How to develop your learning skills

2. How to develop your learning skills Developing Business Practice –302LON Unit:1 Knowledgecast:2

3. Module Learning Outcomes In this Knowledgecast, we will: • Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study • Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills • Discuss the value of reflection and self-evaluation as a learner

4. Module Overview

5. How Do You Learn Effectively? The most effective learners: • Are clear about what they need to learn • Actively acquire knowledge and skills • Use a range of skills to enhance their ability to learn, retain and recall information and skills

6. How Do People Learn?

7. How Do People Learn? • Key Principles are: • Learning is a continuous cycle, there is no end only another learning experience • Learners need to actively learn about and experiment in their environment • Reflection and internalising experiences are key stages in effective learning • Managers have to be constantly aware of their own behaviours to continually improve their performance

8. Honey & Mumford Learning Styles

9. Honey & Mumford Learning Styles • How can I use this information? • Effective learners will be able to learn in all 4 styles • Identify your strengths or preferred learning style • Reflect on your past experiences of learning where learning was not successful • Identify opportunities to learn using each of the 4 styles

10. Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Learning Style Visual V A K Auditory Kinesthetic

11. Surface vs. Deep Learning Deep Learning • Understanding ideas for yourself • Active interest in the subject • Relate new ideas to previous knowledge and experience • More likely to improve recall and performance Surface Learning • Meeting course requirements • Unclear purpose • Little sense-making or application

12. Key Skills in Deep Learning • Identifying the most useful materials • Making notes in the most useful way for you • Making links between course materials • Creating sequences of events • Review and reflection

13. Reflection: What is reflective practice? Kolb’s (1984) Learning Cycle An experience is: • reflected upon • a theory is then created • that theory is tested ‘In its broadest sense reflective practice involves the critical analysis of everyday working practices to improve competence and promote professional development. ‘ (Clouder,2000: 211)

14. Reflection: How do you do it? • Schedule sufficient time to reflect on your experiences • Being clear about what specific experience you are reflecting on • Choose a suitable method to record your reflections • Use the skill of ‘critical thinking’ to consider ideas and evidence • Be honest with yourself about your thoughts and your feelings • Be open to feedback

15. 5 Key Questions in Reflection • How did that go? • How do I feel about the experience? • What did I learn from it? What did I fail to learn? • How might I have learned more effectively? • What will I do differently in the future to help me learn better? Source: Cameron (2009)

16. Maximising Your Learning • Prepare in advance • Listen and take good notes • Take an active role in the experience • Ask questions to clarify your own understanding • Work with others • Do the follow up • Reflect on the experience

17. What are we going to cover next? In our next Knowledgecast, we will: • Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study. • Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset

18. Knowledgecast Summary In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at: • Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study • Two approaches to learning styles and how you can identify your preferences for learning and your development needs • Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills • Discuss the value of reflection and self-evaluation as a learner • Kolb’s theory of learning and the importance of reflection in the cycle of effective learning

20. Seminar Student Introductions • Background information • Study & career aspirations Using Learning Outcomes to plan your studies • QAA Core Skills • Programme and Module Learning Outcomes

21. Group Activity • Getting yourself organised to learn • Setting up your Learning Journal • Exploring your Learning Styles

22. Suggested Portfolio Structure • My Learning Journal • Unit 1 etc • Self Awareness Documents • Learning Styles • Reading on Lifelong Learning • Career Search Information • CVs • Background Information on Industries • Personal Development Plan • Template • Current Version