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Independent learning skills

What are these?

University is unique in terms of education. It is based on the principle that students' learning is guided by staff, but the responsibility for learning lies with you, the student, as an independent learner who:

• achieves a balance between learning, employment and other responsibilities
• organises your learning through management of time and material
• works on your own initiative to prioritise tasks and structure your own learning by undertaking wider research and reading appropriately to support your understanding and hence your progression and attainment
• reflects constructively on your learning and engagement with the teaching you experience by matching the content of your course - lectures, practicals, tutorials and VLE discussion - to the learning objectives/outcomes of your module and so deepening your understanding of the construction of the course and the knowledge base on which it is framed.
• asks pertinent questions of yourself and of your lecturers, tutors and demonstrators
• asks for help where you need it sooner rather than later.

How we can help

The Academic Achievement Teaching Unit tutors can help you with some aspects of the development of independent learning skills by meeting with you to discuss how you can tackle your studies in ways that will help you to meet the expectations that University staff will have of you but please note our expectations.

If you would like to receive some help with regard to developing these skills, then please contact: aatu@dundee.ac.uk who will organise an appointment for you.

Information for staff

If you would like to discuss ways in which you can encourage students to accept more responsibility for their learning, then please contact the Academic Achievement Teaching Unit at aatu@dundee.ac.uk.