Making the transition from secondary to higher education presents a major challenge for many students. The module aims to equip students with the key skills necessary to make the transition to third-level education and to develop students' academic literacies as a foundation for their studies in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The aims of this course are: To equip students with the practical skills necessary to succeed in third-level education; To enable students to become better critical thinkers and researchers; To equip students with the written and oral communication skills necessary to participate effectively in the academic community; To encourage students to become autonomous/independent learners; To enhance the learning experience of students.

Intended as a foundation course for students moving from second to third level models of learning, students will be introduced to the basic academic literacies necessary for AHSS disciplines. Incorporating a practice-based element, students will develop academic study skills to encourage autonomous learning (assessment of learning styles, planning and organising study, time management, note-taking, close reading, critical thinking, exam preparation techniques), information management (using the library, gathering information, evaluating resources and referencing), writing skills (structure of written work, clarity in style, paragraph planning, punctuation) and oral communication skills (public speaking, presentation skills) through a series of lectures and small-group workshops/labs.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Assess their own learning styles, reflect upon their strengths and weaknesses as a learner, identify different learning and study methods, and generate learning strategies that coincide with their learning preferences; Manage the learning process more independently and effectively, while demonstrating the ability to keep to deadlines; Demonstrate effective information management skills and the ability to identify, select, evaluate and analyse information from a number of sources, including the library and online resources; Develop effective reading, selecting and note-taking skills, and interpret and analyse texts through an established process of close reading; Develop an understanding of the qualities of academic writing, namely, style, structure, referencing and associated ethical issues; Present work in verbal, visual and written forms; Prepare effectively for examinations and advance their examination techniques.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Participate in the academic community; Resolve issues relating to the transition from second to third-level education; Demonstrate an appreciation of academic practice.

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Through a series of lectures and small-group workshops/labs, incorporating online activities, delivered by experts in each of the respective literacies, namely learning styles, academic study skills, information management, writing skills and oral communication skills, students will develop the core academic literacies necessary to succeed in third-level education. Equipped with such skills, the overall learning experience of students will be enhanced.

The need for the development of academic literacies was identified in a recent survey of staff and students at the University of Limerick, to which 99 members of staff and 601 students responded.