How to develop your learning skills

Developing Business Practice –302LON

How to develop your learning skills

Unit: 1 Knowledgecast: 2

In this Knowledgecast, we will:

• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study

• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills

• Discuss the value of reflection and self-evaluation as a learner

Module Learning Outcomes

Module OverviewUnit1 Developing as a learner2 Working independently and with others

3 Academic writing

4 Critical thinking, reading and taking notes

5 Using data in your studies

6 Business and management research

7 Career development strategies

8 Effective self marketing tools

9 Successful work experience

10 Personal Development Planning

The most effective learners:

1. Are clear about what they need to learn

2. Actively acquire knowledge and skills

3. Use a range of skills to enhance their ability to learn, retain and recall information and skills

How Do You Learn Effectively?

How Do People Learn?

Kolb’s Learning

Cycle

How Do People Learn?

Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Key Principles are:

- Learning is a continuous cycle, there is no end only another learning experience

- Learners need to actively learn about and experiment in their environment

- Reflection and internalising experiences are key stages in effective learning

- Managers have to be constantly aware of their own behaviours to continually improve their performance

Honey & Mumford Learning Styles

Honey & Mumford Learning

Styles

Honey & Mumford Learning Styles

How can I use this information?

- Effective learners will be able to learn in all 4 styles

- Identify your strengths or preferred learning style

- Reflect on your past experiences of learning where learning was not successful

- Identify opportunities to learn using each of the 4 styles

Honey & Mumford Learning

Styles

Visual

Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Learning Style

V A KAuditory Kinesthetic

Surface Learning

• Meeting course requirements

• Unclear purpose

• Little sense-making or application

Surface vs. Deep Learning

Deep Learning

• Understanding ideas for yourself

• Active interest in the subject

• Relate new ideas to previous knowledge and experience

• More likely to improve recall and performance

• Identifying the most useful materials

• Making notes in the most useful way for you

• Making links between course materials

• Creating sequences of events

• Review and reflection

Key Skills in Deep Learning

Kolb’s (1984) Learning CycleAn experience is: • reflected upon• a theory is then created • that theory is tested

‘In its broadest sense reflective practice involves the critical analysis of everyday working practices to improve competence and promote professional development. ‘ (Clouder,2000: 211)

Reflection: What is reflective practice?

1. Schedule sufficient time to reflect on your experiences2. Being clear about what specific experience you are reflecting on3. Choose a suitable method to record your reflections4. Use the skill of ‘critical thinking’ to consider ideas and evidence5. Be honest with yourself about your thoughts and your feelings6. Be open to feedback

Reflection: How do you do it?

1. How did that go?2. How do I feel about the experience?3. What did I learn from it? What did I fail to learn?4. How might I have learned more effectively?5. What will I do differently in the future to help me learn better?

Source: Cameron (2009)

5 Key Questions in Reflection

1. Prepare in advance2. Listen and take good notes3. Take an active role in the experience4. Ask questions to clarify your own understanding5. Work with others 6. Do the follow up 7. Reflect on the experience

Maximising Your Learning

In our next Knowledgecast, we will:

• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study.

• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset

What are we going to cover next?

In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at:• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence

successful study– Two approaches to learning styles and how you can identify your preferences

for learning and your development needs

• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills

• Discuss the value of reflection and self-evaluation as a learner– Kolb’s theory of learning and the importance of reflection in the cycle of effective

learning

Knowledgecast Summary

Student Introductions• Background information• Study & career aspirations

Using Learning Outcomes to plan your studies• QAA Core Skills• Programme and Module Learning Outcomes

Seminar

• Getting yourself organised to learn

• Setting up your Learning Journal

• Exploring your Learning Styles

Group Activity

• My Learning Journal– Unit 1 etc

• Self Awareness Documents– Learning Styles

• Reading on Lifelong Learning• Career Search Information

– CVs– Background Information on Industries

• Personal Development Plan– Template– Current Version

Suggested Portfolio Structure