An orientation: Library Service and Academic Learning Development: CMP, FAMM, Fashion, Film, Photography: Support

Access at least one of the following resources and assess how useful it is in helping you develop the areas of practice you feel you may need help with.

GENERAL STUDY SKILLS

• Study Skills Booklet | Hodder Education  (PDF).  This concise overview of study skills covers a lot of ground in less than 10,000 words.  Although aimed at 'A' Level students, the advice is relevant for any level of study.  Highly recommended.
   
• Study Skills for Art, Design, and Media *(book). A good overview of studying at university, including sections on practical assignments and essay writing. There are brief chapters specific to: Fashion design | Fine art | Graphic design and illustration | Contemporary applied arts | Media | Photography

Use Kortext to access (see Kortext guide for help accessing)
 

TIME MANAGEMENT

• Time management resources | Stella Cotterell.  Downloadable resources to accompany the best-selling Study Skills Handbook.
   
• Pomodoro Technique (video - 2 mins). It seems to work for some people based on how often this is cited. There is also some research that seems to support its claims of increased efficiency.

YOUR APPROACH TO LEARNING

• It has more impact on educational effectiveness to change learners than it does to change teachers | Graham Gibbs.   This is a valuable four-page summary of the four key things the most successful students do.  Highly recommended.
   
• What do lecturers value in their students (2-minute video).  This brief video is part of a course on preparing for university on the Future Learn platform and gives an insight into what lecturers value in their students. 

CRITICAL THINKING

• Model to generate critical thinking | Plymouth University (PDF).  A two-page model aimed at helping develop critical thinking needed for most essay writing assignments.
   

NOTETAKING

• The Cornell Note-Taking System.  All you need is the four-minute video below.
   

* See the E-resources tour for information about accessing paid-for e-resources.

Note

See the  Learning Development Advice and Support resource list for more suggestions.

Live Chat Service

Live Chat is available if you need help.  

Academic Learning Developers

Book an online appointment (30 mins) with a Learning Developer, to discuss any aspect of studying and assignment writing. The appointment takes place via Blackboard Collaborate. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• structuring and clarifying your written ideas and arguments
• delivering effective presentations
• undertaking literature reviews and dissertations
• time management and effective study techniques

You can send your coursework and get feedback on it at the appointment.

Academic Engagement Librarian

Book an appointment with James (Fashion Design, FAMM, CMP, Film, Photography, MRes Creative Practice) for help with research and making the most of the library.  Book appointments with other librarians (all other subjects).

Workshops

Book on workshops and courses with members of the AELD team (Academic Engagement and Learning Development)

Select Events and then 'ALL EVENTS' to see everything available.

Guides

Academic Skills Guides | University of Westminster

• Adobe and Microsoft-certified training - Take courses leading to Adobe and Microsoft qualifications free of charge at the university
   
• Westminster Employability Award
   
• Disability Learning Support
   
• Academic English Modules - These can be taken as a 20-credit option module or (if your course does not have option modules) as a non-credit-bearing additional module.
   
• Generative AI - guidance for students - Official advice from the university on the use of Generative AI, including advice about accessing online courses via Blackboard.
   
• Graduate Success events (Careers Service)

-  provides a very wide range of courses covering content relevant to courses at the university, including:

• Courses by Amy Wynn, painter and fine arts professor
• Photoshop and Illustrator for Fashion Design courses
• Building Generative AI Skills for Creative Professionals learning path (including DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Photoshop)
• Canva courses
• Video courses and Video Production courses
• Final Cut Pro courses
• Photography courses
• Photoshop courses
• Wellbeing courses
• Student Success courses
• Generative AI-related courses, including Generative AI Career Essentials by Microsoft and LinkedIn 
• Blinkist summaries of popular productivity books
• What is information literacy