This free course, Key skills: making a difference, focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wherever there is a continuation of learning. We hope that you will study this course over a period of time in conjunction with a work situation.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Introduction to key skills
- 1 Introduction to key skills
- 1.1 What are key skills?
- 1.1.1 When do we use key skills?
- 1.3 About this course
- 1.4 Using this course
- 1.5 Getting started
- 2 Taking charge: redefining learning
- 2 Taking charge: redefining learning
- 2.1 A framework for learning
- 2.3 The key skills framework
- 2.3.1 Developing a strategy
- 2.3.2 Monitoring progress
- 2.3.3 Evaluating your strategy and presenting outcomes
- 2.4 Using the framework
- 2.4.1 Keeping a Skills File
- 2.8 Making the framework your own
- 2.9 Putting it all together
- 2.10 Summary
- 3 Improving own learning and performance
- 3 Improving own learning and performance
- 3.1 Introduction to improving own learning and performance
- 3.1a Working on the key skill of improving own learning and performance
- 3.2 Developing a strategy
- 3.2.1Review your current capabilities, including your preferred learning style
- 3.2.2 Identify what you hope to achieve and opportunities to work on this key skill
- 3.2.3 Identify and research relevant sources of information
- 3.2.4 Set realistic targets
- 3.2.5 Plan how these targets will be met
- 3.2.6 Achieving your goals
- 3.4 Monitoring progress
- 3.4.1 Manage your time effectively
- 3.4.2 Using different ways and approaches to learn
- 3.6.1 Seek and actively use feedback to achieve your targets
- 3.8 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 3.8.1 Select and bring together effective ways to present outcomes
- 3.8.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 3.8.3 Identify ways of further improving your own learning and performance
- 3.10 Drawing ideas together
- 4 Improving your skills in communication
- 4 Improving your skills in communication
- 4.1 Introduction to improving your skills in communication
- 4.1a Working on the key skill of communication
- 4.3 Monitoring progress
- 4.3.1 Judging the quality of information
- 4.3.2 Synthesise information
- 4.3.3 Communicate relevant information
- 4.3.4 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of communication skills
- 4.3.5 Adapt your strategy
- 4.4.1 Organise and clearly present relevant information
- 4.4.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 4.4.3 Identify ways of further developing your communication skills
- 4.5 Drawing ideas together
- 5 Improving your skills in information technology
- 5 Improving your skills in information technology
- 5.1 Introduction to improving your skills in information technology
- 5.1a Working on improving your IT skills
- 5.2 Developing a strategy
- 5.2.1 Identify opportunities for using IT skills
- 5.2.2 Identify the outcomes you hope to achieve
- 5.2.3 Identify and research relevant sources of information
- Developing a strategy
- 5.3.1 Plan your use of IT skills and select methods
- 5.4 Monitoring progress
- 5.4.1 Set up and use IT
- 5.4.2 Develop and exchange relevant information to meet your purposes
- 5.4.3 Gathering and producing new information
- 5.4.4 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of IT skills
- 5.4.6 Adapt your strategy to overcome difficulties
- 5.5 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 5.5.1 Develop the structure for presenting your work
- 5.5.2 Use the views of others to guide your presentation
- 5.5.3 Present information effectively
- 5.5.4 Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategy
- 5.5.5 Identify ways of further developing your IT skills
- 5.6 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 5.7 Drawing ideas together
- 6 Improving your skills in information literacy (IL)
- 6 Improving your skills in information literacy (IL)
- 6.1 Introduction to improving your skills in information literacy
- 6.2 Working on improving your IL skills
- 6.3 Developing a strategy
- 6.3.1 Identify opportunities for using IL skills
- 6.3.2 Identify the outcomes you hope to achieve
- 6.3.3 Identify and research relevant sources of information
- 6.4 Developing a strategy
- Plan your use of IL skills and select methods
- 6.5 Monitoring progress
- 6.5.1 Explore different information sources
- 6.5.2 Use a variety of search strategies and tools effectively
- 6.5.3 Record and critically evaluate the results of your search
- 6.5.4 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of IL skills
- 6.5.5 Adapt your strategy to overcome difficulties
- 6.6 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- Interpret results and identify your main findings
- 6.6.1 Organise and clearly present information
- 6.6.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategy
- 6.6.3 Identify ways of further developing your IL skills
- 6.7 Drawing ideas together
- 7 Improving your skills in application of number
- 7 Improving your skills in application of number
- 7.1 Introduction to improving your skills in number
- 7.2 Working on improving your number skills
- 7.3 Developing a strategy
- 7.3.1 Identify opportunities for using number skills
- 7.3.2 Identify the outcomes you hope to achieve
- 7.3.4 Identify and research relevant sources of information
- 7.4 Developing a strategy
- 7.4.1 Plan your use of number skills and select methods
- 7.5 Monitoring progress
- 7.5.1 Evaluate information from different sources
- 7.5.2 Title
- 7.5.3 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of number skills
- 7.5.2a Adapt your strategy to overcome difficulties
- 7.6 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 7.6.1 Interpret results and identify your main findings
- 7.6.2 Present information effectively
- 7.6.3 Explain results in relation to your work
- 7.6.4 Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategy
- 7.6.5 Identify ways of further developing your number skills
- 7.7 Drawing ideas together
- 8 Improving your skills in problem solving
- 8 Improving your skills in problem solving
- 8.1 Introduction to improving your skills in problem solving
- 8.2 Working on improving your problem-solving skills
- 8.3 Developing a strategy
- 8.3.1 Identify opportunities for using problem-solving skills
- 8.3.2 Identify the outcomes you hope to achieve
- 8.3.3 Explore problems
- 8.3.4 Research information from other sources
- 8.4 Developing a strategy
- 8.4.1 Plan your use of problem-solving skills and select methods
- 8.5 Monitoring progress
- 8.5.1 Generate a variety of ways of tackling problems
- 8.5.2 Identify options that have a chance of success
- 8.5.3 Negotiate the option to be taken forward
- 8.5.4 Manage each stage of the work effectively
- 8.6 Monitoring progress
- 8.6.1 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of problem-solving skills
- 8.6.2 Adapt your strategy to overcome difficulties
- 8.7 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 8.7.1 Illustrate your problem-solving process and present results
- 8.7.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 8.8 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 8.8.1 Identify ways of further developing your problem-solving skills
- 8.9 Drawing ideas together
- 9 Improving your skills in working with others
- 9.1 Introduction to improving your skills in working with others
- 9.1.1 About working with others
- Working on improving your skills in working with others
- 9.3 Developing a strategy
- 9.3.1 Establish opportunities for using skills in working with others
- 9.3.2 Identify what you hope to achieve
- 9.3.3 Identify relevant sources of information
- 9.3.4 Plan work with others for achieving the quality outcomes required
- 9.4 Activity: Developing your strategy for using skills in working with others
- 9.5 Monitoring progress
- 9.7.1 Take a leading role in managing an activity
- 9.5.2 Establish and maintain co-operative working relationships
- 9.5.2a Exchange feedback
- 9.6 Monitoring progress
- 9.6.1 Monitor and critically reflect on your skills
- 9.6.2 Adapt your strategy to overcome difficulties and produce the quality of outcomes required
- 9.7 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 9.7.1 Negotiate and develop effective ways of presenting the work
- 9.7.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 9.7.3 Identify ways of further developing your skills in working with others
- 9.8 Drawing ideas together
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
