Skills@Essex - academic skills training for success
Jenna Hopkins and Dave Briggs are part of the team that created Skills@Essex, our latest university preparation course. Here they tell us more about the course – and how you can have your learning materials included.
What subject areas does Skills@Essex cover?
The first set of courses are targeted at undergraduates, but we will continue to expand on the course areas available, ensuring that useful content will be available for students at all stages of study.
The first courses available are:
- Digital Essex
- Independent Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Presentations
- Oracy skills
- Process writing
- Problem solving
- Academic argument
- Academic integrity
From an academic point of view, how will Skills@Essex help our current students?
The resource is designed to enhance academic and transferrable skills development, in order to enrich the taught experience. Initially resources will assist in developing critical skills and problem solving, which are essential at all levels of higher education. There are also resources designed to assist in the assessment process, such as Academic Integrity, Academic Writing and Effective Presentations. Skills@Essex can therefore provide assistance is all aspects of the academic teaching learning and assessment cycle.
What level of skills training is it? For example, could someone who wasn’t on a maths course complete the maths module?
All of the resources available on Skills@Essex are accessible for all undergraduate students, however some may also be of use for postgraduate students. The resources are designed to aid student development, which may be self-identified or directed from an academic of personal tutor, so it won’t be a case of passing or failing a module. Students can work through the topics as suits their own development needs. If they are still struggling at the end, they can contact skills@essex.ac.uk for further targeted support.
Why is skills training particularly important for our students following the pandemic?
Skills acquisition has always been a core aspect of higher education, however as we navigate the post-Coronavirus environment, the breadth of skills required is even greater. Online communication, assessment and awareness are now imperative as we move towards a larger online environment, at the University and beyond. Critical skills, including critical thinking and source evaluation are also key as we navigate a world in which we are constantly bombarded with conflicting information.
How should a student work this extra skills training into their timetable?
Each resource is entirely asynchronous, so students can work them into their own schedules. It is entirely possible to navigate a resource in a few hours, but this can also be dipped in and out of, as per individual needs. Where students are undertaking a resource to assist with an assessment, for example, Effective Presentations, it would be best to approach this within their own assessment preparation timeline.
How have you gathered the course content?
The areas of content that have been developed so far were identified through working with the Skills for Success team, Faculty leads and the Students’ Union. We continue to work with these groups, as it is essential that we take a student led approach, identifying areas that would be of most benefit. Some content is developed from new material, while others have taken existing Moodle resources and adapted them for inclusion in Skills@Essex.
Are you looking for any new content?
We are keen to work with academics who may already have Moodle content in place for their department which could benefit a wider audience. The aim is to open up access to some of the excellent courses already produced, as well as develop new material where there is an identified gap.
What can staff do to help promote Skills@Essex to our students?
The best thing staff can do is use the resource. Planning an assessed presentation – direct students to Skills@Essex, for guidance. Having trouble with essay marks, include Skills@Essex in feedback. If academics can identify areas where new content is required, that would also be fantastic.
How can people get in touch with you?
- Staff are encouraged to contact jenna.hopkins@essex.ac.uk
- Students can contact skills@essex.ac.uk
How do you access Skills@Essex?
Skills@Essex is accessed through Moodle. Students can sign in using their University login credentials and enrol themselves by searching for Skills@Essex within Moodle.