Study Skills
Nearly all university and college courses require some I.T. skills. Most tutors will insist that assignments are word processed and many tutors also use email and electronic learning resources. You will also need to use the internet for research or down- loading reading materials such as on-line journals. If this all sounds a bit scary – don’t panic. There are some excellent learning resources and many of these tasks are easy to do once you know how.
If you have limited or no experience of using I.T. contact your local Further Education college for details of introductory courses. Alternatively you can contact Learndirect who offer basic and often free I.T. taster sessions. If you are over 55, Age Concern offers I.T. support and training courses. For further information contact your nearest Age Concern branch. Your local telephone directory will have contact details for Learndirect, Age Concern and local Further Education Colleges.
Many websites of the universities or colleges to which you may be thinking of applying have links to study skills or academic support. These will be able to inform you of what support you can expect during your course and will also usually have links to specific study skills resources. In the months and weeks leading up to starting your course it would be a good idea to brush up on your reading and writing skills.
There are a wide range of study skills books available for you to either purchase or borrow from your local library. A selection of the titles available includes:
- Bourner, T. How to Win as Part-Time Student: a study skills guide. Kogan Page, 1990
- Cottrell, S. The Study Skills Handbook. Palgrave, 1999
- Dawson, C. Learning how to study again: a practical guide to study skills for mature students returning to education or distance learning. How To Books Ltd, 2004
- Northedge, A. The Good Study Guide. Open University Worldwide 2005