Study Skills for Higher Education: A Comprehensive Guide

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STUDY SKILLS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
Reference List..................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
Higher education plays an important role within the life of an individual because it promotes
holistic development. The primary goal of education is to provide better opportunities to
individuals so that they can live a better standard in future. Furthermore, higher education helps
to evolve logical thinking power within an individual so that they can critically analysis their
surroundings. An individual pursue educational degree from an institution in order to receive
monetary benefits by securing a job. The aim of the thesis statement is to evaluate importance of
higher education in one's life. In addition to that, reasons for pursuing a degree in college will
also be highlighted in the study. Further, development of core academic skills and their
importance will also be surfaced in the study. In the concluding part, an educational plan will be
designed in order to improve quality of higher education. Final discussion of findings will be
presented in conclusion section.
Discussion
1. As per the literary underpinnings of Holdaway and Kelloway (1987), an individual need to
pursue higher education in order to fulfil their academic demand. Education also helps the
individuals to maintain a social life so that their interaction level can be boosted. At the time of
pursuing higher education, students face plethora of issues such as, they fail to adjust themselves
in campus. Additionally, higher education is important in order to provide vocational training to
the students. However, Simm et al. (2011) has asserted that before pursuing higher education
students did not have any idea regarding scheduling of classes. Further, higher education is
important for an individual because it provides communication facilities so that students can
interact with their peers and teachers.
Further, college degree helps to acquire jobs so that students’ future can be financially secured.
University degree also enhances writing and oral skills of an individual so that they can convey
their thoughts to their peers’ teachers. As asserted by Krutkowski (2017), reputed universities
also provide basic education to their students so that their level of knowledge can be fathomed.
Through effective teaching methods, students can acquire best knowledge regarding their
favourite topic. University learning is important because students get a scope to get involved in-
group activities. Thus, the feeling of mutual respect will be boosted. In universities, students are
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asked to perform PowerPoint presentations so that their IT skills can uplift. The universities
motivate their students by providing educational appraisals.
2. Learning environment of universities does not provide mere courses of learning but they
initiate holistic development. In addition to that, learning skills also provide scope of developing
one's’ personal skill such as communication abilities in order to avoid miscommunication among
professors and peers. Academic skills also enhance critical thinking power of an individual so
that they can differentiate between opportunities and challenges.
As asserted by Merrick (2019), deficit in higher education bounds students to face certain
challenges such as adjustment issues within the education institution. Moreover, due to
communication issues, students prefer to live an isolated life. Their interest level to attend classes
also is reduced. Hence, all round development of a student’s witness downfall.
Higher education also improves learning style of an individual so that they can recognize their
strength, weakness, opportunities and threat.
The effectiveness of integrating appropriate learning styles in the academic field of study would
enhance the learning abilities of the students in order to gain effective results from the higher
education acquired through university degrees. As per the opinion framed by Thorpe and Mason
(2015), it is suggested that the development of appropriate learning styles among students in the
higher education will allow them to acquire relevant knowledge through the university
education.
Note taking is an essential academic skill that is necessary for students to develop their academic
knowledge in the field of higher education as it provides them with the opportunity to take
relevant notes that are accurate and efficient in propagating knowledge in the learning
environment. The ability of the students to take necessary relevant notes during lectures
enhances their ability to perform better in studies. In accordance to the opinion formed by
Thorpe and Mson (2018), it is stated that the ability of the students to take proper notes enhances
their knowledge in the topic largely. The academic skill of note taking is essential for the
students to generate better knowledge in their subject as it enables them to grasp the core
concepts within the learning environment. This skill ensures the learners are able to develop their
future professional skills as well.
The craft of paraphrasing is mandatory in the field of education and academic performance in
university level. As observed from the study conducted by Johnson et al. (2016), it can be stated
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that the learners develop their skills of paraphrasing by attending workshops and developing
their vocabulary in the educational field. The academic skill of paraphrasing enhances the ability
of the students to present plagiarism free written elements that are accurate and authentic. Such
enhances the professional ability of the individuals to improve their business communication
skills as well.
3. The core skill of academic writing is relevant to the students for developing their higher
education in university level. The performance of appropriate academic writing enhances the
learners’ ability to develop better writing skills. It is essential for learners to develop the skill of
academic writing through vocational training and writing workshops. This core skill is relevant
for the learners in developing their vocabulary and enhancing their ability to communicate their
thoughts effectively.
Core skills Ways to acquire
them
Monitoring methods Duration
Learning styles I can acquire this skill
by attending various
workshops and
training sessions.
Enhancement of my
ability to learn
efficiently within the
learning environment
as well as teacher
feedback would
provide me with the
identification of
relevant development
in this skill
Long term, 1 year
Academic writing I need to attend
various workshops
that provide training
in regards to this skill
and enable me to
develop my
Improvement in
writing style and tutor
feedback about my
writing abilities
would enable me to
recognize my level of
Short term, 6 months
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vocabulary and
writing style.
performance in this
skill.
Note taking Training sessions in
effective note taking
would allow me to
develop this skill.
Opinion of the tutors
and self-evaluation
on this skill would
allow me to monitor
the development of
this skill.
Short term, 6 months
Paraphrasing Workshop attendance
would allow me to
develop this skill.
My increasing ability
to provide
plagiarism-free
writings would act as
an essential monitor
regarding this skill.
Long term, 1 year
Table 1: Plan
(Source: Created by learner)
Conclusion
Thus, after concluding this study importance of higher education has been discussed along with
its advantages and disadvantages. Further, it had been noted that through proper teaching
methods helps to development holistic development among students. Productive communication
needs to be maintained between teachers and peers so that learning process can be smoothen.
Finally, teaching plan has been developed so that productivity of educational institutions can be
boosted.
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Reference List
Holdaway, E.A. and Kelloway, K.R., 1987. First Year at University: Perceptions and
Experiences of Students. Canadian Journal of higher education, 17(1), pp.47-63.
Simm, D., Marvell, A., Winlow, H. and Schaaf, R., 2011. Student experiences of foundation
degrees in further and higher education. Planet, 24(1), pp.2-9.
Krutkowski, S., 2017. A strengths-based approach to widening participation students in higher
education. Reference Services Review, 45(2), pp.227-241.
Merrick, N. 2019. Best of both: how degree-level apprenticeships blend work and study. [online]
the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/05/best-of-both-
how-degree-level-apprenticeships-blend-work-and-study [Accessed 28 May 2019].
Thorpe, G. and Mason, J., 2018. Academic Writing and Assessment Skills.
Entwistle, N. and Ramsden, P., 2015. Understanding student learning (routledge revivals).
Routledge.
Johnson, L., Becker, S.A., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A. and Hall, C., 2016. NMC
horizon report: 2016 higher education edition (pp. 1-50). The New Media Consortium.
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