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The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave Study Guides)
Stella Cottrell
ISBN: 978-1-403911-35-3 2003 304 pages Palgrave Macmillan
Marie Gasper
Academic Skills Adviser, Deakin University, Burwood VIC
The fact that the Study Skills Handbook is into its second edition is an indication of its usefulness to a range of university students. Nursing students will find many interesting ideas about learning as well as practical strategies for improving their academic performance in this handbook. However, the principles and practices apply across the board to any discipline. The author has had many years of experience and much interaction with adult learners and this is apparent in the format, tone and content of this book. The book's design enables it to be used by many different types of learners with various learning styles, as it is filled with illustrations, text boxes, graphics, symbols, mind maps and linear lists. Thus, the presentation of the book mirrors its philosophy that there are many ways to learn.
Stella Cottrell's book is based on her extensive knowledge of the academic challenges students face and it is imbued with her excitement and passion for learning. Each chapter begins with learning outcomes and ends with a short summary. Some of the topics dealt with are researching, writing, presenting reports and case studies, group work projects, and sitting for examinations. Readers are encouraged to take an interactive approach, mapping their skills, identifying weak points, setting priorities and drawing up action plans. There are self-evaluation questionnaires and suggestions for keeping a reflective journal. While she provides many useful quick tips and handy hints, Stella Cottrell does not gloss over the difficulties that students commonly experience. She anticipates and empathises with people's concerns, for example, in aptly worded sections such as 'Writing for the fearful' and 'Sharing work without cheating'. A very useful insight this book offers is its philosophy that study skills develop through studying. This view can help to counter the mistaken perception of some students that they are not 'intelligent' enough to succeed at university.
Like all study skills manuals, this book can be said to be 'preaching to the converted'. Those who are sufficiently attracted to pick it up in the first place perhaps already have the right attitude for success. However, high-achieving students can always improve their results and students who consider they are underperforming can also benefit from its insights.
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