Comprehensive Skill Portfolio: Academic Skills for University Life

This skill portfolio provides a comprehensive overview of essential academic skills crucial for student success in university. It covers various aspects, including identifying reliable and non-reliable sources of information, proper referencing and paraphrasing techniques, and avoiding plagiarism. The portfolio further delves into practical skills such as effective library and electronic resource utilization, note-taking strategies, and enhancement of communication and presentation abilities. It also addresses time and stress management techniques, the value of peer assessment, and collaborative learning skills. Finally, it offers guidance on managing the transition to university life and highlights key support services available at universities, such as career counseling and language centers. The document emphasizes the importance of developing these skills for a successful academic journey and future career.

Skill Portfolio

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Sources of information.................................................................................................................3
Reliable sources...........................................................................................................................3
Non- reliable sources...................................................................................................................3
Referencing..................................................................................................................................4
Paraphrasing.................................................................................................................................4
Plagiarism....................................................................................................................................4
Skills of using library and electronic resources...........................................................................4
Note taking skill...........................................................................................................................4
Enhancement of communication skills........................................................................................5
Presentation skill..........................................................................................................................5
Successful in managing time and stress.......................................................................................5
Value of using peer assessment...................................................................................................6
Effective skills for collaborative learning....................................................................................6
Managing the transition to university life....................................................................................6
Key support services at universities.............................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills are those skills which is essential for students to lean at their learning
period of time. Such skills are communication skill, presentation skill, note- taking skill, problem
solving skill and many others (ten Braak and et. al., 2019). These skills will enhance the
personality of an individual which will help them to develop their professional career. This
report covers description of sources of information, reliable and non-reliable sources,
referencing, paraphrasing and plagiarism. This portfolio also covers skills such as effective usage
of library and electronic resources, note-taking, presentation skill and the ways for collaborative
learning.
MAIN BODY
Sources of information
There are different sources of information from where the students can collect different
types of data and the required information for different purpose. In context of student, they need
to collect information for different purpose and their main purpose is to learn. They also use
different sources of information while completion g their projects and assignments. These
sources are books, magazines, internet, articles, government websites, newspapers and many
others. There are two types of sources, reliable sources and non-reliable sources. These sources
are further explained below-
Reliable sources
Reliable sources are those sources which will help to provide strong evidence of the
information which are used by the student (De Bruijn and et. al., 2020). It further consist of well
reasoned theory, discussions and effective arguments. For example, journals written by popular
and experienced author, newspaper articles, government sites and many others. These sources
ensure that the data which they cover are true and updated.
Non- reliable sources
These sources are those sources which are having no evidence for their information. They
also cover outdated information which is harmful for students to grab. Hence, that's why teachers
always told their students that they must include reliable sources within their projects and
assignments. For example, peer opinions, local websites, blogs and few others.

Referencing
The use of a source of information in order to ascertain something is called referencing. It
is ethical practice by a student that they will include referencing of their information because it
will help to understand the sources from where the students choose their information. In-texting
is also essential for the projects and reports made by students at their academic level.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing consist of those activity where a student read any paragraph and write about
the same concept in their own language (Cannella-Malone and et. al., 2021). Hence, the concept
in paraphrasing is same but the content is modified. Students paraphrase their projects or
assignments because it consume less time. It is essential for students paraphrase from reliable
sources because they have authentic information.
Plagiarism
It is a type of academic misconduct which is supposed to be avoided by the students. It
means that one student copy full or partial document of any other student and submit the
assignment to teacher. It also consist of presenting someone else idea as own idea. Students are
required to avoid copying others work as it will make them punish by their teachers and
demotivate them.
Skills of using library and electronic resources
It is essential for an student that they must behave politely and in a proper manner within
the library of their schools and universities (Rea‐Sandin and et. al., 2021). They must keep the
books at right shelf from where they have taken the book to read. In case of issuing any book for
few days, students are required to submit the books to the library before the due date of
submission. Students are required to maintain the decorum of the library and must avoid loud
reading at the place. In context of using electronic sources, students are required to take the help
of the supervisors. Secondly, they must wear leather gloves and leather shoes while working with
electronic resources.
Note taking skill
Note taking skill is consist that skill which is required to make notes of what is learned in
the class. Bullet points will make the notes attractive and easy to understand. Students must
avoid large paragraphs and must include arrows to show the relationship between two or more

terms. Notes are used to revise the topics hence, it must contain short paragraphs and must
contain maps, network diagrams and many others to clear the concept quickly.
Enhancement of communication skills
It is very essential for a student to enhance communication skill because this will help
them to develop their personality (McCormick and et. al., 2020). There are various ways by
which a student can enhance their communication skill like they must interact with others and
observe their communication style and analyse whether it is productive or not to obey. Taking
participation debates and speech competition at school and universities will also make the
communication skill better. A student is required to focus on their body language and keep eye
contacting with audience while debate or any classroom or online discussion.
Presentation skill
This is the ability of delivering the presentation in attractive manner for targeted
audience. In context of academic area, students must learn the ways to make PPTs. They must
avoid to include big paragraphs within the slides. They must use bullet points, images related to
topic, must focus on font size and font style. These are essential while making any powerpoint
presentation. In context of presenting the presentation, the presenter must have formal wear and
must stick to the point. Using graphs, maps and charts in the PPT will make it more attractive
and formal. The presenter must have eye contact with their audience and explain each slide
appropriately to the audience. At the end of presentation, the presenter must ask whether the
audience have any question to ask from presenter or not regarding the topic presented.
Successful in managing time and stress
There are few techniques which can help a student to manage their time and stress
appropriately. For time, they must make a time schedule for their daily routine and make sure
that they will complete the task within set period of time (Boettler and et. al., 2022). Secondly,
priority list will also help students to analyse which work they need to perform first and which
they need to do later on the basis of importance. It is also important for a student to manage
stress because it will help them to focus effectively upon their studies. A student must focus on
meditation to make their stress level lower. They are also required to divide the time for learning
each subject within their academic career so that at the end they will not get burden to learn all

subject together. Taking participation in extra curricular activities will also help to reduce the
academic stress for students.
Value of using peer assessment
Peer assessment of learning is a type of learning where students work with each others
and provide feedback to each other about the strengths and weakness they feel about others. It
helps to promote reflection because the most important thing in reflective assessment is to
analyse the experience of a student. Hence, while evaluating the working experience of some one
else as well as own experience will help to make a habit for reflection. This will help to identify
self strengths and weakness.
Effective skills for collaborative learning
Collaborative learning is a type of learning where a group of students learn together. For
example, five students decided to study together. In case first student is well aware about
communication skill then he will teach other students in the group and share his knowledge with
them and same with other group members (Boettler and et. al., 2022). Anyone who is having any
particular knowledge about the subject which they choose to learn together then they share with
each other. In context of collaborative learning, students have the opportunity to learn various
kinds of skills like communication skill, problem solving skill, listening skill and many others.
While learning together, students interact with each other which make them understand the
correct technique to put their point of view and idea in front of others. Hence, this is how they
learn communication skill. On the other hand, in case any group member faces any issue
regarding the topic then they all work together to provide the alternatives of solution and then
they discuss upon the advantages and disadvantages of solution and choose that option of
solution which best suits to mitigate the issue. Hence, this is how a student can learn problem
solving skill from collaborative learning.
Managing the transition to university life
There are few tips which can help the students to manage their transition to university life and
these tips are mentioned below-
 take care of mental health.
 Ask for help from classmates and teachers to understand the concepts.
 Learn to manage time appropriately to attend each lecture.

 Identify the interest of learning and must participate in extra curricular activities.
Key support services at universities
 Career counselling- This is the service provided by the university to their student to
analyse their strengths and weakness to achieve their target. Even counselling will also
help to identify the area of interest for those students are confused related to their career.
 Language centre- Most of the universities have this service for their students to learn the
languages appropriately to communicate with others. This will help the students to learn
different languages as per their interest as well as to learn local language for those
students who migrated from different locations for their studies.
 Student gym- Few universities also have gym facilities for their students so that they will
maintain their physical and mental health appropriately. There is a well skilled trainer
who assist them and make them understand the value of health in better career.
Conclusion
It is concluded that a student must analyse the skills which can make their upcoming life
better like communication skill, time management skill, problem solving skill and many others.
While taking notes it is essential to avoid big paragraphs. There are two types of sources of
information, reliable sources and non- reliable sources where a student is always recommended
to use reliable sources of information because they have the evidence and proof for the
statements. Peer assessment is the type of learning where students work with each other and
provide feedback to each other on the basis of their learning. Career counselling, student gym
and many others are the key support services at universities.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Boettler, L.M. and et. al., 2022. Academic skills, community engaged, leadership, and global
themed first-year seminars: Comparisons in student success. Journal of College Student
Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 24(1), pp.213-233.
Cannella-Malone, H.I. and et. al., 2021. Teaching academic skills to students with significant
intellectual disabilities: a systematic review of the single-case design literature. Journal
of Intellectual Disabilities, 25(3), pp.387-404.
De Bruijn, A.G. and et. al., 2020. Effects of aerobic and cognitively-engaging physical activity
on academic skills: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sports
Sciences, 38(15), pp.1806-1817.
McCormick, M.P. and et. al., 2020. Time well spent: Home learning activities and gains in
children’s academic skills in the prekindergarten year. Developmental
psychology, 56(4), p.710.
Rea‐Sandin, G. and et. al., 2021. Educational attainment polygenic score predicts inhibitory
control and academic skills in early and middle childhood. Genes, Brain and
Behavior, 20(7), p.e12762.
Rose, H. and et. al., 2020. What drives success in English medium taught courses? The interplay
between language proficiency, academic skills, and motivation. Studies in Higher
Education, 45(11), pp.2149-2161.
ten Braak, D. and et. al., 2019. Bidirectionality in self-regulation and academic skills in play-
based early childhood education. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 65,
p.101064.