Essential Study Skills assignment PDF

University of Sunderland in London
FDN012 Essential Study Skills
Francesco Buturo
BH66LZ
STUDENT No. 199214776
Tutor: Emmanuel Oghosanine
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Task 3 Plymouth Model
-You want to go on holiday-
In this issue, I will explain some motivation for which I would like to holiday.
I will follow the Plymouth model to clarify any question.
Description.
I decided to go on holiday to northern Italy, specifically near Milan in the next weeks. Binasco is the city that I
chose, a small area, where my brother lives with her wife and my little granddaughter. At the moment, to
book flight tickets is explicitly not recommended, because there are some problems in that area of Italy like in
all world. I would like to meet my brother, his wife and my first granddaughter that was born two months ago.
I could also involve my little brother Marco that lives in London too.
Analysis.
I would go there, firstly, because I think that the birth of my granddaughter is a crucial moment in everyone's
life. Secondly, the explanation is that I do not go to my country, Italy, since when I moved to live in London. I
have not seen my parents in a year I could go to Palermo, where my parents live, but my granddaughter is
too small to travel. Then it is easier to make my parents move to my brother's city.
I should be leaving from Stansted airport to Bergamo airport because it is the cheaper place where to land. I
would like to stay there for about a week to support my brother in this new phase of his life. At the same time,
I could take advantage of this opportunity to return to see the city, Milan, where I lived for two years and
understand how far I have come from that experience.
I have three options to decide on, but each of them has a problem so that I will choose the least bad. If I
decide to leave now, I may have questions when I return to London already at the airport. The airport
security levels at this moment are very high. Also, in my work, there are more new temporary restrictive roles
for who go on holiday outside of the United Kingdom. If I choose to wait, for sure, I would not miss that first
phase of a child's like and it would also mean continuing to be under pressure again without meet my
parents and takes a break for to see my country. The last option is to take advantage of the opportunities
that technology makes available to us and limit the possible problems caused by this moment of concern
COVID-19.
Evaluation.
In consideration of the situation analysed, the decision less problematic, is to continue hearing and seeing
my family trough digital devices (call or video call) and to wait for the situation to normalise, guaranteeing
people health first of all. When we receive new rules to move free around I will plan my meeting family with
too much happiness. Patience is the virtue of the strong men.
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Task 4-Academic Writing Reflection
My university experience
In this essay, I will talk about my university experience. I will follow the DIEP model to explain my point of
view, what I learnt and how I can improve myself after this experience.
Describe-Interpret-Evaluate-Plan
Back to school after 15 years could be an action that it requires courage and motivation because it means to
entry inside a new environment, different from job environment for example, mostly in a different country with
a different language and behaviours. Below I will analyse some key points that characterised this new
experience during the first period like a student.
 Environment and staff
 Technology
 Facility
 Social relationships
 Teaching
Environment and staff.
The first impact with the Sunderland university in London has been fundamental, is happened with the
induction day. On that occasion, I could see the quality and availability of the environment, especially the
staff who collaborates inside the university. It is normal when anyone entering into a new environment does
not feel like a stranger. It was easy, a guided tour and a few smiles to ease the tension.
At first, I had some problem with understanding how to use the study tools as canvas or library online, but
the guys on the staff helped me by practically showing me how to use them. Their availability made me
understand that I should not be afraid to ask because there is nothing wrong with being helped.
I learnt to help and support other people too, and I will continue to do it because I can always learn
something from everyone. Moreover, I understood that it is better always be put at ease.
“A day without a smile is a day lost” (Sir Charlie Chaplin).
Technology.
My experience about technology at the University of Sunderland in London is relative because I can compare
with others structure, not for direct experience. Then I will do a personal evaluation regarding this area.
When I entered, for the first time, to university, I rested very imprest. The university has more IT LAB and
more common spaces with personal computers that any student can use. Every personal computer allows
of access to the internet and to use it for doing research or study any module into a personal university
dashboard. In one occasion, I used one common table with one screen in the middle, that can be used for
group work. Those are very helpful positions for to do any group work and to discuss during some time. I
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understood the difference between the study into the class with a tutor and to study without in a free area.
Without tutor and with other student has been fundamental to put some roles to keep high the attention and
to divide the responsibility for each student.
Initially, I did not realise the benefit of using this kind of study; however, this experience has taught me to be
more confident while explaining my point of view in front other students, despite my not perfect English.
Technology is the one piece of strongness for this university, and I will often use these tools to support more
myself during my student way. However, I need to keep a perfect balance between group study and
individual study because, sometimes, someone can need different time to learn.
Facility.
Already coming outside the university of Sunderland in London’s building, I appreciate the beauty of the
structure. The building is very well maintained, and entering is immediately visible that everything is clean
and tidy. The high value of facilities has been clear when I saw for the first time in the classroom. Every class
has an interactive board that allows the tutors to explain the lectures and to involve students in a very fluid
and easily manageable way.
That first day in class, I was able to appreciate the importance of having study support tools that allow you to
maximise the effort of each student. This little experience has taught me that there is always something we
do not know, and that is very important to want to discover new things.
So, in the future, I will work to try to see the world through the eyes of a child, to let myself be surprised by
the new.
In addition, the facility offers student support teams for a different purpose. All groups are in the same space
so that they are easily accessible to students. Observing the way to set up each service, I understood how
fundamental the design of each aspect is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each possibility.
“It is not enough to look, it is necessary to look with eyes that want to see, that believe in what they see”.
(Galileo Galilei)
Social relationships.
Another point by me analysed are the social relationships creates during the campus permanency. The
university is an environment very mixed. It contains different students with a different language, culture,
religion and habit. The integration is more important to expand my vision on the world, firstly, and secondly to
improve my comprehension level on other people to learn to think regarding anything without to give
judgement.
A day, some time ago, I was in the lunch area inside the university while I found myself reflecting on the
importance of social relationships in general. I was in lunch while, looking around, I have seen a pool table,
ping pong table, table football and other objects dedicated to social entertainment. Also, a bar and many
tables where you can sit and have a chat. In the middle, many students, smiling and happy. I took a sit in
front of another student, and at the moment, I understood how important is a moment of sharing compared to
one of isolation. We talked about the reasons that led us to change the nation and what stimuli we find every
day to pursue our dreams. Each of us has a story of which it is the product.
This experience has a high value for me because I decided to invest my time to improve my social
relationships that any way they can also create job opportunities thanks to the connections created.
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“We all do better when we work together. Our differences are important, but our common humanity is more
important”. (Bill Clinton)
Teaching.
Last but not least, is teaching—teaching intended as a method. Teaching can be the difference between
futures new students or bad new students. In this experience like a student in this university, I noticed how is
applied a method fascinating. There are more moments of comparison and exchange of opinions between
tutors and students. In this way, an equal relationship is created, respecting the roles and the importance
they have, which allows nourishing interest in the knowledge of the students. Tutors are very available,
although the influence they give to punctuality and seriousness is evident. This teaching method is perfect
training for the work. This experience impressed me positively because it highlighted the importance of
humility—this humility to allows anyone to have transparent behaviour, trust and respect. I can say that
teaching is between the fundamental point for this institute.
“It is the supreme art of the teacher: to awaken the joy of creativity and knowledge”. (Albert Einstein)
Conclusion.
After this first period within the university world, I can undoubtedly say that I was pleasantly fascinated. I
have found motivation and desire to learn. In the meantime, working for a multinational company, I was able
to start putting into practice the many things learned from this experience—practical, theoretical and life
lessons.
The only negative impression that I had during this period analysed in writing is given by the scarce interest
that I perceived from some student, mostly young. This lack of attention can sometimes be a distraction for
the whole group---This also made me understand that, often, the different age of the students highlights the
different level of life experiences that we have and the consequent level of priorities that we assign to the
objectives.
However, I will also try to make young people understand the importance of knowledge.
“There are men who know everything, too bad that this is all they know”. (Oscar Wilde)
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Task 5- Action Plan
In this task, I will make an action plan about my undergraduate study, following the SMART model to
describe everything, as precisely as possible. I will not consider money founds because student finance will
cover every cost during my undergraduate route. Then their money I will use to buy every tool to help me
follow my plan.
Action plan (SMART model)
Name: Francesco Buturo Date:18/05/2020
GOAL SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ACHIEVABLE REALISTIC TIMEBOUND
My long-term
goal
A big goal
broken down
into smaller
steps
How will you
know when
you’ve met the
goal?
Is it achievable?
What/who will
be helpful?
Is it realistic?
What might
stand in the way
(constraints)?
By when will you
meet the goal?
ASAP is not a
timescale!
Undergraduate
1st class
To improve the
English level
To compare
English test
every month
Language apps,
Read books,
Listen to music
with text, watch
movies.
Low time
Low energy
1 year –
June 2021
Be present to
the classroom
Attendance
track 70%
every module
every term
to sleep well the
night before
class, eat
healthily, no
stress in general
Extra time work,
sick periods
Every university
term
Grade 70% Grade results
70% minimum
Every module
to participate in
class, elaborate
on after class
2h, to review at
home 1h/day
after work
No focus, low
time,
challenging to
understand a
module
Every university
term
Improve work
position to
assistant
manager
To improve my
sales, to apply
university skills
check weekly
target, check
store manager
feedback, check
individual KPI
Fatigue, no
focus, more
pressure by
university goal
18 months /
31 December
2021
To keep good
fitness
12% of fat, to
compare
pictures
before/after
3 times a week
to the gym, eat
healthy, walking
5km/day
average
Busy period
work/university,
sick periods,
assignments
period, sales
period
12 months /
1 May 2021
How to read the table:
Language apps: Duolingo, Grammarly, youtube learning.
Books: Oxford university press from level 2 to level 6, The warren buffet way, The time machine.
Listen to music: reading and understand English text, to sing high voice to take confidence and improve
pronunciation.
Watch movies: with subtitles and to write unknown words.
Sleep well: 8 hours.
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Extra time work: more of 40 hours/week.
Eat healthy: around 1700 kcal /day with various diet.
Conclusion.
Inside my action plan, I also evaluated the work aspects and fitness aspects because both are fundamental
pieces in my life to improve every area. I need to feel balance to any element of my life. For this, I will often
check my way to make sure I do not go out of my goals on time so that I can change some details during the
plan. If I keep my results high, I could insert new goals because of the top result low pressure, best life and
future opportunities.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail”. (Benjamin Franklin)
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