Academic Language & Learning Skills
Are you ready to study at Balimo College?
Do you feel confident about your academic reading and writing skills?
Are you good at getting things done on time?
Click here and take this quick 12 question quiz to see if you’re ready for College and get tips to improve your study skills.
Developing your academic language and learning skills
To be successful at Balimo College there are a number of skills that are critical to develop. Here, we provide resources to help you develop a range of skills including reading, writing and study skills.
Start by clicking here to read the Academic Skills Pocketbook. This pocketbook provides a guide for study skills, academic writing, assignments and more.
Study Skills
For help relating to the below topics, please click here.
· Getting started with assignments
· Writing your assignment
· Finishing your assignment
· Group work
· Presentations
· Exam help
· Academic integrity and plagiarism
· Professional literacies
· Successful study skills
Academic Writing Skills
Access these 3-minute guides to help you with the following academic writing skills:
® Analysing the assignment question
Academic Reading Skills
Pre-reading and selective reading are important academic skills. Watch the videos below by clicking on the titles.
Pre-reading Techniques: Pre-reading helps you decide whether a text is relevant for your goals.
Selective Reading Techniques: Selective reading helps you read academic texts efficiently.
Evaluating Information
You want to make sure that the information you use in your college work is accurate, reliable and relevant for your assignments. To help you with this task, complete the module which explains how to evaluate information using the APPEAL criteria. Click here to enter the module.
Students of the digital age need to become digital information masters and know how to critically evaluate information presented in the media and on social media. Click here to find out more.
Understanding different types of assignment formats
At Balimo College you will be asked to complete a range of assignment types, all outlined in your unit Learning Guides. It is important to know what is expected of each assignment type. Here, guides are provided for a range of assignment types.
Essays: Learn how to write an essay. Click here for the step-by-step guide.
Reports: Learn how to write a report. Click here for the step-by-step guide.
Case studies: Learn how to write a case study. Click here for the step-by-step guide.
Reflective writing: Learn how to reflect on your experience and write reflectively. Click here to learn more.
Literature reviews: Learn how to research and write a literature review. Click here for the step-by-step guide.
Presentations and posters: Learn how to prepare a presentation or poster. Click here for the step-by-step guide.
Group work: Equip yourself with some helpful resources to make group work more productive and less challenging. Click here to learn more.
Exams: Learn how to prepare for exams. Click here to learn more.
English as a second language
If English is your second language, you might require extra help in developing your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English. Click here to access a number of helpful videos.
Digital literacy skills
As communication and information access are progressively shifting towards digital platforms such as the internet, social media, and mobile devices, it becomes crucial to understand and enhance digital literacy skills.
Find out what it means to be digitally literate and why it's important for you. Click here to find out more.
Information and communication technology (ICT) skills
Do you know how to make the most of your devices and apps for your learning? Word, Powerpoint, and Prezi are some of the most commonly used apps. Click on the titles below to view videos and instructions on how to use them.
® Presentation apps (Word, PowerPoint, Prezi)
For more tutorials on how to use these apps, click here to view tutorials.
It is necessary to consider how the documents and projects you create whilst at Balimo College will be accessible both in the present and future. Whenever possible, back up for files regularly, and have a file naming system so you know what’s what.
Academic Language and Learning Support
Balimo College is committed to ensuring equitable access to education and creating an inclusive learning environment. It is important that you are familiar with Balimo College’s Academic Language and Learning Support Policy.
Click here to review the policy.
The Policy outlines seven key practices that are available to students:
1. Lecturer/Student Consultation
2. Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS)
3. Academic Workshops
4. ‘Just in time’ supports
5. Academic Performance Monitoring
6. Academic Integration Plans
7. Placement Integration Plans