OpenAthens
An OpenAthens account gives all NHS staff and learners access to a wide range of online resources.
You are here: Topic Guides Study Skills
Undertaking further studies whilst working in healthcare is rewarding and worthwhile, but it can also be challenging. It may have been a long time since you last completed academic work, or you may not have studied at a higher level before. Support is available to help you refresh and develop your academic skills, whether you are currently studying or preparing for further studies.
Please note that many course providers will offer support with academic skills through their own library services, as well as the specialist support available from course tutors. We will refer staff to these support services where we feel they would be more appropriate routes, particularly for specific support with assignments.
Academic writing
Academic writing style is different to everyday written communication. It needs to have a formal tone, and present clear arguments in a logical way. It does not need to be overly complicated, but does need to be well planned, accurate, focussed and proofread.
These resources will help to guide you through the different aspects of academic writing.
University of Leeds Library Study Support, Academic Skills: Writing
Leeds Beckett University Library Guides, Skills for Learning: Essay Writing
Leeds Trinity University, Academic Skills
University of Huddesrfield Dissertation Survival Guide: Writing up
Need more tips on acamdemic writing? Check out our collection of academic writing skills books
Want to include reflective writing in your essays? Check out our collection of reflective writing books.
Want to sharpen your searching skills? Take a look at our searching skills books.
Need to tips on how to read a paper? Develop your knowledge with our collection
Finding information
Although our librarians cannot do searches for university students, we can help support you with using our resources.
Need more assistance on finding evidence to support your academic argument. Check out our Knowledge and Library Hub to track down the latest evidence.
Needs support with shaping your research/searching skills, look at our information skills guide to see what tutorials we offer.
Referencing
To make sure your referencing is appropriate for your assignment, check with your university to ensure it is their desired specific style of referencing. Please see the below links for your university guide:
Support for international staff
Study skills resources from the universities in Leeds
Each university has a host of resources to support those on courses. Primarily aimed at their own students, their resources are freely available online for anyone to read. These range from taking notes, preparing for presentations, and referencing.
Univeristy of Leeds
https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1401/academic-skills
Leeds Beckett University
https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/skills-for-learning/
Leeds Trinity University
https://library.leedstrinity.ac.uk/academic-skills
Open access academic resources
LearnHigher
LearnHigher is a network set up to share free high quality, peer-reviewed resources for learning development in the higher education sector (free sign up required)
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/learnhigher/
Free teaching and learning resources
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/product-category/learnhigher-resources/
- Academic writing
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/product-category/learnhigher-resources/academic-writing/ - Critical thinking and reflection
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/product-category/learnhigher-resources/critical-thinking-and-reflection/ - Note taking
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/product-category/learnhigher-resources/note-making/ - Time management
https://aldinhe.ac.uk/product-category/learnhigher-resources/time-management/
Open Learn
These are free courses provided by the OU and include:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
Produced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. Offering nearly 1000 free courses across 8 different subject areas courses are available to start right away.
Essay and report writing skills
- Understand what writing an assignment involves
- Identify strengths and weaknesses
- Understand the functions of essays and reports
- Demonstrate writing skills.
Developing good academic practices
- Demonstrate knowledge of good academic practice and how to build it into your studies
- Understand how to avoid inappropriate or bad academic practice
- Show knowledge of techniques on how to avoid plagiarism.
Extending and developing your thinking skills
- Feel more confident about studying
- Understand any grades received and how to improve them
- Overcome problems with reading and writing
- Make the most of the opportunities a higher education course provides for developing skills
Key skill assessment unit:
- Demonstrate a strategy for using skills in information literacy over an extended period of time
- Monitor progress and adapt the strategy as necessary, to achieve the quality of outcomes required
- Evaluate this overall strategy and present outcomes from your work, including citations and a bibliography.
Being a student (Multiple Recourses)
- Get acquainted with student life with our related articles, courses, insights into the student experience, help and advice, real student research, events information and community news.
- Understand how learning takes place every day
- Appreciate the qualities, skills and knowledge you have already
- Know better how to use computers for learning
- Understand how reflection and feedback can help you make the most of your learning
- Discuss some important theories about learning
- Develop a learning action plan to help you move forward.