“Identify and discuss the skills and strategies needed for effective learning”

Word Count: 858

Effective learning involves students learning a broad range of core skills and strategies that can be learnt and developed throughout the Higher Education (HE) life span. Throughout this essay discussion will explore the core tasks and strategies of effective learning, including the importance of “self” within the context of learning, the academic skills required and the scholarly expertise required to understand, research and produce academic essays or reports. Finally, a summary of the approach to effective learning will be detailed within the conclusion

Studying at HE differs from other types of studying as students are expected to manage and their learning. Cottrell (2013, p. 10) reaffirms this, stating “that in HE, success lies largely in your own hands.” Generic literature (Payne and Whittaker, 2006; Price and Maier, 2006; Moore et al, 2010; Burns and Sinfield, 2012; McMillan and Weyers, 2012; Bedford and Wilson, 2013; Cottrell, 2013) is published on study skills and provides broad based overviews (skills, tasks and strategies) of the prerequisites required for learning at HE level. More task focused texts Godfrey (2011) on writing for university, Godwin (2014) on writing an essay, Cottrell (2011) on critical thinking, McMillan and Weyers (2012) on referencing and plagiarism and Williams et al. (2012) on reflective writing run parallel to the generic texts. Both these lists are in no way exhaustive but provide a flavour of the literature regarding HE studying.

However, reading alone is not good enough. As a student you need to know, understand what is expected of an academic student and evaluate your skills and strategies for learning to identify what your best learning style is. Acquiring scholarly skills is a difficult task and should be approached with