2.10 Summary

• This section has introduced the key skills approach to learning and emphasised the need for a flexible framework which supports you in thinking about how you are learning as well as what you are learning.

• A three-stage approach to key skills development underpins this course. The stages involve developing a strategy for improving your skills and learning, monitoring your progress as your skills develop, and evaluating the effectiveness of your strategy and presenting the outcomes of your work.

• The three-stage approach can be used across a course or a work-based project as you work through one or more of the key skills sections in this course. The approach can also be used to help you work through smaller courses of study or projects at work, perhaps preparing for an assignment or progress report.

• Setting up a Skills File can help you organise your learning and skills development as you go along. It provides a record that you can use to recognise and reflect on your progress and achievements.

• ‘Behind’ the three stages is the assumption that you want to improve. Consider carefully how you can use your own self-assessment and feedback from others to develop, make changes and learn from your experiences.