Getting The Most Out Of Your Learning Experience

Skills Development & Study Support

Supporting your growth through tailored skills development and practical study resources to help you succeed

Supporting Your Learning Journey

Get To Grips With Your Studies

Congratulations on embarking on a programme of study with Kingdom Academy! You now have an opportunity to develop yourself personally and professionally, to learn something new and to enhance your career prospects. You are probably studying alongside your job, and you may have many other commitments in your life. So, what can you do to help yourself meet this challenge? Here are some tips to get you off to a good start.

Establish A Study Routine

Most learners will have a lot of things going on their lives, so finding extra time for your studies can be a real challenge. It helps to draw up a plan and to try to get into some sort of routine. Make sure you schedule all your workshops and tutorials into your work and personal diaries from the outset. Try also to schedule some blocks of time for reading, note taking, written work, etc. As you plan your study time, think about what time of day you are most productive. For example, are you a morning person who could read for an hour before work, or do you find it easier to concentrate in the evenings? If you are someone who struggles with concentration, take regular breaks, and turn your phone off to help you focus.

Find The Best Study Environment

You will need somewhere quiet and comfortable where you can concentrate. Obviously, a desk at home is helpful, but for those with noisy households this can be difficult, and for those who work from home all week, sitting at the same desk to study can be an unappealing option. Perhaps you have a neighbour, friend, or family member with a spare bedroom where you could set up a desk? Some learners find that they can concentrate better in a local coffee shop, or a library, or that they can book out a meeting room at work outside of peak hours. Ideally you need somewhere where you will not be interrupted. After a while your brain starts to associate this place with the need to focus and concentrate, which boosts your productivity.

Time Management

Organise Your Time...

If you are busy at work, you have probably learnt the value of a ‘to do list’ to help you keep on track. This same simple time management technique can help you with your studies. The act of writing your study tasks down on a list helps you to take control of them, which in turn helps to alleviate feelings of stress. Check your list regularly and identify your top 3 priorities each time you study. If an assignment is approaching, draw up a timeline from the current moment to the submission deadline. To maximise your chances of good marks, include the time you will need for reading, drafting, writing and proofreading.

Helpful Resources

Helping You With Your Study Journey

Engage Fully In Your Learning

Learning is much more enjoyable and rewarding if you willingly engage in it.

By engaging you also give yourself the best chance of successfully completing your programme. So try to attend every workshop and tutorial, ask questions, join in the discussion (even if you at first feel shy) and make the most of the mentoring support offered. The tutors and mentors are there to help you succeed, so if you are struggling with something – say so. They will be patient and supportive. Use the feedback tutors give you on your assignments to develop your writing skills.

And finally – remember that, on top of your workshops, you need to be doing some of your own reading.

Support with Academic Writing

Overcoming Assignment Nerves: Tips for Academic Writing Success

Some learners feel nervous at the prospect of writing assignments. This may be because it is some time since you last wrote an essay, or because you struggled with writing at school or college. Here are some tips:

Remember that writing is like a muscle. The more you do it, the better you get. If you struggle with your first few assignments, ask your tutor for help and act on the advice given. Keep telling yourself that writing will get easier with more practice.
Read the assignment brief several times. Are you ready to start writing an answer or do you need to do some more reading first?
Plan your answer before you start writing. Go through each topic mentioned in the assignment brief and write notes. Plan how many words you can use for each section.
Keep careful track of your word count as you write. If you overshoot your limit you will waste time and effort having to delete sections to bring your count down.
If you are not sure whether certain sentences or passages make sense, say them out loud. Hearing them spoken aloud will help you to spot mistakes and re-word them more fluently.
Make sure you carefully proofread your work before you submit it. Before proofreading, your assignment should be viewed as a first draft only. As you read it carefully you will probably find multiple ways to improve, correct and enhance it – picking up marks you go.

Kingdom Academy offers a 3 part programme via Lunch and Learns to help support you with academic writing, please speak to your Apprenticeship Training Co-Ordinator or Tutor for information on how to join.

Get In Touch

Have a question or need more information? Our team is here to help! Whether you’re looking for guidance, have an enquiry, or simply want to learn more about our programmes, we’d love to hear from you.

You can reach us via email, phone, or by filling out a contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Let’s connect and explore how we can support your journey!