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Skills Check 0

The Skills Check is a short survey which should take you no more than 3 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the Skills Check we provide you with a personal learning plan targeted to your personal study needs and goals.

Sign in to work on the Skills Check.
  1. Home
  2. Ongoing skills
  3. Making the most of your learning style
  4. Applying yourself to the learning cycle

Applying yourself to the learning cycle

It is now widely accepted that the capacity to learn can be improved by

  • analysing how you do things
  • being willing to try new things
  • recognising what works best for you.

Being aware of your learning style and how effectively you are engaging with the learning materials will help you make better decisions about how you study in future.

Rather than rushing through study tasks without pausing, it can be useful to devise a strategy that allows time and space to reflect on what you are doing as you engage in different activities. This can involve

  • stopping to think about what you are learning
  • developing awareness of your feelings and responses as you study
  • recognising the choices that you face (e.g. how to take notes)
  • questioning your assumptions and preconceptions
  • communicating with your tutor, and other students.

OU learning consultants, Gill and Maggie, explain the importance of building reflection into your study process

The learning cycle: Do it - stop and think at strategic points in your course - review it and learn from it - stop and think at strategic points in your course - plan for next time - stop and think at strategic points in your course.