Guides: Assessment Help: Study Skills

Time Management Calculator & Tips for Time Management

Reflect on how you spend your time. There may be a mismatch between how you think you are spending your time and how you actually are. Enter your hours on the time management calculator below to see how much time you have:

Time Management Calculator Time Management Calculator from Charles Darwin University.
9 Quick Tips for Students Struggling with Time Management Here are some tips to students to help them manage their time.
Six Tips for Students to Improve Time Management Master these tips to help you become more efficient with your study time and able to fit more into your days.

Keeping Track of Your Assessment Due Dates

This video will give you some ideas and tools to help you keep track of your assessment due dates.

Assessment Planners below can be downloaded:

Assessment Planner- Semester 1 2024 A planner to assist you with your assessment due dates for semester 1.
Assessment Planner- Semester 2 2024 A planner to assist you with your assessment due dates for semester 2.
Assessment Planner - No Dates An Assessment Planner that you can customise to track your assessment due dates.

Activate Your Microsoft 365 Account

You can find your personal timetable by logging into your Microsoft 365 account. The video below will guide you through the process of activating your new student Microsoft 365 account.

Set up Microsoft Authenticator for first time TAFE users

How do I access my Microsoft 365 / Student Email? Links & Files to Microsoft Support, Set up Microsoft Authenticator with a phone and PC Set up Microsoft Authenticator with only a phone. Set up Microsoft Authentication without App.

Weekly Study Timetable

You can create your own study timetable with the template below:

Blank Study Timetable Personalise your own study timetable with this template.

This video will guide you through the process of locating your class timetable via Office365.

Managing your own Learning - PowerPoint Presentation Tips on managing your own learning.

Discover Your Learning Style

Note - Taking

Effective Note-Taking From University of Reading : Note-making is a learning process in itself, helping you to process and understand the information you receive.
Note-Taking Skills From University of NSW :Good note-taking allows a permanent record of key information that you can integrate with your own writing, and use for exam revision.
Note Taking from Reading From RMIT University: Well-organised notes can help you recall relevant material and find information again when you need it for assignment work or when studying for exams.
Note Taking in Classes & Lectures From RMIT University: Good notes are purposeful, logical, brief and accurate. They are your record of your understanding of the lecture and are used when preparing for exams or working on assignments.
Reading & Note-taking From Algonuin College: This unit explains strategies for taking notes in class and for reading your textbook.

Learn How To Speed Read - Best Speed Reading Techniques

Reading Effectively

Reading Effectively From Edith Cowan University: Reading is influenced by the nature of the content, familiarity with the subject matter and your language competency. To deal with these factors and other challenges, you should vary your reading strategies.
SQ3R Reading Strategy: from Oregon State University Strategies to use to prepare for reading, engage in reading, and review reading.
Strategies for Effective Reading From Monash University: There are some good techniques to make your reading effective and efficient.
Tips for Effective Reading From University of NSW: Most courses involve a great deal of reading, which is why you need to learn new techniques to manage the workload.

Presentation Tools

Canva Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more for you to explore.
Google slides Create presentations online for free.
Keynote With its powerful tools and dazzling effects, Keynote makes it easy to create stunning and memorable presentations, and comes included with most Apple devices.
Microsoft PowerPoint Included in your Microsoft Office 365.

Presentation Skills

5 Essentials for Powerful Presentations This program covers five essential areas for powerful presentations. These include memorable ways to commence, managing anxiety, being succinct and sign-posting information, maintaining audience engagement, relaxed body language, telling a story, and finishing with a bang.
10 Tips for Speaking to an Audience Experienced speakers use techniques to make them more interesting to listen to and to help them hold the attention of their audience. Try some of the following the next time you give a presentation.
Develop an Oral Presentation Oral presentations are similar to written assessments in their structure: there is an introduction, body and conclusion.
Planning and Structuring a Presentation Have a clear, organised structure for your presentation. Structuring a presentation is no different from writing an essay or a report; it requires an introduction, body and conclusion.
Preparing and Delivering Your Oral Presentation Some good tips on preparing and delivering your oral presentation.
Public Speaking: Principles of Public Speaking—Delivery This video provides an overview of the importance and techniques of speech delivery. Learn about the effects possible through nonverbal cues and spatial communication.
Using PowerPoint in Presentations Visual aids are an important element of a good oral presentation. Using visuals can add interest to your presentation and help you communicate your ideas.

Powerful Presentations: selling your story on stage or in the boardroom. Unlock your potential and understand how you can have an audience hanging on to your every word. Entrepreneurs and business professionals often have to pitch their products and projects to an audience - whether at a conference stage, meetup group, to VC firms or even at the office to their peers and leaders. Through this book, you will learn how to plan, rehearse, and deliver the perfect presentation for your needs.

Essential Skills For VET Diploma Studies

Case Study Assessments A case study requires you to analyse and write about a person, a scenario or an organisation. You might be given information about the case in the assessment description, or you may be required to invent or find your own case. The purpose of a case study is to apply the concepts and theories you have learnt about in class to the particular case.
Creating a Strong Paragraph It is important to create strong, clear paragraphs when answering assessment questions.
Incorporating Information from Sources When writing an assessment, you will need to incorporate information and examples from readings. Readings may include your class notes/manual, books and eBooks from library and good quality, reliable information from the internet.
Presentation Assessments Presentation assessments require you to research a particular topic and then prepare and deliver an oral presentation on the topic. Some presentations are completed in a small group and require teamwork. Presentations are often accompanied by slides projected onto a screen, or shown as part of a video or online presentation.
Professional Documentation Assessments Professional documentation is an integral and important part of practice for counsellors, case managers and youth workers. Types of professional documentation that you may need to write include case notes, health and safety risk assessments and incident reports. Professional documentation assessments give you the opportunity to practice writing these kinds of texts. In most cases, you will be provided with a template with sections that you need to fill in.
Project Assessments Project assessments require you to do some research on a particular topic and then prepare a report on the topic. The report may be a written report or it may be delivered as an oral presentation. Some project assignments are completed in a small group to imitate workplace projects that require teamwork.
Revising and Editing your Assessments Revising and editing is an important step in the writing process as it helps make your work clear, understandable and professional. Editing usually occurs at a few different levels and you may do it in phases. You need to look at the content, structure, style, grammar, spelling and punctuation, and the presentation.
Short Answer Assessments Short answer assessments require you to write brief responses to questions in your own words. Short answer questions may be about a topic or they may be about a case study. You may incorporate information from your learning materials or other sources, but you must ensure it is in your own words.
Skills Practice Session and Reflection Assessments A skills practice session is a role play that allows you to try out the skills you have learnt about in your course. The role play may be completed in class, or you may be required to record the session on video. After the skills practice session, you are usually required to reflect on your experience, which might involve participating in a class discussion or writing a self-critique.
Using Bullet Points and Sentences Depending on the type of assessment task you are doing, you may be able to use bullet points where appropriate.

eBooks on Study Skills

Basic Study Skills This book is aimed at students at almost every level, including college and university, adult learners, access students and students on correspondence and distance learning courses. It will be particularly valuable for those who have been out of a learning situation for some time and are lacking the confidence to re-enter the educational environment. The book covers all aspects of study skills, from improving reading, writing, listening and thinking skills, to knowing how to study independently, conduct research and take tests and examinations.The user-friendly and accessible format enables readers to dip in and out of the book whenever they need to brush up on a particular skill.It also includes uesfeul exercises, addresses, websites and further reading for those who wish to follow up the information provided in the book.
The Guide to Learning and Study Skills This new guide builds on the hugely successful materials the authors have developed over the last 15 years. Along with highly practical guidance on traditional learning skills, The Guide to Learning and Study Skills provides guidance for students on learning in a blended environment; the increased use of personal and professional development planning, continuing professional development and work-based learning.
Study Skills for Business and Management Students This practical handbook is an essential course companion for business and management students at degree level. It contains case studies, exercises, tips and self-assessment tools that will help students with their personal and professional development. The book covers key areas, such as: Learning and teaching methods Study strategies Time management Research methods Assessment activities Exam techniques Job searching And it also emphasizes the skills that are key for business and management courses, which include: Academic writing Critical and reflective thinking Effective communication Interpersonal skills Project management Research skills Team working Study Skills for Business and Management Students has been carefully structured to be used throughout a degree course in order to hone the skills necessary to get a good degree and begin a successful career. An accompanying website www.openup.co.uk/businesssuccess has more information on related careers with up-to-date web links.
The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook "We would heartily recommend the book to students who are at the beginning of their studies." Maxine Fletcher, Lecturer, Oxford Brookes "This book's crammed full of very useful topics, information and exercises that I've never seen before, especially in the section on research, which I particularly liked." Joel, Student, Keele University Competition for graduate jobs has never been so fierce. The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook will help you succeed from the first week of your studies through to graduation. Covering all the core skills you will need to help you make the most of your university course, The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook is your key to success. This is the handbook of techniques, tips and exercises. Written by a team of experts and tested on students, the advice in this book will help you to improve your grades, save time and develop the skills that will make you stand out to prospective employers. Whichever subject you are studying, this practical and concise book will help you find your individual learning style and tell you exactly what you need to know to excel as a student: Working out the best way for you to learn Doing your research Presentations Revising for exams Improving your critical thinking skills Managing your time

eBooks on Time Management

Do What Matters Most Time management remains a huge challenge for most people. This book shares the habits and processes used by top leaders worldwide to minimize distractions and maximize accomplishments.
From to-do to done : how to go from busy to productive by mastering your to-do list Trying to remember a bunch of details and tasks isn't the best use of your brainpower. By collecting all of your tasks in one place, you can reserve your mental energy for work that drives significant results, both in your professional life and your personal life.
Time management essentials : the tools you need to maximize your attention, energy, and productivity "Good time management skills have always been an important factor in professional success, but between ever-evolving collaboration apps and the more recent pandemic-related workplace shifts, the tools and even the principles behind them have changed. In Time Management Essentials, you'll get the comprehensive, up-to-date information you need to manage your time with a values-based approach"-- Provided by publisher.