Private: Learning Essentials – Learning to Learn

Lesson 1 – How to improve your reading skills
12 Topics
Introduction and overview
What is “reading”?
Types of reading – part 1
Types of reading – part 2
Speed reading – part 1
Speed reading – part 2
Managing your environment
SQ3R
Reading electronic materials
Summary
End of lesson activities
End of lesson assessment
Lesson 2 – How to Improve your Memory and Mental Agility
11 Topics | 1 Quiz
Introduction and overview
The Relevance of Memory to Learning and Work
Memory in a Nutshell
Knowing Your Mind
“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”
Recitation
Mind maps and Mnemonics
Practical Tips for Improvement
Forgetting
Summary
End of lesson activities
End of lesson assessment
Lesson 3 – How to improve your study skills
12 Topics
Introduction and overview
Preparation
Learning styles
Principles of planning for study
A study plan
A model for study
Resources and information sources
Concentrating on your study
Motivation
Summary
End of lesson activities
End of lesson assessment
Lesson 4 – How to Improve Your Time Management for Learning Skills
12 Topics
Introduction and overview
Learner Competencies
Planning Part 1 – Principles
Planning Part 2 – Scheduling
Goal setting for learning
Action Planning and To Do Lists
Prioritisation
Obstacles to achievement
PDPs and CPD
Summary
End of lesson activities
End of lesson assessment
Lesson 5 – How to Improve Your Exam Skills
12 Topics
Introduction and Overview
Knowing About The Exam
Exam Preparation – The Practicalities
Revision – A Timetable
Revision Techniques
Exam Papers
Before The Exam Dealing With Nerves
Problems With Exams and Some Solutions
Maximising Exam Performance
Summary
End of Lesson Activities
End of Lesson Assessment
Previous Topic
Next Topic

Action Planning and To Do Lists

Action plans

There are many advantages to effective time management when learning, a few are:

  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Increased motivation and vision
  • Reduction in poor learning techniques like cramming
  • Allowing time off without guilt 
  • Increased use of constructive learning techniques like reviewing, action planning and to do lists

It is the last of these items that we are going to explore.

This is a simple means of implementing a plan for learning, which lists everything you need to do to achieve your overall objective.

It is different from a schedule which is essentially a developed diary system, and also different from a “to do” list because it focuses on the achievement of a particular goal.

A basic action plan created in a Word document might look like this:

No.ItemDescriptionWho?Due?

You can adapt this approach to suit, as you wish.

Creating an action plan enables you to focus on a task, to break it down into chunks and to build in deadlines or review dates. It encourages you to set out clearly what you need to do and gives you a means of monitoring your progress.

As with a schedule or a to do list, an action plan for study should be regularly reviewed and updated. As you complete items you can either shade them out or delete them.

“To do” lists

“To do” lists are simply lists of all items that you need to get done. They do not focus on a particular goal, a timescale, or a priority but instead, are a running total of all tasks to be completed.

Ordinarily, they do not include “standing items” like regular attendance of a meeting or a tutorial perhaps and record items in addition to “normal” or run of the mill items. 

Neither do they typically include personal items as we tend to have a separate to do list for family and home life.

An example of a “to-do” list for work might be:

  • Complete quote for Client A
  • Contact legal department to discuss dispute on Client X
  • Write report for MD on sales conversion rates 
  • Revise call-out list
  • Research the FCA website and write compliance update memo

Similarly, a to-do list for learning might be:

  • Read study text on financial crime
  • Attend local institute lunchtime seminar 
  • Complete assignment
  • Update CPD log

“To-do” lists tend to be updated on an ongoing basis with items being scored out or added to the bottom. Whilst they are certainly useful for keeping tabs on what has to be done, they do not incorporate any action planning or prioritisation, so would most usefully form the basis of these more developed techniques for time management.