The Academic Skills Centre can offer the following support related to learning at University.
Request a particular session by filling out our booking form.
You can also download the whole menu (DOCX - 119KB)
A1: Strategies for effective learning (suitable for Welcome)
Students will be able to:
- Gain confidence with some essential learning skills, including time management, notetaking and communication
- Discuss and reflect on their own study strategies and areas for development
- Understand the importance of independent, reflective and collaborative learning
- Use some digital tools and apps to enhance learning
Available as: Workshop, Panopto recording
We also offer a session on Time Management and Digital Tools (C1)
A2: How do we learn? (suitable for Welcome)
Students will be able to:
- Understand what we mean by learning
- Have a greater awareness of the different ways of learning
- Identify personalised strategies for learning
A3: Returning to education (suitable for welcome)
A version of Strategies for Effective Learning particularly aimed at mature students or those returning to education after a break. Students will be able to:
- Better understand what’s expected of them at university
- Explore strategies for studying alongside other commitments
- Get to grips with some essential learning skills
- Use some digital tools and apps to enhance learning
Available as: Workshop, Panopto recording
A4: Reading and notetaking strategies
Students will be able to:
- Apply strategies for reading effectively and critically
- Make active and useful notes while reading
- Consider a range of digital note-taking tools
Available as: Workshop
A5: Critical thinking
Students will be able to:
- Identify, construct and evaluate arguments and their components
- Detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in own & others' reasoning
- Apply techniques for systematically solving problems
Available as: Workshop, Canvas resource
A6: How to critique an academic article
Students will be able to:
- Understand what is involved in critiquing an article
- Understand the role of different sections of an article
- Develop a thoughtful, questioning approach to reading
- Identify, summarise, and evaluate the ideas and information presented
- Write in a critical and concise way
Available as: Workshop, Panopto recording
A7: Critical analysis in the sciences
This session is suitable for students undertaking degrees with a scientific component.
Students will be able to:
- Think and read critically
- Critique scientific papers in more depth
- Demonstrate critical analysis in writing
Available as: Workshop
A8: Presentation skills
This session can be adapted to cover different delivery types e.g. in- person, recorded or online presentations. It can also be paired with C14: Innovative Presentation Tools.
Students will be able to:
- Understand what goes into an effective presentation
- Deliver a presentation with more confidence
- Structure a presentation to grab and hold attention
- Include effective and accessible visuals.
Available as: Workshop, Canvas resource
A9: Working collaboratively
This session can also be paired with C4: Collaboration and Sharing Tools
Students will be able to:
- Plan group roles and set clear aims for team projects or assignments
- Work and communicate effectively and productively in a team
- Deal with difficult situations when working with others
- Explore a range of digital collaboration tools
- If appropriate to the assessment, develop skills for writing collaboratively
Available as: Workshop, Canvas resource
A10: Exams and revision
This session can be tailored to suit different types of exams e.g. essay based, MCQs, online or in-person.
Students will be able to:
- Understand what the type of exam involves and how to prepare for it
- Reflect on their own approaches to revision
- Apply different strategies to revision
- Know what to expect on the day of the exam
Available as: Workshop, Canvas resource
A11: Using feedback to improve grades
This session can be tailored to cover whole class feedback.
Students will be able to:
- Better understand the language of feedback
- Apply feedback to their next assignment
- Devise an action plan of areas for improvement and development
Available as: Workshop, Canvas resource