To be a good student you must Investing in your own development

In the past education was associated with childhood. Most people expected to leave studying behind when they entered adult life. Now, however,in a rapidly changing world, none of us can afford to assume we have finished with learning. Employers too must keep educating and training their workforces. We are all expected to be lifelong learners, continually adapting to change by acquiring new skills and new ways of thinking. A daunting prospect, but also exciting. From this perspective, your present studies are just one phase within lifelong project of maintaining your competence as an educated person in the twenty-first century. By taking a course, you are investing time and money in your future. But it is important to get a good return; you cannot afford to stumble into your studies hoping for the best. You need a clear eye on what you are trying to achieve and how. In short, you need well developed learning skills.

KEYS KILLS

The UK government has, in collaboration with employers, identified six sets of ‘key skills’ which all of us are said to need:

1Communication

2Application of number

3 Information technology

4Working with others

5Problem solving

6 Improving own learning and performance

Key skills are arange of essential skills that underpin success in education, employment, lifelong learning and personal development. (Department for Education and Skills (DFES), 2004)

In a world that requires people to respond to and anticipate change, these skills are essential to remaining employable. (Qualifications and curriculum Authority (QCA), 2000)

This book offers plenty of support with communication skills –i Chapter 5, on reading, Chapter 6, on note taking, Chapter 7, on discussing and listening and Chapters 10 and 11, on writing.

Application of number is addressed in Chapter 8and information technology in Chapters 3and 9. Improving own learning,meanwhile, is what this whole book is about. So, deciding to read

So, deciding to read a book like this is not an idle whim. By investing time in working your way through it, you will acquire essential skills for ‘education, employment, lifelong learning and personal development (DFES, 2004).

Key points

Investing in your study skills In aworld where you need to keep learning throughout your life, developing your study skills is one of the most valuable investments that you can make. The time spent on this book will be at least as valuable to you as the time spent on your course work.