Learning Strategist Consultations
Book an individual Consultation with a Learning Strategist. Learning Strategists work with you to create personalized study strategies for reading, learning from lectures, managing time, preparing for exams -- and more! See the Learning Aids below for topics you can discuss with a Learning Strategist. Book a face to face appointment, or connect online.
Learning Aids
A learning aid is something intended to enhance learning and retention by the learner. They may include, but are not limited to: written materials, visualizations, charts, diagrams, processes, strategies, or any other appropriate item.
The following materials will assist you in your acquisition of processes and strategies that aid in deep learning, retention, and transfer of content materials from courses and programs into your future endeavors.
Writing Aids
In university, writing is the primary means of academic communication. This is the method used to explain ideas, share knowledge, and to communicate to others your understanding and analysis as you navigate your learning journey. There are a variety of formats that you may use in this writing: essays, literature reviews, lab reports, case studies, statistical analysis, and more. In each case, the discipline that you are studying will indicate how this is to be done. Find our Writing Aids and much more here: https://www.kpu.ca/learningcentres/writing-aids
Math Aids
Math Aids are guides, resources and worksheets that have been developed to support the ongoing practise that is required for consistent math competency. Find them here: https://www.kpu.ca/learningcentres/learning-aids/math-aids
Courses
| Course Support - All the various supports that you can access at the Learning Centres. | Find University Services - How to locate essential university serves at KPU. |
| Decipher your syllabus - Analyze the study outline of your course. | Maintain your GPA - What does GPA mean and how can I keep it high? |
| University Success - Use your thinking and learning skills. |
Reading and Taking Notes
| Read Effectively (SQ3R Method) - Get the best information from your textbooks. | Read Academic Journals - Read journal articles strategically to find the information you need. |
| Get Started with Digital Texts - Develop a strategy for reading and taking notes from digital texts. | |
| Three Column Note Taking - Use this method to improve your understanding of course materials and put ideas into your own words. | Cornell Notes and Study Method - Take notes that will help you study and review. |
Managing Time
| Budget your Time and Attention -Spend your time wisely. | Semester Scheduling Strategy - Look at the big picture of your semester. |
| Weekly Schedule - Schedule your week for efficiency. | Semester & Week schedule template - prints to 11 x 17 |
| Create your Project Workback schedule - Use a professional strategy. | Create your SMART Goals - Make goals that motivate you. |
| Schedule your Day with a To Do List - Make and prioritize lists to get things done. | Schedule with your Smartphone - Put your schedule in your smartphone. |
Study Skills
| Study Smart - Many ways to massage your study habits. | Active Learning - Take charge of your learning to make efficient use of your classes. |
| Why Take Notes - How taking good notes supports your learning. | Note Taking and Study System (Cornell) - Take and utilize the best notes possible. |
| Three Phases of Learning - Take control of your learning to become more efficient and effective. | Four Key Questions for Learning Success - Plan, monitor, and evaluate your study strategies to meet course objectives. |
| Effective Studying for Learning - Improve your learning and your grades. | Analyze Assignments - Discover strategies and steps to achieve assignment success |
| No Procrastination - Think, Say, and Do to beat procrastination. | Get It Done - Tackle your assignment and projects systematically |
| Learning Skills Development Plan - Create a plan to develop a specific skill. | Learning with Your Multiple Intelligences - Eight ways to be and get smart. |
| Case Studies - Analyze Case Studies like a pro. | Develop Your English Vocabulary - Create a plan for learning and remembering important words. |
| Math Success - Ways to study math successfully. | Study Plan for Accounting - Create a weekly plan for studying Accounting using your course materials. |
Thinking & Memory
| How Learning Works - Want to improve your learning? Here are the basic principles. | Learning Approaches - Use both Surface and Deep approaches to take control of your learning. |
| Ambiguity Tolerance - Practice skills to help you thrive in ambiguous situations. | Remember what You Learn - Boost your memory and recall. |
| Mind Mapping - Collect and Organize Information about your topic. | Concept Mapping - Map out ideas to understand relationships and expand your learning. |
| Improve your Recall with Flash Cards - Expand your memory to learn new terms, concepts, and language. | Spaced Repetitions to Improve Memory - Practice efficient learning techniques using your smartphone. |
Questioning
| Bloom's Levels and Questioning - Use your cognitive levels of learning to dig deeper. | Learning Through Critical Questioning - Deep questions to aid your learning. |
| Four Levels of Study Questions - Use questioning to improve your learning. | Deep Questioning for Critical Thinking - Learn at a deeper level using critical thinking. |
Communication and Working in Teams
| Active Listening for Understanding - Ways to get the most from all situations from lectures to conversations. | Connecting with Your Instructors - Communicate effectively with instructors in person and online. |
| Build Cultural Bridges - Communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations. | Conflict Management - Manage potential and real conflict in various situations. |
| Getting the Best out of Group Projects - Be the best team possible. | Team Development Steps - Action steps to move you through Tuckman's four stages of team development. |
| Presentation Plan - Create your next presentation for maximum impact. | Speaking with Confidence - Develop your speaking voice for positive and effective presentations. |
Reflection
| Learning Flow - Get In the Zone for Learning. | Independent Learning - Move from being a dependent to an independent learner. |
| Personal Journalling - Reasons and ideas for personal reflective journals. | Reflective Writing - Develop a reflective writing practice that supports you in preparing journals, ePortfolios, and reflective essays. |
| Invest in Your Strengths - Identifying and using your strengths for better learning. | Evaluate Your Learning - Use feedback to plan the next steps in your learning. |
PebblePad
| Create Your Portfolio in PebblePad - Step by step guide to create a Portfolio | Use Pebble Pocket - Learn how to use PebblePocket |
| Using PDFs in your PebblePad Portfolio - Step by step using PDF's in your PebblePad Portfolio |
Tests and Exams
| General Test Taking Strategies - Write the best exam possible. | Multiple Choice Testing - Tips for answering Multiple Choice questions |
| Study to Answer Exam Questions - Plan a process to complete exams effectively and efficiently. | Strategies to Complete Your Exam Questions - Plan a process to complete exams effectively and efficiently. |
| Study for Problem-Based Exams with Interleaving - Organize problem-solving study for better results | Prepare for Open Book Exams - Know what to expect and how to prepare for open book tests |
| Use Error Logs to Improve Learning - Tracking your common mistakes will help you to eliminate these errors. |
Contact a Learning Strategist in any of the KPU Learning Centres for personal support and more ways to promote your academic success.
Learning Aids by https://kpu.ca/learningcentres is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.