hands on fast, ignoring any material unavailable

on that day, and rushing out a rapid piece of

work with no drafting or proof-reading.

Nita By preference, I am very competitive and

enjoy studying on my own, using every minute

effectively. I don't like groupwork as I don't

really want to share my ideas and it can feel

like a waste of time, a bit slow. Overall, my

learning preferences and style match each

other, as I do get good grades. However, even

though I find collaborative work annoying, I

have found that I get my very best grades

from this: the range of ideas and perspectives

stimulates me to come up with richer answers.

 

Study habits

What study habits haveyou developed overthe

years? How far do these equate with each of the

following:

 

 

1 your learning style (what helps you learn

best)?

2 your learning preferences (whatyou like

doing)?

3 yourearly learning experiences ratherthan

what you need now?

4 the attitude, or mind-set, that you bring to

your study?

Which study habits might it be useful to

change?

Activity

Identify yoi|r learning preference

 

Identify your personal learning

style. This time, highlight in a bright colour

those factors that you prefer when studying -

that is, those factors which you think help you

to engage with study and enjoy it.

 

Personalise your learning

 

Example 3

Prefer learning through listening

 

Use any podcasts that are provided. Record

lectures, extracts from books, your notes, ideas, lists of key points, formulae or quotations -

or make a podcast of these. Listen to them whilst travelling. Look for computer-voiced

text you can download as a podcast and other information that can be downloaded

to a portable device such as your MP3 player. Investigate assistive technologies such as screen

readers, and software such as Texthelp! that enables you to listen to words, sentences or

paragraphs of text as you type or highlights

them asyou listen. Form a studygroup - to

learn via discussion.

See also

Individual memory styles

Gain a rounded skills portfolio

Whilst personalising your learning, take care also to vary your study choices and strategies so that you

gain the widest set of perspectives and skills.

For example, if you prefer to work on your own, create some opportunities to develop teamworking

and people skills, so that you are able to draw on these when needed for assessed group projects or for future employment. Conversely, if you always work with others, make time for independent

study and thinking things through on your own.

Reflection: Varying study,approaches

It is important to consider approaches that we

find more difficult and what we lose if we avoid

these completely.

• Which methods of studydo you try to avoid?

• Which skills and insights mightyou miss out


Last modified: Monday, 29 April 2024, 4:56 PM