Skills Development Assignment: Academic & Employability Skills For Higher Education
Question
Task:
Prepare a well-researched and detailed skills development assignment illustrating the academic and employability skills that students need.
Answer
Introduction
The main concern of this skills development assignment is student learning at the university that needs to undertake various kinds of research for facilitating effectiveness in their studies. Student needs to develop research strategies and software skills such that they can undertake future studies aiming at extension of their Higher Education skills. The current scope of the report discusses the various academic along with employability skills that students need to engage in such that they can complete their higher education by developing of higher skills needed.
Word-Processing & Presentation Software Skills identification
Computer skills have emerged as one of the most crucial skills needed in higher education which is further extended to employment skills. A few of the basic skills in a computer includes word-processing and presentation software skills. Word processing skills that students in their higher education is expected to know includes creating, naming and saving a document, basic formatting of the words through the toolbar to be able to undertake the correct style of formatting for their assignments, research reports and in the future for their workplace documents (Maund, Schriek, and Tinkler, 2017). Creating lists by bullet numbering, giving appropriate line spacing, creating columns, inserting an image, inserting bookmarks, hyperlinking, find and replace tool, grammar and spell check, inserting a page break, using word count, inserting tables, insertion of rows/ columns, shading of cells, changing column/ row width, text alignment in tables, changing of text direction, merging cells, inserting header, footer, footnotes, page numbers, inserting date, printing, page orientation and custom margin settings are all various word processing skills that a student needs to know. Moreover, students need to able to attach their word documents in emails, upload assignments in blackboard or send and share word documents through various communication platforms. Once these skills are learnt students need to self-evaluate the learnt levels of such skills such that they are in a position to directly apply such skills in higher education. While learning such skills might appear easy it might be all the more difficult to apply them in real practice, it might take a long period to convert such skills into practice. Further, these skills are enhanced during higher education such that they can easily be transferred into working skills when being employed (The Balance Careers, 2021). This will increase chances of employability as well as digital skills are one of the basic skills currently.
Students are expected to present their knowledge through presentation software in their higher education. Students are often given complex topics on which they are required to prepare a presentation, hence they need to be well-equipped with all the skills connected with software presentation such that they can present in a motivating and comprehensive manner for students to demonstrate their learning. The software mainly used for delivery of presentation can be MS PowerPoint, Prezi or any other software suggested by the University or Institution of higher learning. Students are expected to apply a range of technical skills as well as explain the concept to the audience using text, pictures, graphs, diagrams, sound and video encapsulated into slides. Students can also enhance the quality of their presentation by including animations and transitions which can add interests to the final show. With presentation, students can extend a visual aid to their topic or speech (OpenLearn, 2016). While presenting at the onset might appear a very attractive tool but it might include a host of technicalities to prepare them. Students will need to learn to insert text into a placeholder, format text, style, font, size and colour, select a suitable slide layout, apply attractive design, undertake customisation of colour scheme, customisation the colour scheme, application of background to a slide, inserting and formatting WordArt, inserting and formatting of clip art, drawing and formatting pictures, shapes, playing slideshow, applying a transition, applying simple animations, also printing slideshow as a handout, creating speaker notes. These are some of the basic skills that students are expected to learn and know, once they possess knowledge of basic skills, they can aim at adopting advanced presenting skills. Through self-evaluation, once a student develops capability basic presentation skills in higher education they can expand their presentation skills such that they can transfer their skills to employability.
Aspects For Organising Study
One of the greatest challenges faced by students in their higher education is the ability to organise their study. There is a huge gap in the study along with their patterns when higher education is compared against school level education. In higher education, students often end up performing poorly as they are unable to organise their study. In higher education, students are given voluminous materials to read and then comprehend them to prepare reports, essays, dissertations, and assignments also prepare presentations on them. One of the most crucial challenges faced by students in higher education is to grasp multiple concepts at the same time and within a limited period (In.indeed.com, 2021). Students often face difficulty in completing their learning materials, projects ad assignments within specified deadlines. Time management is one crucial aspect of organizing study that students need to master. For effective time management, students can make use of a wall planner or a reliable electronic tool such that they are continuous reminded of work they need to do and when it needs to be completed. Time management skills are an effective method of planning as well as balancing between different activities such that a given task can be completed within schedule and a specific deadline. Strong time management skills enable building a solid reputation and also move ahead in the workplace. Through time management, students can make effective use of time to arrive at desirable results by allocating time properly and accomplishing tasks efficiently. Time management skills encompass organising the space and resources of the study. This entails organising all the learning materials associated with a unit/ module together by gathering all lecture notes, video recordings, discussions and so on (Morgan, 2016). This will assist in preparing for a particular unit/ module effectively while preparing for an examination or an assessment. Students can also include prioritisation, by scheduling which assessment they need to prepare first and which report they need to focus on later. This will help them in completing specific works at a specific time frame also completing tasks assigned in their higher education within deadlines. Goal settings have been seen to be effective when undertaking time management. By way of goal settings, students can easily prioritise which module or learning material to take up first and which ones later. They can ascertain goals such as finish assignments 10 days before the deadline, or start preparing for examinations 20 days before, or collect notes and keep them in separate folders at the starting of a course and so on. In short, students need to plan and then delegate such planning in practice such that they can manage their time effectively. Planning alone cannot do the wonders neither can delegation alone do. Another crucial aspect that student’s faces in their higher education are stress, through time management students can easily deal with their stress also. Stress management can enable students to handle stress and keeping motivated and completing tasks within scheduled time against all adversities. While taking any course, students should undertake yoga, exercise or have snacks during breaks for reducing stress. Stress management can enable effective dealing of activities and is regarded as a self-care ritual that needs to be scheduled into a daily routine that can positively impact productivity or work tasks throughout the whole day. Despite all the efforts to manage time and organising space and resources, one needs to keep in mind that flexibility is also important within the schedule. It is to be expected that work-schedule can sometimes overshoot and plans not to be met. During such time one needs to be flexible and adjust to prioritise tasks that were not expected.
Time management skills are an important part of life not only of higher education as it allows managing work more efficiently. Time management skills allow students to become systematic and accomplish tasks by deadlines. Not only time management will help during higher education but will also enable extending of employability skills by adopting the practice. Thus, students can be expected to excel in their professional lives as well by adopting time management skills and organising skills.
Aspects For The Gathering Of Relevant Information
While preparing reports, assignments, dissertations and presentation students need to gather a plethora of information before they start. Gathering relevant information at the onset might seem easy but is extremely difficult in practice. Students need to develop appropriate skills such that they can gather relevant information and use them as a piece of information in their work. Often it is seen that someone can learn from a piece of information for which they expect the least to learn. Researching includes thinking about new experiences. Gathering relevant information regarding a topic requires asking relevant questions about the topic, exploring varied different sources for arriving at the answer, most importantly taking note that can be used later to find answers (Wilson, 2013). Asking questions regarding the topic enables the student to focus on the research. It allows identification of what is already known regarding the subject and then arriving at what is not known. While gathering information every question regarding the topic has to be searched to gather more information that is relevant. Sources of information that can be opted by the student to search and gather relevant information are the library and the internet. After preparing the list of resources that the student wants to use for research, the student needs to search through such sources to ascertain the information. Only after finding appropriate information regarding the topic that can suitably answer all the research questions, the student can start preparing the research report. Gathering relevant information can be an exhaustive process, especially for students, who are new in higher education as they might have to search through a sea of information. The process of gathering information can be very exhaustive and tiring as well in case students are unable to find the appropriate kind of information they are looking for. In several cases, students might have to transit from one source to another source to search for relevant information. However, post collection and gathering of relevant information, it is more critical to assimilating them to arrive at a report of their findings.
Factors For Analysis Of Literature While Researching And Thereafter Presenting Its Findings
An essential part of any research report is analysing relevant literature by researching and gathering information to present findings. While gathering information related to a particular topic can appear challenging in nature, analysing literature and then researching can appear more challenging to present findings. Before such analysis, students need to ascertain the methods and tools that are being used for the research. Before starting to analyse information and literature, it is necessary to establish the trustworthiness of the information. To analyse literature descriptive analysis of qualitative information has to be undertaken and their close link has to be established with the topic being researched. This method of analysing the literature includes providing some description and purpose of the study and then focussing on the information that is gathered (Archive.unu.edu, 2021). The literature information available need to be reviewed to identify links, patterns and common themes by arranging the facts in order, without adding any comments on their significance. Literature material that needs to be searched has to be recent also include relevant topics that are connected to the main topic such that the findings can be presented accordingly. While analysing literature, it is necessary to cite the names of the author who had contributed to such research and provided information regarding the same. Analysis of literature can be done on a descriptive basis only using qualitative methods. This entails the inclusion of relevant points that are important for the current research topic only and not including the entire material. Often contribution of literature to research can be a finding or all the findings that the study has got. This allows transferring of learning from this literature into the practicality of the research topic itself. This allows arriving at the findings of a research.
The order of findings may be presented in chronological order in which they were obtained are related to their relative importance to the heart of the investigation. The reporting and presenting of findings are undertaken depending on the readership (Williams, 2014). As in this case, students are in higher education and students submit their assessments or reports to their professor, a completed list of all requirements that the professor had asked to perform and submit needs to be presented accordingly (Cottrell, 2011). Findings will include short summaries of all the findings that have been generated from the analysis of relevant literature. Presentation of findings is arrived at towards the end of the investigation and analysis process. It is best to present the findings in terms of short reports or summaries under different headings such that the reader can gauge the content separately. Also, the entire findings should reveal the connection to the result or connection to the topic of the report. Findings within a report can be presented in form of charts, written records or fieldnotes. Generally, it is often a mixture of the chart and written report organised systematically for presenting to the end view of the report. Further, these findings need to be divided to include positive as well as negative findings or points in favour and against the topic. Presentation of these findings can be undertaken in form of a report or can be in form of PowerPoint presentations. In the report, all the points need to be highlighted by making separate bullets and then short paragraphs explaining them. While in PowerPoint presentation only bullet points need to be presented while the speaker will explain the details of the findings through their speech.
In short, analysis of relevant literature and presentation of findings can be an exhaustive process. It can take up to days not only to gather information but to analyse what is said in particular literature then summarising the findings from them. For instance,
Factors For Communicating & Presenting Information
Students in their higher education need expertise in communication and presenting information. This is especially necessary when undertaking the presentation of their reports and assignments. It is often required in higher education that students present their learning’s from reports and assignments to their entire class. This requires extensive skills in communicating as well as the capability to present information appropriately. Firstly communication is an integral part of any presentation, hence student needs to enhance their skills to ensure that they can present their information concisely across to their target audience profile such that it is perceived by them the way it is intended to (Love, and Love, 2021). While communicating in a presentation, student needs to make use of precise and short words, also keywords and jargons need to be avoided as much as possible. The tone of communication needs to be affirmative while complying with the visual aid as much as possible. Communication needs to be in simple and short sentences with proper guidance given to the audience as to what information is being presented. Students need to make extensive use of visual aid tools such that they can reach out to the audience (classroom participants). Also, an essential presentation technique is to keep the presentation as short as possible. A lengthy presentation even with valuable content might not attract the attention of the audience, while a short and crisp presentation might be easy to guide through and attractive with visual aids as well. One needs to make sure to abide by the points of the reports only and not go into details (Greetham, 2013). In case anyone in the audience is interested then they can easily refer to the handout given to them to go into the depth of the research. Using examples while presenting might attract the attention of the viewers and target audience. Engaging them in a conversation of some kind might be also a value addition and can be seen as a professional skill that can be used in the future. The presentation needs to be structured around the key points or messages that are the takeaways from them. Hence structuring the presentation around such points might be valuable and will allow the presentation to be short also effective while delivering the outcome.
Students before the presentation need to rehearse and remember the key points such that they can avoid as much fumbling they can and improve their performance. The presentation needs to be entirely be focused on the bullet points and the speaker notes or written paragraphs should not be put up on the screen of the presentation to make it all the more effective. Rehearsing will also allow knowing which content will come up after which one such that one can prepare their viewers for the upcoming slide (Presentationmagazine.com, 2021). Though these are some of the presentation techniques, some important styles to remember have to be incorporated while delivering a presentation. One important presentation style is to make the presentation as formal as possible also to present information in a precise manner. Most importantly, students need to rehearse the content and also look out for errors to ensure that the presentation is appropriate and suitable content is being sent out to the targeted audience.
Development Of Writing Style
One of the essential skills that students need to master in their higher education includes developing an appropriate style of writing. As easy it may seem, writing a report or assignment is not as easy as it includes a lengthy process of collecting valuable information then analysing relevant literature to arrive at findings associated with the report. Not only the content of the report is essential to be compiled by developing appropriate skills but it is necessary to adopt suitable styles of writing as well. In order to complete and write an appropriate report or assignment, prolonged planning and structuring are necessary. Reports and assignments need to be structured according to formats specified and given by the university or institution of higher education. Following such a structure is mandatory as it carries substantial weightage. Also, each type of report, essays or assignments has a different type of structure and student prior to writing down their ideas need to search through the relevant format and structure. While an essay might have a simple structure with fewer sub-headings, a report might include several sub-headings and sub-topics under which an entire content is presented. It is essential to read through the aim of the report or essay prior to searching for information regarding the same, as this will entail collecting information under specific heads (Mackevic, 2014). For reports content in accordance with the topic can be collected and then later organised to present information into useful headings. The structure carries considerable weightage and is directly linked to the presentation of fact-finding connected to the entire report or essay. Hence deciding on a suitable structure and browsing through different structures available on the internet might yield valuable information for the compilation of the final or end report or essay.
The most important aspect to present in such report and essays includes linking of ideas, using facts or opinions or arguments are necessary. While the information might be available on the internet and from relevant literature sources, it is the skill of the student to present such findings in a well-structured report by way of analytical findings. Chronological presentation of ideas with the coherence of thoughts must be presented with figures, charts or appropriate writing such that the reader is able to understand and be convinced by the idea. To communicate one idea through documented information or sharing of findings, a report might provide the best possible method. To include analytical skills, including links in the report, it is first important to determine the objective of the writing. Determining the objective will enable determining the structure, writing style also developing content to be included in the report. This is essential in including relevant content that will be included from different information sources. Before starting the report, once the structure has been formulated, it is essential to put together an outline that will be used for filling out the necessary content. Writing down an outline will provide the necessary headings under which relevant content can be filled and it can also help to remain focussed on the objective of the report by the inclusion of its main points. Then gathering research data and information that has been searched for the report is necessary. At this stage, all the topics and resources that have been searched for the research topic will be gathered and categorised under different outline heads. In case relevant information is not available within each heading of the outline then the student will need to go back and search information from the library or online sources. Finally with an appropriate plan and outline for the written report student need to start creating a draft of the plan. Once the first draft is ready then gradually other content can be included to link into the relevant framework also connect to the main topic provided. Lastly, there needs to be time set apart for editing and proofreading the content. This ensures that the entire written content is error-free and contains the valuable piece of information that the student aimed at initially to include. Lastly, an essential part of a written document is referencing. This prevents the scope of plagiarism also acknowledging relevant author's works.
Conclusion
In conclusion, students in their higher education need to develop various relevant skills such that not only they can complete their education but also inculcate them for future career prospects. Students need to develop a range of academic skills starting from word processing software also presentation software and skills to present their findings as well. Gaining insight into academic writing can be challenging at times, however, will gradually practice students can get greater development of competency with which they can write excellent and well-formulated reports. Such skills are required to excel in their professional lives as well. As in workplaces currently, it is a necessary skill to develop and write reports as well as compute presentations and then present them to relevant audience group. Students through their higher education have the opportunity to develop such skills and convert them into practice by way of writing reports, essays, assignments and developing presentations. Therefore, it is important that students develop relevant academic skills as has been discussed above.
References
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