Essay and report writing skills
  
Writing reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. This unit is designed to help you develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes. You will learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report.
Living with the internet: learning online
  
Learning online is one of the great advantages of information technology. This unit will help you establish a safe and comfortable working environment to ensure that your study time at the computer screen does not impact on your health. It also looks at the basic skills for online study, such as file management and installing software.
Learning, thinking and doing
  
How do we learn? Understanding ‘how’ is the key to learning more effectively. This unit looks at the three main categories of theories: the acquisitive, constructivist and experiential models of learning. There is no right way to learn but developing an active approach will ensure that you are open to new ideas.
Key skill assessment: improving your own learning and performance
  
Learning new skills is what makes us human – but can we improve how we go about learning new things in new situations? Learning how to learn can help you to understand what works for you – and what doesn't – when you set out to learn new skills at work, in education or training and in everyday life. In developing and assessing the key skill of improving your own learning and performance, you will learn to recognise, use and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks.
Key skill assessment unit: information literacy
  
As the volume of information grows in databases, libraries and on the internet, information literacy skills are key to being able to find and manage information effectively in a complex society. Information literacy is about recognising when information is needed, and locating, critically evaluating, using and presenting the information to suit a specific purpose. These skills are increasingly in demand by individuals and employers alike. In developing and assessing your information literacy skills, you will learn to use and adapt your skill confidently and effectively in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks.
Key skill assessment: communication
  
Communication is part of everyone's life. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively – orally, visually and in writing – underpins nearly everything we do. Developing your communication skills will help you recognise your strengths as well as areas where you could improve. In developing and assessing your communication skills, you will learn to recognise, adapt and use your skills confidently and effectively in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks.
Key skill assessment unit: working with others
  
Working effectively with other people in a group or a team is a skill valued highly by community and educational organisations, as well as employers. Working in a group is about communicating effectively, contributing ideas, listening and receiving feedback, and leading or following as appropriate. Developing your skills means thinking about and planning the tasks the group needs to do, negotiating with others to develop shared goals and purpose, collaborating to achieve agreed results and then reviewing the approach. In developing and assessing the key skill of working with others you will learn to use and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks.