This guide is designed to be a reference source for you to use, both on your own, and with your tutors. In essence its purpose is to help you to understand the learning process you have embarked upon during your studies in the School of Creative Arts.

Section 1 offers an introduction to ‘skills’ and how they relate to the learning process on your programme and provide a pathway to employment. The section introduces an approach to ‘learning to learn’ and suggests some practical ways in which you can help yourself to develop the necessary skills you will need to benefit from learning and teaching experiences.

On first encounter, the language used to describe teaching and learning can be quite baffling so here key terms and ideas are explained, advice is given on how to manage your studies as well as sources of further support within the School.

Section 2 maps the different kinds of teaching and learning situations you will encounter during your studies from the basic lecture and tutorial to the University’s managed learning environment, Studynet, and provide links to sources of further information.

Section 3 focuses on assessment. Advice is given on how to undertake the process of enquiry and research as well as the different forms assessments take within the School, including essays and reports but also spoken presentations and academic blogs.

Section 4 offers guidelines on assignment presentation including how to do references; a step-by-step guide to filling in assessment forms and what to do if you fail. There is also a section on academic conduct which clearly explains the University’s policy on plagiarism, collusion and how to avoid such perils.

Section 5 provides further sources of help and advice and some active learning strategies in the shape of quizzes and questionnaires to help you get to grips with your studies.

A PDF version of this Skills Guide can also be found on the School Information pages of StudyNet at http://tinyurl.com/CASkills.