Counselling and career development

Study skills

Study skills

Learn how to study more effectively with the following resources:

Resource Type Description
Time Management and Study Planner Document (PDF)

This guide is designed to assist you in assessing, planning, managing and maintaining your time and studies whilst registered at Unisa. While we know that everybody has unique circumstances, we hope this guide has something for everyone and will make your journey with Unisa a little bit easier.

ODeL and the power of online study groups Document (PDF) Being part of a study group can contribute to your learning. Learn more about the benefits of and how to start a study group.
Multiple intelligences Document (PDF) Learn more about multiple intelligences and how you can utilise this understanding to learn more effectively.
Procrastination Document (PDF)
Learn more about understanding procrastination, the common reasons for procrastination, and how to manage it.
Some tips to deal with procrastination Document (PDF) Learn more about procrastination and what you can do to manage this challenge.
Deep learning and motivation Document (PDF) Learn more about how to learn and how deep learning contributes to your study motivation.
Learning with educational apps Document (PDF) Learn more about using educational apps to enhance your learning.
Growth and fixed mindset Document (PDF) Learn more about how a growth mindset can help you manage your Unisa studies more effectively.
Negotiate support Audio (MP3) You will need to be able to effectively negotiate support from others inside and outside Unisa to help you through your study journey. This document will help you think about the support you need and how to go about negotiating such support.
Negotiating relationships and your studies at Unisa Document (PDF) This workshop presentation contains some aspects to consider when you are negotiating with others to support you in your study journey.
Notemaking Document (PDF) Notemaking is an important part of the study process in that it enables you to meaningfully engage with your learning and prepare effectively for assessments. This document contains information about some notemaking techniques you can try out to see what works for you.

Making notes (1)

Notemaking (2)

Notemaking (3)

Audio (MP3) Making effective notes is an important part of your learning. In these conversations, we talk about the benefits of making notes and also two methods that you could try out.

Study planning

Document (PDF) Learn how to plant your Unisa studies more effectively.
Time management and motivation Document (PDF) This workshop presentation contains tips about managing your study time effectively.

Time management Document (PDF) Time management and prioritising one's tasks are some of the most important skills as a Unisa student. This document will help you to understand the basic principles of time management.

How to manage your time

Planning your time

Time management

Audio (MP3)

Balancing your different life roles with your studies is challenging if you are not able to make effective use of the time you have available for your studies. Learn more about how you can manage your time effectively.

Study orientation

Resource

Type Description

Get started with your studies

Document (PDF) Learn more about getting started with your studies in order to have a successful study semester/ year.

Get started with your studies (1)

Getting started with your studies (2)

Getting started with your studies (3)

Audio (MP3) When you receive your first study package you might be feeling overwhelmed, excited, and anxious. In these conversations we talk about planning, connecting, and studying so that you can get settled in terms of your studies at Unisa.

Let's start

Audio (MP3) Are you struggling to get started with your studies? Listen to ideas for study motivation, as well as practical tips for planning and organising your studies, what to do when you feel stuck, and getting support.
Plan for a successful study year Audio (MP3) Your preparation for a successful study year involves mental and practical issues. We talk about what you can do to prepare yourself to be ready for your studies. This interview was originally recorded at GrootFM for the College of Economic and Management Sciences community radio programme.
Prepare for your semester Audio (MP3) There are several ways you could prepare for a successful study semester. In this interview, we chat about some of these effective strategies.

Study challenges

Resource Type Description
Goal Setting and Motivation Workshop
Part 2: Motivation
Document (PDF)
Learn more about why motivation is important in education, the types of motivation, and internal locus of control vs an external locus of control
Coping with your studies Audio (MP3) Your studies may be one of your many other responsibilities. Learn more about how you can cope with your studies.

Negotiating support

Effective ways of utilising support at Unisa

Getting support at Unisa

Audio (MP3) Learn more about how to negotiate support from others as you are studying through Unisa.

I don't have the energy to study - what now?

Document (PDF) Learn more about some strategies you can use to manage your study motivation.

I have no energy to study, what now? (1)

I have no energy to study, what now? (2)

I have no energy to study, what now? (3)

Audio (MP3) You may find that you lack the energy to study. In this podcast, we chat about the causes of lack of energy and things you could try to manage this. This interview was originally broadcast on Unisa Radio.

Study motivation (1)

Study motivation (2)

Study motivation and procrastination

Audio (MP3) Learning at a distance needs you to be motivated because as much as the journey is exciting and rewarding, it can also be fraught with difficulties and challenges. It is a journey in which you must find something to hold on to within and outside yourself, to see it through to the end. Your study motivation, that both pulls and pushes you along, is what you will hold onto. In these conversations, we talk about internal and external motivators as well as practical things you could do to increase your motivation.

Exams

Resource

Type Description

Managing Test & Examination Anxiety

Document (PDF)
Learn more about exam anxiety and its causes, symptoms of exam anxiety, and how to manage it more effectively

Preparing for online exams

Document (PDF) Learn more about preparing for the 2020 Semester 2 online examinations

Exam Tips

Document(PDF) Learn more about preparing for the 2020 Semester 1 online examinations

Exam preparation

Document(PDF)

This brochure contains information about identifying your motivators and demotivators, how to prepare for exams, and how to reflect on your exam performance.

Exam anxiety

Document(PDF)

Learn more about managing anxiety related to examinations.

Exam anxiety (1)

Exam anxiety (2)

Audio (MP3) Learn more about managing anxiety related to examinations.

Exam preparation

Document (PDF)

Learn more about effectively preparing for your examinations.

Exam preparation (1)

Exam preparation (2)

Exam revision

Audio (MP3) Although you have been preparing for your exams throughout the semester, there are some specific strategies you can use to prepare closer to the exams. Learn more about how you can prepare yourself to be ready for your exams.

Exams part I: Motivation

Audio (MP3) It is important to reflect on your motivation to study when approaching the exams. Listen to some questions or aspects you could reflect on.

Exams part II: What do you still need to pay attention to?

Audio (MP3) It is important to reflect on the things you still need to pay attention to prepare for the exams. Here are some aspects you might want to think about.

Exams part III: Demotivators

Audio (MP3)

You need to reflect on those aspects that are making it hard for you to concentrate on your studies - what is demotivating you and what can you do about that?

Exams part IV: Exam revision

Audio (MP3) What are the practical actions you have to take to revise for your exams? Listen to some aspects that may be important for you.

Exams part V: Exam questions

Audio (MP3) Different types of questions require some adaptations in terms of your preparation for the examinations. Listen to some differences between essay-type and multiple-choice examination questions and what you need to be aware of.

Exams part VI: Exam anxiety

Exam stress

Audio (MP3) Feeling anxious before or during an examination is normal. However, you need to be aware of the signs of anxiety and think about how you could deal with this anxiety positively.

Exams part VII: Before, during and after the exams

Before, during and after the exams (2)

Exams: reflect before the exams

Exam day

Audio (MP3) We share some tips on what to do before, during, and after your exams.

Exams part VIII: Exam self-reflection

Exam self-reflection (2)

Exam self-reflection (3)

Audio (MP3) After you have written the exam, you need to relax, but before you do so, spend some time to reflect on your experience of completing the exam, as well as what you could do differently in terms of your preparation for the next examination period.

Dealing with a traumatic experience before the exam

Dealing with a traumatic experience before the exam (2)

Audio (MP3)

Dealing with a traumatic experience before an exam can be overwhelming and disturbing. In this interview, we talk about how one could get support. This interview was originally broadcast on Unisa Radio.

I failed an exam - what now?

Document (PDF) This document contains questions to help you reflect on how you prepared for an examination, what happened during an examination, and how you can prepare more effectively for your next examination.

Further steps

Contact a counsellor to have further discussions about your learning skills.

Last modified: Mon Aug 07 11:35:47 SAST 2023