Level: L1

Teaching Unit: Methodology

Module: Study skills

Credits: 4

Coefficient: 2

Semester: 01

Course Objectives

- Enable the students to accomplish their academic goals and achieve success in their courses.

- Help the students to become independent life-long learners and critical thinkers.

- Improve their reading, writing and research methodology skills.

Prerequisite

- Students should be aware of basic techniques of English use.

Subject Contents:

1. Introduction and pre-course assessment (What are the “study skills”? Why are they
important for university students? What is the LMD system? Identifying the strengths and
weaknesses of students, and how they can study more effectively and efficiently)

2. Studying Habits and Setting

3. Organization and Time-Management

4. Setting goals and priorities

5. Using the dictionary

6. Using the library (searching for a document in a library or on the internet)

7. Study group
Level: L1

Teaching Unit: Methodology

Module: Study skills

Credits: 4

Coefficient: 2

Semester: 02

Course Objectives

- Enable the students to accomplish their academic goals and achieve success in their courses.

- Help the students to become independent life-long learners and critical thinkers.

- Improve their reading, writing and research methodology skills.

Prerequisite

- Students should be aware of basic techniques of English use. Subject Contents

1. Examination techniques (planning examination strategies, including managing exam stress,

as well as tackling the common mistakes)

2. Learning to revise

3. Reading and Analysis

4. Explaining a text

5. Note Taking (making comprehensive and effective notes, using abbreviations, diagrams,
and good visual layout, etc.)

6. Memorization and concentration techniques (using mind maps, mnemonics, visual aids and
good notes)
Level: L1
Module: Study Skills
Lecture 2

Introduction
The Implementation of the LMD (Licence, Master’s, and Doctorate) system in Algerian
university has brought a new and long waited for subject, Methodology of university studies,
which takes on the form of Study Skills during the first four semesters of the Licence level. In
the most Western universities, study skills are taught to every new student who has just started
a course, or seems baffled by a given subject, such as a foreign language or information and
Communication Technologies (ICT). One of the important characteristics of study skills is that
cut across all disciplines in sciences, technology and humanities.

What are study skills?

The Methodology unit designed from semester one to semester four has to take the form of a
study skills module. By the term skills, we mean a variety of techniques that empower
students to achieve autonomy in learning, in other words, to learn how to be able to learn on
their own. These techniques include abilities to make the most of their study time, to take and
make notes, to read actively different types of texts, to write essays and research papers, to
present reports and talks, to revise and sit for examinations and last but not least, to use use
technology in their learning.

Study skills cannot be thought of apart from daily practice, in the classroom, in the library
and even at home. It is only through long and continuous practice that one could reach out to
efficient study and larger autonomy in learning.
 Study skills are often referred to as study strategies and academic skills and are considered
as an effective approach to learning. These include an array of transferrable life skills that
helps a student to acquire good grades in school

A study skill is a technique that will help a student in studying, recalling, and retaining
information. It can be easily learned and applied to every field related to studies.

These are a blessing in disguise and can prove a boon for every learner who wants to know
the intricacies of how to learn effectively. He can be a part-time or a full-time student, an
individual who had to leave his education mid-way and is now returning to complete it, and
even a person who is trying to achieve professional growth and development.

Key points about study strategies are

1. Personal approach

Some things work for a person and not for others as effectively. The study strategies help to
develop a personal approach that is specific and will meet the individual needs of the learner.

2. Practice

It has been rightly said that practice makes it perfect because a learner has to practice a lot to
develop and hone his skills and strategies for effective learning.

It is a practice that helps to master various skills, increase awareness about things that should
be done and gain confidence so that it can prove beneficial not only at that point but
throughout the life of the learner.

3. Study strategies are generic

The best thing about study strategies is that the learner can use it in almost all the areas of
study. It is generic and not subject-specific. Developing such skills will help the learner in
understanding the ideas, theories, and concepts relevant to a specific subject.
4. Study strategies are transferrable

These skills are not just for students who are interested in finding effective ways of learning
but are transferrable as it helps the learner throughout his life in new contexts like self-
discipline, problem-solving, time management and organizational skills.

Types of study skills

The following types of study skills and techniques will make the journey easy for a learner

1. Getting organized

The various steps involved in getting organized are

 Find a suitable place to study, for instance, a library or a secluded corner in your
home, which is free from unwanted interruptions. Make sure that the place is
clean, and it has a good source of light during both day and nighttime.
 Organize all the materials that you will need to study in indexed files. Create a
system where the labeling is clear and easy to read at first glance
 Finding a place where all the required materials like books, computer, notes, etc.
will be handy
 Determine the best time to study to achieve a positive balance.
 Create a support network for study and include students and teachers that can offer
help in case you are struggling at any given point.

2. Finding the time to study

One of the most crucial study strategies is managing time so that the learner can have the
maximum time for studying. Plan it for a healthy work-life balance and for avoiding anxiety
and stress later on. Remember, time management can break large tasks into manageable sub-
tasks that are easy to achieve. The various steps involved are :
  Develop a study timetable that is specific to your needs. It will provide a structure
and help to focus on the particular task at hand, review each section on a priority
basis, and establish time slots for all of them
 Planning helps to organize time around other regular commitments and activities
which you cannot avoid
 The timetable will help to find the ideal time slot when the learner is at his most
alert
 Creating a timetable helps to avoid procrastination and unnecessary distraction and
dithering
 Include some free time in the timetable that can be used for relaxation. A learner
needs some me-time where he can give his mind a rest and let it ponder in peace.
The free time can also be used in special circumstances where the learner might
need to study for a few more hours to catch up with any leftover study

3. Sources of information

An important aspect of learning is to use materials, theory, and research to back up your study.
The learner needs to find various sources of information, and it becomes essential to know
where to look for it, access it, and then how to use it for personal advantage.

The various sources of information include:

 Online sources – An incredible amount of information is available online through

catalogs, social media, forums, blogs, and web pages. Choose relevant and reliable
information and note down the date as well as URL for future reference
 Library sources – Access to a library can prove a boon if you are interested in
effective study strategies. In the case of journals and books, note the page numbers
so that it proves helpful later on.
 Bibliographies – An essential source of information is a bibliography of related
books or core texts.
4. Effective reading

Reading is a vital study strategy that requires understanding opinions, making links, research,
and apply whatever you have learned to your studies. The goal is to know about the factual
information that can be used practically. The various reading materials include

 Core texts – The core texts in the reading include journals and books whose aim is
to expand on the given subject
 Course materials – It includes books, hand-outs in lectures, and also online
material via VLE or virtual learning environment.

5. Writing styles

It is the writing style that tells others how you have interpreted a document and what are the
things that you consider important. The various writing styles include:

 Academic writing style – It is found in textbooks and academic journals and

ensures that the words are clearly understood, and there is no scope for doubt
 Journalistic writing style – This style of writing includes broadsheet that has
specific points-of-view and tabloid papers that are sensational and have strong
editorial bias
 Online news – This type of writing is written for an expected audience and has a
global perspective

6. Note-taking

A learner comes across innumerable information in a day, and it is not possible to remember
all of it. Note-taking is a process of concisely recording useful and essential information that
will help the learner to recall it later on. It includes

1. Using short and concise points, short sentences or phrases

2. Using numbered lists and billets to your advantage
 3. Concentrating on key points
4. Using words that you understand and which makes sense to you
5. Use a shorthand system if only you are used to it
6. Writing in your style
7. Writing key information in full, for instance, name of contact, details, dates,
URL’s, etc
8. Using diagrams, charts, graphs, index cards, sticky notes, and highlighters if you
think them useful for that specific study

7. Using mind maps

Visual elements are considered very helpful as it helps the learner to retain information. A
mind map is nothing but a visual framework that helps a person to

1. Organize
2. Visualize
3. Summarize

The purpose is to

1. Take notes
2. Brainstorm ideas
3. Find important ideas
4. Revise for examinations
5. Store information

8. Revision skills

The act of revising whatever a student has learned up to that point is known as revision.
Suitable skills are a must for passing an exam. Important tips include:

1. Be honest with yourself and identify everything that needs to be revised.

 2. Mark all the sections based on their priority.
3. Make sure that you are participating in other activities that will encourage proper
revision, for instance, revision classes and past sample papers.

Importance of Study Skills

The importance of study skills are as follows

 Study strategies are important as it helps in cultivating self-motivation

 Study methods help in improving the organized skills
 Study skills strategies are important because it helps in improving the retention
power in students
 Study strategies boost the level of concentration amongst the learners
 Study methods help to achieve higher grades
 Study strategies have proved a boon with time management
 Study methods help a student in studying, recalling and retaining information

Conclusion

skills are strategies that help in improving the process of effectual learning. Numerous
strategies can prove a boon to this road, but one should always identify and adopt the ones that
will be able to meet his or her specific requirements to the fullest.

References

https://www.marketing91.com/study-skills/ January 30, 2021 | By Hitesh Bhasin

Level: L1
Module: Study Skills
Lecture 3
Making and Taking Notes

Making and Taking Notes Objectives of the lesson: The objective of this lesson is to help
students be able to:
• Develop an awareness of the notion of ‘note taking/ making’
• Identify their strength and weaknesses during taking/ making notes.
• Highlight the difference between taking and making notes.
• Find helpful tips in order to be good and effective note takers/ makers.

Introduction
Note-taking and reading. Taking good notes from either a lecture or a text benefit
learning (Kiewra, 1989 in Santrock, 2006). There are some strategies in note-taking that
Santrock (2006) suggests such as: summarizing which requires the learners to use summary
method of listening for a few minutes and then write down the main idea of the speaker;
outlining the main topics; and concept maps which learners draw or illustrate. These note-
taking strategies help the learners evaluate which ideas are important to remember. Outline
and concept maps help them arrange the material hierarchically, which underscore an
important theme of learning. It works best when it is organized. Further, Ellis (2006) mentions
that effective note taking consists of three parts: observing, recording, and reviewing. Each
part of the process is essential, and each depends on the others. Making notes is a skill that
will help you to manage the information content of your program of study.
 Making notes is something that you will do in many different situations: lectures;
seminars; tutorials; reading a book or journal; surfing the Internet; watching television or a
video. It is a very important practical skill and your notes will help you to

• identify and understand key ideas.

• learn key ideas and information.

• keep a record of information for future use.

• prepare for examinations.

2 -The following table shows the difference between making notes and taking notes.
Making notes Taking notes
This involves making your own record of This involves copying information ‘word for
key information and ideas. word’ from another source e.g. tutor, book,
You will use your own words. handbook.
You may add your own ideas or questions, or
make links to the work of others.
Used during lectures or reading. Used when copying specific information, for
example, advice on an assignment, details
about room changes

1. Making Good Notes:

During your university career you will make notes from a variety of sources, including
lectures, books, and the Internet. Making good notes is about identifying and selecting
relevant information.

Think about why you are making notes:

• Do you want an overview of the subject?

• Do you want to record extremely detailed information?

• Will you be sharing your notes with a friend?

• Are you looking for a specific piece of information? This is important as it will affect how
you make notes.

There are different ways of making notes. You can:

• list main headings and topics – keyword notes.

• draw a Mind Map.

• copy out specific details, for example, a quotation from a book.

It is usually impracticable to try and copy all the information presented to you during a
lecture. Instead, listen to what the lecturer is saying, read any visual aids, and make notes from
your understanding. This will be a summary, the key points, or details about the original
source. Spend some time after the lecture, or after you have finished reading an article,
reviewing your notes. Ask yourself some questions.

• Is there anything you can add?

• Is there something that you might benefit from discussing with a fellow student?

• Should you do some additional reading on the topic? To engage fully in the process of
making good notes it is a good idea to ask questions within your notes and to consider the
accuracy and relevance of what you are reading. Useful questions to start off this process
include

• so what?

• how can this be verified?

• how can this be backed-up?

• do other researchers agree with this position?

• what assumptions does the author make? Finally, you may find that in the early days of your
study programme you make copious notes, but as you become more experienced you might
make fewer, but more specific, ones.

2. What you should know when you make notes:

• Start with background details, for example, lecture notes should include the module title, the
date, the title of the lecture, and the lecturer.

• Make sure you can read your notes.

• Only use one side of the paper. This makes it easier to organize your notes for planning or
revision.

• Leave spaces for additional notes or comments.

• Use arrows, symbols, diagrams. This will speed up the note-making process.

• To help avoid unintentional plagiarism make notes in your own words. DO NOT COPY
WORD-BY-WORD when making notes from books, journals, Internet

• Try reading a relatively long section, CLOSE THE BOOK OR SWITCH OFF THE
COMPUTER SCREEN, and then make the notes in your own words without looking at the
original source. This checks your understanding and avoids intentional plagiarism.

• Use highlighter pens or a color-coding scheme to distinguish different sections of notes.

• Notes should be concise, clear and consistent.

• Review your notes.

• File your notes – be organized. It is no good discovering two months later that you have lost
them.

3. Working with Others:

Some students find it helpful to work with others and to exchange notes and discuss their
subject. This is a good idea as it improves learning and enables you to exchange and share
ideas. A word of warning. Beware of collaborative working on assignments as this may lead
to accusations of plagiarism. DO NOT work together as a group and produce a ‘model’
answer that you individually present in an assignment or exam. This type of collusion may
lead to accusations of plagiarism or unfair means. The safest idea is to work collaboratively
while you are learning a subject and to produce your assignments independently.

4. Referencing your Notes and Plagiarism:

It is very important to keep full details of the information sources you use when making notes.
You will need to include this information in your list of references. If you do not include this
information in your assessed work then you may find that you fall foul of the code of practice
on the use of unfair means. You should also keep your notes after you submit your work. They
may be helpful in your defense if an accusation of plagiarism is made against you. In addition,
you may find them helpful for revision as well as other learning and teaching activities.