Learning Strategies

On this page you will find resources and links to work with learning styles, learning strategies and productivity. Productivity refers to ways of achieving your full potential as a student, but this in itself is dependent on your own learning styles and the way you can individualise learning strategies to make the most of your study time. No learning advice can be taken as absolute and you need to mix and match ideas that work best for you.

Know your degree

How much do you know about the workload and assessment on your degree scheme? The Word document linked below can be downloaded and used for creating an overview of assignments across your modules. This is valuable for predicting and planning your workload and assignments across the year.

Fill in as much as you can find out from study schemes and modules information available on the web. Also consult module handbooks that will be available on Blackboard. Where you find gaps in information ask a member of staff from your department.

Know your degree: a simple guide to identifying your workload

Network resources

All students have access to the following programs on all Aberystwyth University computers:

Inspiration – a mind mapping programme which allows you to link ideas together in a visual concept map

Texthelp Read & Write – a text to speech programme so you can hear texts or your own essay read aloud (headphones required).

Various free browser plugins are also available on Google Chrome such as:

Text to speech: Google text to speech; Balabolka (http://balabolka.en.softonic.com/)

Speed read the web with spreed (chrome store)

Dictating writing/notes: Voice note 2 (chrome store)

Learning styles and learning strategies

Learning styles

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Image source: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/147352219036204121/

Your individual learning style refers to the preferential way in which you absorb, process, comprehend and retain information. Learning styles depend on cognitive, emotional and environmental factors, as well as prior experience. Exploring the way you learn can help you to study more efficiently. For example if you are a kinesthetic learner then you probably learn better when you are moving about than when you are just sitting still, so fiddling with a pen, doodling or swinging on a chair may actually help you to concentrate. There are a number of websites that offer learning styles questionnaires and related study strategies.

Essential learning strategies

Note taking: A few essential points on note-taking

Open University guides:

Note taking (including notes from speech, mind maps, index cards, tables and others)
Strategic study techniques (including using feedback, learning outcomes, learning habits, reviewing progress)
Time management
Critical reading techniques
Developing academic English

Inclusive learning and studying with dyslexia

Inclusive learning

If you have a long standing health condition or a specific learning difference we can offer you advice on enabling technology and individual examination arrangements so that you can reach your full potential and get the good results you deserve. If you would like further information about our provision for students with disabilities or have specific questions, go to the Student Support accessibility web page, contact us by email on disability@aber.ac.uk or phone us on 01970 621761. Our team of accessibility advisers can advise you on the types of evidence you need to access specific provision within the University.

If you believe you have a learning difference such as dyslexia/dyscalculia we can also offer you a preliminary screening assessment. We will give you immediate advice and tell you whether we think you should go on to have a more formal Educational Psychologist Assessment. We can help you to arrange this.

The information on productivity contained in this page is also available in our Inclusive Learning and Productivity PDF guide.

Studying with dyslexia

The following guides are external to Aberystwyth University. Contact Student Support Services for further specific advice

Dyslexic students may find Sheffield University’s audio led study skills site useful:

The Open University guide to Studying with Dyslexia:

Studying with dyslexia (full guide)
Selected PDFs from the full guide

There are also a number of useful study skills books aimed at students with specific learning difficulties such as:

Hargreaves, S. (Ed.)(2012) Study Skills for Students with Dyslexia, 2nd Ed. (SAGE Study Skills Series). London: Sage. Available at Hugh Owen Library Level F (LC4818.38.S9)

Godwin, J. (2012) Studying with Dyslexia (Pocket Study Skills). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at Hugh Owen Library Level F (LC4708.5.G5)

Making the most of lecture capture resources

The E-Learning Team at the University of York has created a valuable series of videos on how students can enhance their studies through lecture capture resources. You will find lecture capture recordings in many of your Blackboard modules for the courses you are registered for. These will include many of the lectures and seminars you have attended. Check with module tutors or coordinators for exact locations of recordings in your courses.

Resources to help students studying with lecture capture, Matt Cornock (University of York)

Studying with lecture capture