Academic Highlights Importance Of Study Skills In Lecture

A renowned author and academic gave a stellar presentation to more than 120 people.

Dr Stella Cottrell, author of the Study Skills Handbook (SSH) and Director for Lifelong Learning at the University of Leeds, headlined a free conference at Glyndwr University in Wrexham on Monday.

Dr Cottrell was keynote speaker at the event, entitled ‘Looking Forward: Academic Study Skills in the 21st Century’.

She spoke about changes in the way students approach revision and study tactics, as well as how personalisation and context are “key to effective study skills”.

“From that, you can gather that I don’t buy into a uniform approach,” added Dr Cottrell, who also held a signing session having authored a number of textbooks as part of the Palgrave Study Skills series.

“I believe the delivery of study skills is just part of a much bigger picture about learning development.

“Study skills practitioners are often relatively isolated in their institutions and it is evident that the conference at Glyndwr will be valued as a means of networking and gaining support and inspiration from others.”

The day began with an address by Pro Vice Chancellor for Operations, Professor Allan Howells, before Dr Cottrell’s address and presentations by study skills tutors Sheila Kerfoot, Trish Maybury, Dr Peter Gossman, Celia Butters, Alison Williams, Nick Taylor, Lynne Gornall, Julie Mayers and Andrew Edwards

Andrew, conference organiser and Academic Study Skills Tutor at Glyndwr University, said the event was a major success and looks forward to hosting another next year.

“It’s been a fantastic day,” he said.

“Over 120 delegates attended from all over the UK, and we even had a delegate from Moscow attend.

“Forty HE and FE institutions were represented and everyone I spoke to praised the day highly. The Academic Study Skills Team and I are very pleased and proud of the success of our first conference and we are looking forward to the next one in 2014.”