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Integrate academic skills into your teaching: 10 practical tips
We get it, sometimes it feels like there’s nowhere near enough time with your students, especially when you’re juggling supporting study skills alongside teaching another discipline. That's why we compiled some tangible, easily actionable advice and practical resources to help you boost your support right now, without adding much to your workload.
Why should you embed skills support into your teaching?
Bringing academic support into your teaching not only improves student satisfaction and retention, but it will also ease your workload long-term, by equipping students with the tools they need to succeed independently. Our resources are designed to make this integration seamless and efficient, supporting your students at no extra time to you.
1. Start (or finish) as you mean to go on:
Kick-off or wrap up your sessions with academic skills support: ask a thought-provoking question to boost critical thinking, share a study skills tip or take a few minutes to discuss specific topics like academic writing or presentation skills.
2. Add study skills resources to your essential reading list:
Free up time by promoting proactive skills development with our books, which address most student concerns throughout the year. You can also compile a list of study skills resources from our hub to enhance your virtual learning environment from day one.
3. Set pre-course reading:
Give your students a head start by sharing book recommendations and resources before the term begins. Information on university culture, budgeting, time management, and note-taking skills will ensure they hit the ground running.
4. Foster critical thinking:
Critical thinking helps with essay questions and boosts employability and confidence. Make sure you recommend a core textbook on critical thinking, spotlight critical analysis in the real world, show its benefits to life beyond university and encourage argumentation.
5. Leverage peer learning:
Group work might get some groans, but they can help even shyer students come out of their shells and build a sense of belonging. Whether through group projects or study groups, encourage collaborative learning and help your students succeed as a team.
6. Align assignments with study skills support:
When you assign tasks, signpost to useful resources on your reading list. This will remind students of the support available to them and encourage them to improve their skills on their own, whether they need help with planning essays or a referencing refresher.
7. Utilize videos for skill reinforcement:
Use short study skills videos in your lectures to help students refresh their academic skills, or point them to our study skills webinars with expert authors for a deep dive into specific areas.
8. Provide practical feedback:
Similar to tip #6, direct students to books, chapters and videos to help hone the skills they need to improve when providing constructive feedback. And if your students struggle with actioning feedback, this handy feedback log from The Academic Skills Handbook might help.
9. Offer office hours focused on study skills:
Set aside specific office hours to address academic skills and use our books and resources to provide personalized student support.
10. Share success stories:
Use case studies and student voices from our books to highlight how these skills apply in the real world and benefit students beyond university. This can really motivate students to use the resources available.
Provide instant support and step-by-step guidance when students need it most, building their skills and confidence from day one to graduation. We can help you with an action plan, tailored to your needs.