- Current section: Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Introduction to key skills
- 2 Taking charge: redefining learning
- 3 Improving own learning and performance
- 3.1 Introduction to improving own learning and performance
- 3.1a Working on the key skill of improving own learning and performance
- 3.2 Developing a strategy
- 3.2.1Review your current capabilities, including your preferred learning style
- 3.2.2 Identify what you hope to achieve and opportunities to work on this key skill
- 3.2.3 Identify and research relevant sources of information
- 3.2.4 Set realistic targets
- 3.2.5 Plan how these targets will be met
- 3.2.6 Achieving your goals
- 3.4 Monitoring progress
- 3.8 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 3.10 Drawing ideas together
- 4 Improving your skills in communication
- 4.1 Introduction to improving your skills in communication
- 4.1a Working on the key skill of communication
- 4.3 Monitoring progress
- 4.3.1 Judging the quality of information
- 4.3.2 Synthesise information
- 4.3.3 Communicate relevant information
- 4.3.4 Monitor and critically reflect on your use of communication skills
- 4.3.5 Adapt your strategy
- 4.4.1 Organise and clearly present relevant information
- 4.4.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 4.4.3 Identify ways of further developing your communication skills
- 4.5 Drawing ideas together
- 5 Improving your skills in information technology
- 6 Improving your skills in information literacy (IL)
- 7 Improving your skills in application of number
- 8 Improving your skills in problem solving
- 8.1 Introduction to improving your skills in problem solving
- 8.2 Working on improving your problem-solving skills
- 8.3 Developing a strategy
- 8.4 Developing a strategy
- 8.5 Monitoring progress
- 8.6 Monitoring progress
- 8.7 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 8.8 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 8.9 Drawing ideas together
- 9 Improving your skills in working with others
- Working on improving your skills in working with others
- 9.3 Developing a strategy
- 9.4 Activity: Developing your strategy for using skills in working with others
- 9.5 Monitoring progress
- 9.6 Monitoring progress
- 9.7 Evaluating strategy and presenting outcomes
- 9.7.1 Negotiate and develop effective ways of presenting the work
- 9.7.2 Assess the effectiveness of your strategy
- 9.7.3 Identify ways of further developing your skills in working with others
- 9.8 Drawing ideas together
- 10 Next steps
- Acknowledgements
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Key skills - making a difference
This unit focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary...
This unit focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning – it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development – other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wherever there is a continuation of learning. We hope that you will study this unit over a period of time in conjunction with a course or work situation. For example, you may complete 1 hour per week for selected skills over a 40-week period.
Having studied this unit you should be able to set skills targets and provide evidence that you have met these in the following areas:
- own learning and performance;
- communication;
- information technology;
- information literacy;
- application of number;
- problem solving;
- working with others.
- Duration: 40 hours
- Published on: Wednesday 11th January 2012
- Level: Intermediate
- Posted under: Education
Contents
Key skills - making a difference
Introduction

This unit focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning – it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development – other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wherever there is a continuation of learning. We hope that you will study this unit over a period of time in conjunction with a course or work situation. For example, you may complete 1 hour per week for selected skills over a 40-week period.
This unit is from our archive and it is an adapted extract from Key skills - making a difference (U529) which is no longer in presentation. If you wish to study formally at The Open University, you may wish to explore the courses we offer in this curriculum area [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .
Archive content
This is an extract from an Open University course which is no longer available to new students. If you found this interesting you could explore more free Education course units or view the range of currently available OU Education courses.
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