2: The Independent Learner
Introduction
In Section 1 of this Trans:it Project, you were asked about your expectations of higher education (HE) and what you hoped you might gain from the experience. You also learned that HE students are expected to more independent than at college, as you are likely to have less classroom contact with HE lecturers, compared to contact time with your college tutors.
Because you are expected to do more for yourself in HE - often working under pressure to complete work on time - becoming a more independent learner may require you to develop more effective skills for learning. Independent learning is also is about understanding the system and knowing who will advise you if you run into difficulties. So Section 2 of Trans:it is about these issues.
Contents of this section
Unit 1: Understanding HE
Unit 1 covers the different levels of study you will encounter in HE; the way your work is assessed; plus a guide to the specialist language of higher education.
Unit 2: What is a student?
This unit looks at the learning 'roles' an HE student plays, and about what tutors expect of you, particularly in relation to written course work.
Unit 3: Do it in style
In this unit you will identify your intelligence type and connect this with learning techniques to help you become a more effective and independent learner.
Unit 4: Help!
You will learn more about the sources of help, advice and support available to you in higher education and look at some case studies of students who find themselves in need of support.
Workbooks
Recommended Websites and Reading
Websites
A UK government site that offers advice on higher education, including how courses are structured and organised.
LearnHigher is a network of 16 UK institutions of higher education that have combined to develop resources to support students learning. One of the 'learning areas' where you can find resources relevant to this section is the 'Independent Learning/Self-directed Study' resources section, organized by the University of Manchester.
Open University Learning Space
This is a well-established and helpful site that can be particularly helpful to part-time students. It contains lots of useful advice on managing your studies, and particularly the early stages of any higher education course.
Reading
(Links below go to Amazon.co.uk)
The Study Skills Handbook, by Stella Cottrell, published by Palgrave.
This study skills bestseller introduces students to the skills they need to succeed in HE in a lively and interactive way. The 3rd edition has new chapters on e-learning and numeracy.
The Stress-Free Guide to Studying at University, by Gordon Rugg, Sue Gerrard and Susie Hooper, published by Sage.
This book is aimed at new HE students and is structured around the main stressors that are likely to be encountered as a student, such as the initial adjustment to university life, financial difficulties and the pressure of examinations. Throughout, the emphasis is on achieving well-being, by minimizing the disruption caused by stress and learning from difficult experiences.
How to be a Student: 100 Great Ideas and Practical Habits for Students Everywhere, by Sarah Moore & Maura Murphy, published by Open University Press.
This book looks at what it means to be a student today in higher education, and offers advice on managing your studies to the best of your ability.
