Key Skills Exemplified

• Learning to Learn

Description

Students are introduced to different approaches to learning to promote active, self-directed study.

Rationale

Students benefit from having an awareness of their approach to learning. Meta-cognitive self-awareness of approach to learning leads to better quality student outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

• To develop the ability to reflect on their personal approach to studying.

Implementation

• Students were given information on deep and surface approaches to learning and a simplified version of Bigg's taxonomy.
  
• They were then given extracts from previous students' learning journals and were asked to sort them into examples of deep and surface learning.
  
• In their own learning journal, they were asked to describe and reflect upon a good and a bad learning experience.
  
• They are then asked to reflect on their own approach to learning in the light of what they have learned about deep and surface approaches.
  
• In addition, students filled in a learning styles questionnaire and discussed the results as a group.

Benefits for:

The Student

• Reflection on learning styles helps students identify strengths and target weaknesses.

The Lecturer

• Supports independent learning.

The Institution

• Produces independent students.

Drawbacks for:

The Student

• Some students find reflection hard, it may be a new process and they will need supporting through it.

Evidence of Impact

Student feedback and entries in student learning journals suggest that this exercise is of benefit. Students' use of 'learning language' has been noticed in classes.

Evaluation

Reflection on learning styles is new to many students and they need support whilst becoming familiar with it. When practiced, it does help them note strengths and target weaknesses.

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