory Education
3. Study Skills