Open Learning - How to Survive and Thrive - Top Ten Tips

"How to Survive and Thrive in Open Learning".discovered that using 'Mind Mapping' to take notes
Top Ten Tipshas been very successful as I now remember
Top Tip No 1: # Motivationand retain more information using pictures to
Keeping motivated and staying on track for theform links between topics. For more information
duration of your studies is the single moston the use of 'Mind Mapping', Google Tony Buzan,
important hurdle that the independent learnerfor an exciting and highly practical alternative to
must overcome. My first tip is to find a goodlinear notes.
motivational quote that creates a fire in your bellyTop Tip No 7: # Essay Writing
and frame it (preferably A4 size) and display it inThe majority of tertiary institutions require their
your office or bedroom where you can see itstudents to produce written essays as part of
every day. How's this for starters? "You can dothe teach process. The reasons for the use of
anything if you put your mind on how to do itessays are simple; they are an excellent method
rather than why you can't". Bob Proctorfor testing a student's comprehension of a
Top Tip No 2: # Study Skillssubject together with their ability to express this
In their book 'A Guide to Learning Independently'new learning. Why therefore, do so many of us
Marshall and Rowland tell us to use all our sensesmature students make it very difficult for the
when studying. Most students [me included, untiltutor to follow our arguments or thoughts? We
lately] use only one of their senses (sight) whencan solve this problem by using 'Sign Posting';
studying or maybe two (touch) to write.which tells the tutor where we have been in a
However, research suggests that we should readchapter and more importantly where we are
a difficult text out loud to (hear) the words andgoing. The tutors will thank you for it, trust me.
draw pictures (sight) again, to get a betterMy 'Sign Posting' goes something like this.... "Having
understanding of the topic. Put the main themesdiscussed and explained such and such, in the next
of the text on 'Post-It's' and put them in order ofchapter the project will investigate such and such".
importance on a wall to get a betterTop Tip No 8: # Presentation Skills
understanding of the subject.Workshops and small group discussions are
Top Tip No 3: # Time Managementmethods used by tutors to introduce critical
As mature students we are very aware of thethinking and debating of subjects to increase a
social and family issues that compete for ourlearner's understanding of a topic. Therefore, I find
study time. Most universities that deliver Openthat if you practice the following mantra it always
Learning deal with this topic in their orientationhelps in creating clarity in discussion:
open day. However, it has been my experienceTell them what you are going to tell them.
that they over complicate the subject with exactTell Them.
times and dates on a spreadsheet format that noTell them what you told them. (Author Unknown)
one will follow. My tip is to keep it simple, get anTop Tip No 9: # Research Methods
A5 sheet of paper and mark it out as follows:Discussion about the preparation for an end of
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesdayterm research project could take up an entire
Thursday Fridayseminar, but for starters we will concentrate on
Morningethics in our research. Remember, we need
Afternooninformed consent from the people/respondents
Eveningwe use in our research. My top tip is to prepare a
Top Tip No 3: # Learning Journals'Statement of Informed Consent' and attach this
The majority of third level institutions require theirto your submission as an annex to your project.
students to keep a learning journal; my advice isThis 'Statement of Informed Consent' should
to start this practice as early as possible in yourinclude the following: Your name and address on
studies. Get hold of and A5 size notebook andtop of the page, Date, a Friendly Greeting, The
use this to put down your 'feelings' and 'thoughts'title of the research, and the institution to which
about what you're learning. You will be surprisedyou will submit the research project. The purpose
by how much more a subject comes to life whenof the research for example (In part fulfilment of
you ask yourself questions on the topic you area Diploma/BA/Maters Degree in Training and
studying. For example, I enter stuff like: "WhatEducation) should also be included in this
was that chapter about? Where can I get morestatement. The statement should also include
information on this? I have not got a clue whatinformation on how you intend to use the data
they are talking about here".gained from the respondents. Finally you should
Top Tip No 4: # English Grammaralso state the level of confidentiality that you can
I cannot stress the importance of the correct usegive to the respondents, for example: "The
of grammar when submitting assignments tocontents of this research project will only be
tutors or professors for correction. Mostviewed by myself and the correcting tutor of our
universities award 10% of the overall mark foruniversity". Extracts on 'Statements of \informed
what they refer to as [layout and structure] ofConsent were taken from 'Practical Research and
assignments. It is important to know such stuffReport Writing' Module, National University of
as... the difference between 'Parentheses' andIreland, Galway
'Brackets', see what I mean? I didn't know either.Top Tip No 10: # Taking Examinations
If you can get a copy of 'Plain English' by DianeMy final top tip relates to the taking of
Collinson et el, it is a great book as a foundationexaminations, which as all students of third level
for understanding and using good grammar. Byeducation will know is part of the academic
the way 'et el' is Latin for 'and others' when theresystem, and for good reason. Examinations are
is more than one author.superb forum for establishing quality control and
Top Tip No 5: # Referencingtherefore will be around for a long time to come.
This author has witnessed fellow mature studentsTo help me with my examination preparations I
getting into hot water with their university'sregularly refer to Andrew Northledge's 'The Good
academic review boards through lack ofStudy Guide' for techniques while I prepare for an
referencing [whether intentionally or not] in theirexaminations. Some of Andrew's suggestions are
assignments or essays. Galway University foras follows:
example uses the 'Harvard Referencing Style',Gather all the relevant information from a single
which this learner learned in detail as early asmodule and put it onto an A4 size sheet of paper.
possibly in his academic studies. To help you onRepeat this process for all your modules and
your way, the University of Limerick has andepending on the number of modules in each
excellent free download booklet called 'CITE ITsemester this should be five or six sheets.
RIGHT', 'A Guide to Referencing in UL using theNow, highlight all the important points from each
Harvard Referencing Style', which is available atof the five or six sheets (modules) and put these
Top Tip No 6: # Note-Takingonto one A4 sheet.
The gathering of information forms an integralFinally, place the major points from the final sheet
part of all academic study; whether we areon an A5 size index card, back and front. This is
reading a course module, or preparing research,an excellent method of focusing on relevant and
attending lectures, all of which require us to takeimportant themes in the modules. Now, one word
'useful' notes. Andrew Northledge in his book 'Theor link on our index card creates a mental picture
Good Study Guide' suggests that we usewhich allows us to go back to our six sheets
'highlighting and underlining' to place emphasis onfrom the modules and recover the information. It
topics that need to be remembered. This learnerworks try it!!