Academic Skills and Studying with Confidence Report

This report delves into the crucial aspects of academic skills and studying with confidence, encompassing a student's portfolio, presentation, and literature review. The portfolio section examines various business operations, marketing strategies, financial management, and essential concepts like the 4Ps and SIPOC diagrams, all explored through lectures, workshops, and activities. The literature review explores the importance of academic skills in preparing students for higher education, emphasizing academic discourse, text strategies, note-taking, composition, and comprehension. It also highlights strategies for building student confidence, including self-acceptance, personal changes, emphasizing achievements, and seeking positive experiences. The report aims to equip students with the necessary tools and knowledge to enhance their academic performance and foster a confident approach to their studies.

Academic skills and
studying with confidence

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ASSESSMENT 1.............................................................................................................................1
Assessment Portfolio..............................................................................................................1
ASSESSMENT 2.............................................................................................................................3
Assessment Presentation (Covered in PPT)...........................................................................3
ASSESSMENT 3.............................................................................................................................3
Assessment Literature Review...............................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills are defined as a core skill in which academic writing, presentation skill,
referencing etc. that are underpin complex skills like critical thinking as well as reflective
practices (Kimhi, 2016). These kinds of skills encourage students in order to become more
efficient learners and it provides confidence to fully participate in some courses like English
speaking and these are invaluable outside of the classroom and after they graduate. There are
various qualities of academics such includes positive attitude towards study, ability to think
independently, passion towards the selected course, ability to perform work and so on that helps
in providing confidence to students towards the study. In this assignment, discuss about the
portfolio of student based on lectures, workshops and activities along with the presentation and
literature review by using proper techniques of research.
ASSESSMENT 1
Assessment Portfolio
The student portfolio is defined as a compilation of academic works and educational
evidence that are assembled for the purpose of analysing the quality of coursework, academic
achievements and learning progress as well as ascertain that whether students have met academic
requirements or learning standards for the specific courses and grade level (Atmatzidou and
Demetriadis, 2016). This kind of portfolio provides is termed as a purposeful collection of
students work which exhibits the efforts, achievements and progress of students along with the
competencies that gained during a time of course. Portfolio represents the learning and efforts of
students over time which provide valuable information about student development and mastery
of skills. Sometimes, the portfolio can be considered as a physical collection of students work
which includes some materials such as written assignment, complete test, artwork, projects,
artwork and lab reports etc. are the evidence of their learning and academic accomplishment,
honours, awards and so on. It contains collecting information from the various sources like
parents, students, teachers, themselves and friends which gives teachers to have some reliable
information or understanding about students (Van Emden and Becker, 2016). It facilitates the
evaluation of growth of individual which can be integrated into instructions. In this portfolio,
discuss about that what a student taught from workshop, activities and lectures. Some of the
concepts includes:
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Business operation, it defined as an activity that firms engage in its on daily basis in order
to earn profits and increase the value of businesses. For which the workers play an important role
as they perform marketing, accounting and so many functions (Cleary, Velardi and Schnaidman,
2017). There are many activities of operations such as manufacturing, sales, marketing,
advertising that are used in daily businesses. This concept was detailed studied in the lectures for
getting to know about the activities and operations of business and develop academic skills as it
provides theoretical knowledge about the concept.
Marketing, In the lectures or workshops students learn about the concept of marketing
and its importance which is the most important concept of every businesses. It defined as a
business activity that are undertaking in order to promote the exchange of goods and services.
Marketing activities includes selling, advertising, delivering goods to the customers or
businesses in order to earn profits. This is essential for students to know about the marketing
activities as it provides various detail information that will be helpful for future.
Finance, it is referred as a function that is to be performed for acquiring funds for the
businesses and manage or use them for performing business activity. Financial management is
the job which is used to manage resources of company so that they can fulfil organisational goals
and objectives (Ibrahim, Boerhannoeddin and Bakare, 2017). It is necessary to know that how
funds are managed in an organisation to perform businesses which helps in developing the skills
and knowledge of students towards the effective management that will be in used by them in
future.
4Ps, In the marketing there are mainly 4ps in general but in addition it is 7ps which
stands for the product, price, place, promotion, people, process and physical evidence which are
essential to market goods and services and businesses to the general public and promotes their
sales and revenue. This has been studied in workshop which provides mastery in marketing
concepts and develop knowledge about the different concepts.
SIPOC diagram, it is a tool that is used by a team in order to analyse relevant aspects of
process improvement projects before the work begin which helps in defining a complex project
which may not be scoped and it is employed at the measures phase of six Sigma DMAIC
methodology (Tinto, 2019). It has been teaching in lectures for getting to know about the steps
that will be used for solving complex things in future. SIPOC stands for supplier, input, process,
output and customers.
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Types of businesses, in which the teacher gives detail information about the different
kinds of businesses along with the legal considerations that are needed for establishing
businesses. In this, there are mainly four types of businesses such as sole proprietorship,
partnership, corporation and limited liability company. It has been described in classroom
lectures for giving an overview about the business and its types.
HR, it is a department in an organisation which is liable for managing the workers of
business it includes several activities such as recruitment, selection, training, promotion,
development, compensation, reward etc (Álvarez-Bueno, 2017). This is essential aspect for
every business and this information has been given by the teachers in workshop so that the
academic skills of students are developed.
Quality control, this concept is useful for daily life of individual in which the main focus
is on the better quality of working. It includes the testing of units which is to be done for the
analysing corrective measures or actions in the process of every activities. This will help in
producing better quality of goods and services. This has been discussed in lectures in order to
aware students for the quality of things.
All these concepts are included in the portfolio of student that has been discussed in the
lectures, workshops or activities (Nolan and Molla, 2017). All these are essential for students to
know as it helps in knowing about the all concepts and their uses in future. It will provide
mastery of skills to the student and enhance the academic skills as it gives the detail
understanding about each concept which are used for the development of individual in present as
well as in future.
ASSESSMENT 2
Assessment Presentation (Covered in PPT).
ASSESSMENT 3
Assessment Literature Review
The literature review is done on several topics that are related to this project and need to
be assessed effectively. Some of these concepts are as follows:
Academic skills to prepare students
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As per the view of Cleeve (2018), The academic skills are important for the student in
order to become more efficient leaders as it provides confidence to the students in order to
participate in more complex courses like English speaking (Academic skills to prepare your
students for higher education, 2018). These skills include critical thinking and note taking which
are highly transferable and crucial for the success in any career. There are several skills which
students are expected to have so teachers organise them in different categories such as follows:
Academic discourse: It is related to the effective communication which is to be required
at a time of presentation, debates and discussions and it is a great skill that is essential to have in
all students (Cottrell, 2017). In is associated with the responding to and asking questions that
provides a form of feedback to the speaker on how they can deal with some difficult situations in
effective way.
Academic text strategies: It is looking for the inferred meaning in texts that being able
to make inferences is very essential academic reading skill that not only helps students to
understand texts but also motivate and encourage them to look for deep meanings.
Academic strategies: It is related to the writing effective notes it is the most important
and necessary skill for students in order to learn before they go on to further education. By using
short videos like TED talks which have students in order to take notes while they watch.
Students combine notes in order to recreate video in detail as possible or paraphrase notes in
their own words.
Composition: In this student developing a coherent argument which is considered as a
crucial skill for learners that can practice in classroom lectures (McGeown, St Clair-Thompson
and Clough, 2016).
Comprehension: It is based on the identification of some specific idea related to the
academic texts and lectures so students need require to be able for providing evidence from the
text itself. At a time of classroom activities students have habits of highlighting some important
notes or parts of text which they think support answer which will be discussed after the activity
or in feedback sessions.
Confidence for studying:
As per the views of Kohli (2020), Confidence in students are essential for the educational
success of themselves. While an individual face harassment then the level of confidence can
suffer and their grades also suffer. Building confidence in students is the essential part of
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learning environment because when a child loses their self - esteem then they may lose their
motivation in the process of learning and studying (Importance of self confidence in a student’s
life, 2020). Student confidence is termed as a vital requirement for their success which can used
for possessing their educational goals and requirements. Due to the low level of confidence
students suffers a lot as their grades will be affected and sometimes, they may give up on their
dreams, hopes and plans and they feel that the achievement of goals is impossible. As self -
confidence is considered as an ability to judge personal as well as social standing along with the
respect to environment that can be influenced by the several factors such as upbringing,
dedication level, work environment etc.
Some strategies that can be used for increasing the self - confidence are as follows:
Practice self - acceptance: For increasing the confidence of students they need to
practiced self - acceptance that is alright about themselves in which they look at their strengths
as well as achievements which will put a plan regarding addressing the weaknesses of
themselves. This will help in maintaining healthy self – confidence that provide strength to the
learning of students (Poonpon, 2017).
Making personal changes: For getting and maintain the self – confidence and esteem
students decide to bring changes in order to analyse specific goals and objectives. There are
several types of changes that will make them better and happy about themselves such as
questions about their happiness in life, about relations or social life etc. It is essential to ensures
that changes are break down into smaller sections which are manageable effectively. For
instance, to become able to speak up in seminars as it may be easier to start with the expressing
opinions more often with friends.
Emphasise on achievements: For increasing the self – confidence students have to realise
that they achieved a lot in their life as it does not matter that what these achievements are, what
really matters that they are important for them. So, they need to prepare lists about it and add it
with all these things which they are proud of. Mainly students require to emphasise on
favourable and positive things that will aid to raise their self – confidence.
Rewards and support: Give rewards and appreciations to themselves helps in building
their self – esteem. The rewards are valuable for the students as it really matters for the
development of confidence and increasing their self – esteem (Lee and Shin, 2016).
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Seeking positive experience: For raising the self confidence students need to experience
positive also they require to spend time with those people who likes us for what they are in
useful. Surrounds with the gratitude or positive influences or experience and minimise those
things which are constantly adverse.
Peer Evaluation:
It is related to the performance analysis that can be done by two or more people of
matching capabilities as well as competencies. It is mainly done between the members of team
which is employed to preserve the standards of quality as well as increase productivity and level
of performance (Newton, 2016). It is also termed as a 360 - degree assessment with the manager
assessment and self - review. This assists in pointing out about the strengths and weaknesses of
students which a worker face at the ground level. It facilitates clear insights into the relations of
workers which they share with each other’s. It has several advantages as well as disadvantages
that are considered as follows:
Advantages:
 It facilitates a wide range of information regarding workers that is significant mainly in
modern team based working environment (Murray, 2016).
 It gives a clear and complete picture of workers interactions which reveals workers
strengths as well as weaknesses which may or may not be apparent to the teacher but in
classmate’s views these can be captured easily.
 Feedbacks which are provided by the classmates or friends are easy to relate with that
assists workers in order to understand about their shortcomings that will enhance the
student’s performance.
 Peer evaluation is not done by teachers only this will be done by classmates that
encourages students in order to work harder.
Disadvantages:
 Sometimes, it may lead to overburden of works for students which may in turn hamper
its regular works (Cottrell, 2019).
 It may be uncomfortable as students from small communities at classroom lectures and
workshops asking them to analyse and evaluate each other.
 If confidentiality of reviews is not maintained then it might strain the relations of friends
and classmates which impact on the team dynamics.
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CONCLUSION
It can be summarised from the above report that academic skills are essential to develop
as it provides strengths and confidence to the students for learning and development of their
personal as well as professional life. It helps in mastering the skills sets of individuals which will
aid in getting better understanding about different situations and easily deal with the issues which
are being occurred in present as well as in future. In the portfolio, includes all the concepts and
topics that was studying in the classroom lectures, workshop and other activities. Also, conduct
literature review on the basis of academic skills and confidence for studying in the classroom
lectures, workshop and activities.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Álvarez-Bueno, C. and et. al., 2017. Academic achievement and physical activity: a meta-
analysis. Pediatrics. 140(6). p.e20171498.
Atmatzidou, S. and Demetriadis, S., 2016. Advancing students’ computational thinking skills
through educational robotics: A study on age and gender relevant differences. Robotics
and Autonomous Systems. 75. pp.661-670.
Cleary, T.J., Velardi, B. and Schnaidman, B., 2017. Effects of the Self-Regulation
Empowerment Program (SREP) on middle school students' strategic skills, self-
efficacy, and mathematics achievement. Journal of School Psychology. 64. pp.28-42.
Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Cottrell, S., 2019. The study skills handbook. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Ibrahim, R., Boerhannoeddin, A. and Bakare, K.K., 2017. The effect of soft skills and training
methodology on employee performance. European Journal of Training and
Development.
Kimhi, E. and et. al., 2016. Impact of simulation and clinical experience on self-efficacy in
nursing students: intervention study. Nurse Educator. 41(1). pp.E1-E4.
Lee, S.G. and Shin, Y.H., 2016. Effects of self-directed feedback practice using smartphone
videos on basic nursing skills, confidence in performance and learning
satisfaction. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 46(2). pp.283-292.
McGeown, S.P., St Clair-Thompson, H. and Clough, P., 2016. The study of non-cognitive
attributes in education: Proposing the mental toughness framework. Educational
Review. 68(1). pp.96-113.
Murray, D.W. And et. al., 2016. Culinary efficacy: an exploratory study of skills, confidence,
and healthy cooking competencies among university students. Perspectives in Public
Health. 136(3). pp.143-151.
Newton, P., 2016. Academic integrity: a quantitative study of confidence and understanding in
students at the start of their higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher
Education. 41(3). pp.482-497.
Nolan, A. and Molla, T., 2017. Teacher confidence and professional capital. Teaching and
Teacher Education. 62. pp.10-18.
Poonpon, K., 2017. Enhancing English skills through project-based learning. The English
Teacher. p.10.
Tinto, V., 2019. Learning better together. Transitioning Students in Higher Education:
Philosophy, Pedagogy and Practice. p.2.
Van Emden, J. and Becker, L., 2016. Presentation skills for students. Macmillan International
Higher Education.
Online
Cleeve R. 2018. Academic skills to prepare your students for higher education. [Online]
Available through: <https://www.english.com/blog/academic-skills-for-higher-
education/>.
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Kohli K. 2020. Importance of self confidence in a student’s life. [Online] Available through:
<https://blog.aakash.ac.in/importance-self-confidence-students-life/>.
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