Learning to Learn Workshop

1
Learning to Learn Workshop

• Raising standard of learning writing skills

2
Useful References

• Fairbairn, G.J. Winch, C. (1991). Reading,
  Writing and Reasoning A Guide for Students.
  Buckingham Open University Press
• Moran, A. P. (1997). Managing Your own Learning
  at University A Practical Guide. Dublin
  University Press (Chs 7 9)
• Sternberg, J.J. (1993). The Psychologists
  Companion. Leicester BPS

3
Learning at university.

• Demands a new type of learning it requires you
  to become
• an active and self-motivated student when it
  comes to planning, conducting evaluating your
  academic work (Moran, 1997, p.1)

4
Aims

• To help you identify what your own expectations
  are with regard learning writing
• To draw your attention to different types of
  learning thinking
• To help you to raise standard of your essay
  writing

5
Being a good student

• With regard to what you think is expected
• of a good student, write down 2 examples of
• Types of learning
• Kinds of thinking
• Characteristics of writing
• Now, working in pairs, exchange examples under
  the 3 headings

6
Different types of learning thinking command
words

• Define, Describe, Outline, Relate
• ask you to provide evidence of knowing about
  topic
• Interpret, Clarify, Explain, Illustrate, Discuss,
  Review
• Ask you to show evidence of going beyond the
  info to show evidence of deeper learning
  comprehension
• Apply, Predict, Choose, Assess, Teach
• Show evidence of application of knowledge

7
Command words ctd

• Distinguish between, Compare Contrast, Justify,
  Argue, Conclude
• Ask you to engage in more complex thinking, to
  analyse evaluate, to develop arguments defend
  points of view
• Judge, Appraise, Critically evaluate, Criticise
• Clearly ask you to take an evaluative position

8
Learning to think critically

• What are the key features of?
• analysis
• What is the main assumption behind?
• analysis
• What are strengths weaknesses?
• evaluation
• What do you already know about?
• relating to prior knowledge
• In what ways are X Y alike/different.?
• Reasoning by analogy

9
Critical thinking ctd

• What do you think would happen if?
• prediction
• What is the evidence to support?
• evidence-based reasoning
• What is a good example of?
• application
• What is main conclusion to be drawn?
• inference
• Can you think of another way, an alternative
  explanation?
• Creative thinking

10
Raising awarenessquality of essays

• Adopt role of marker
• Read through the 2 essays in the handout. Which
  answer is best, why?
• Working in pairs, compare your comments
• Report back to whole group
• Develop list of important criteria for assessing
  essays

11
Exam preparation

• One further session, towards end of Semester 1.
  Date, time to be advised