Developing independent study skills

You will both negotiate and agree on when to meet to study together. It is important to prioritise what academic tasks you need to do and allocate a realistic timeframe to work through these.

Prioritise each semester's modules, tasks, and deadlines, including any assessments from writing essays, producing portfolios, preparing for an exam, presentation or industry placements.

Turn these assignment tasks into weekly prioritisations that you can jot down on a study planner or diary. For general academic assessments, typical stages that you will go through to produce an assignment are:

• Finding suitable research sources
• Creating an assignment plan
• Researching and note-making
• Writing or producing content for an assignment
• Editing and proofreading
• Developing and completing the assignment

Identify which assignment deadlines are first, then make a short list of what tasks you will need to do for each assessment by making this a to-do list on your study planner or diary. 

Use the Study Development team's study planner worksheet to organise your studies and assessments. You can find this on our Skills guides page under the 'Time management' heading.

Do you need support creating a study planner or planning an assignment? Book a tutorial with Study Development.

• Select 2 to 3 top priorities you need to do.
• Use the Study Development team's goal-setting worksheet resource. You can find this on our Skills guides page under the 'Time management' heading.
• Spend only 5 to 10 minutes establishing goals and creating a to-do list. 

Examples of priorities and tasks

An example of 3 short bitesize priorities:

• Task 1. Define a theory.
• Task 2. Read one page of an academic text.
• Task 3. Write an introduction. 

You can also tackle 1 large or complex task by breaking it down into smaller bitesize parts.

An example of one large complex priority that has been broken down into bitesize parts:

Analyse and critique a theoretical concept.

• Task 1. Introduce and define the concept.
• Task 2. Evaluate the concept by identifying and writing down key strengths and weaknesses.
• Task 3. Write 2 paragraphs that explain this critical analysis to the reader.

Use The Pomodoro Technique time management method to make it easy to start tasks and gives you focused time to work. Watch a student during a Ted Talk explain how using the Pomodoro Technique changed and improved their study habits by setting goals and managing time.

Review your learning goals and the 1 to 2 questions that you had written down about what you need to learn or find the answers to from an academic text.

If it is a long article, break it down into bitesize chunks, read through one page at a time, and make notes about any key points made, the evidence used, or the author's argument.

Use text-to-speech assistive technology programmes that allow you to highlight text on an electronic page and an audio voice will narrate it whilst you listen. Read&Write and Immersive Reader reads text out loud. Claro Scan Pen lets you take a picture, scan it, and an audio voice will read the text out loud.

• Review learning goals and write down any answers found in the text from the questions you set before reading.
• Extract key information: What does the author propose, claim or argue? What are the main points made in the academic text? What evidence does the author use to support their argument?
• Separate the facts from the author's argument. Is there standpoint valid? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the author's argument? What do you think about this? How might this inform your own research or standpoint?
• Colour code notes to distinguish what the author's claims are, what evaluative points you have made and what have you learned. This can help you with analysis and criticality.

Find a note making method that works best for you. Check out Study Development's Guide to Making Notes Factsheet. Book an in-person or online tutorial with a Study Development tutor for support on active reading and note making.

Use speech-to-text assistive technology Microsoft Word Dictate. When you speak out loud it converts this into text. Use Voice Memo or a voice recording app that you can access on a mobile phone.

Memorise information to enhance understanding.

Elaboration technique

Choose an idea that you need to learn or memorise. Set yourself the challenge of explaining this to 2 different people every day until you have memorised and understand it.

Explain to others in your own words what the idea is and how it can be applied to a scenario without looking at or using your notes. 

Concept mapping

Use concept or mind maps to visually show how components of a concept work and what the relationships are between different ideas.

Remove distractions

• Place only necessary materials on your desk, such as a laptop or writing paper and pen, academic texts and your learning goals you set for the independent study session.
• Use Freedom app to temporarily block non-university related websites which will help you to remain focused on the module or assignment tasks.
• Use noise-cancelling headphones to think through the academic topics and manage auditory stimuli.

Use bitesize learning

Use bitesize learning to manage and reduce memory load. Break course and assignment tasks down into smaller manageable bitesize pieces. For example, with an assignment, identify key tasks you will need to do. Highlight any large tasks and break these down into smaller bitesize pieces.

For example, if 1 large task is to write main points for an essay, break this down into 
manageable chunks:

• Write 1 short paragraph that explains the first main point.
• Write 2 sentences that introduce the evidence.
• Write 2 to 3 sentences that explain how the evidence supports the point made.

Take regular breaks

Take regular breaks to maintain focus and engagement while studying. Short breaks can also reduce sensory overload and stress.

The Focus Keeper app can help you to study efficiently, get things done and avoid burnout by using the Pomodoro Technique.

Use reward apps

Reward apps such as Forest help you to remain focused on important things such as working on and completing assignments. With each independent study task you have set yourself, when finished the app rewards completion by growing a forest.