4: Managing Information
Introduction
It is a less common expression now, but in the past students might say that they were, "reading for a degree in..." when asked what they were studying.
This usage of the word developed because the reading of printed sources, mainly text books, was such an important part of degree level study. It still is, but today the range of sources available to students, especially since the mid 1990s, has broadened considerably with the expansion of electronic communication, and information on any topic can now be readily heard, seen, watched, as well as read.
For this reason, selecting and evaluating information is an essential skill for success in higher education today.
Contents of this section
Unit 1: Selecting Information
This unit looks at the differences between primary and secondary sources and how you discriminate between them.
Unit 2: Managing Information
The differences between note-taking and note-making are discussed and you will be introduced to a range of techniques for recording the sources of evidence for revision and course work purposes.
Unit 3: Questioning Information
Higher education students are expected to be questioning of evidence, and not just passively accept it as 'fact'. This unit will introduce you to an effective technique for asking the right questions of any theory or idea that you encounter.
Workbooks
Recommended Websites and Reading
Websites
LearnHigher (Look for 'Learning Areas')
LearnHigher is a network of sixteen UK institutions of higher education that have combined to develop resources to support students learning. Three of the LearnHigher resources relevant to this section are Critical Thinking (University of Plymouth); Note-making; and Reading (both managed by London Metropolitan University).
The University of Leeds has produced a podcast on Critical Thinking. The content is well-organised and concise (twelve minutes long) and the transcript is available to reinforce the audio message.
Edinburgh Napier University offers a concise and lively Introduction to critical thinking website, with activities and tips from students. It includes sections on finding information and on making notes. It will be of interest to any students new to university-level study, as well as post-16, further education students and others.
The University of Greenwich offers a step by step guide to critical essay writing, with a very useful section on analysing essay titles. It also links to many of their other student support resources.
Reading
(Links below go to Amazon.co.uk)
Critical Thinking Skills: developing effective analysis and argument, by Stella Cottrell, published by Palgrave.
This is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of critical thinking, and includes some helpful self-analysis exercises, e.g. 'Assess Your Thinking Skills'; highly recommended.
Reading at University: a guide for students, by Gavin and Susan Fairbairn, published by The Open University Press.
This excellent book deals with all aspects of effective reading for higher education purposes, including selecting information and making notes.
