Starting your journey into further education might seem daunting, and the course that you choose will warrant certain requirements from you in order to succeed. Having the right habits set in place early in a new term can prove invaluable as you progress through your qualification. To help you get started on your FE journey, our Enrol experts have compiled some top tips on and habits to build to help you navigate the Autumn term.
Have a diary/planner at the ready
With schedules likely to look slightly different this year, organisation will be key. Whether you’ll be attending college, starting an apprenticeship, or taking on a placement, keeping a track of your study hours and deadlines/assessments is essential. Whether you prefer a physical diary, or an electronic alternative, ensuring that you’ve got one early in the term is a great way to develop your self-management abilities. This can also be a great place for you to keep any shorthand notes that you can revisit afterwards, and you can keep a record of essential information.
Build a rapport with your tutor early on
As colleges, apprenticeship providers, and course leaders adapt to reduced face-to-face contact time with students, it might seem harder to build a rapport with tutors. However, education providers will have likely prepared approaches to tackle this, meaning students can still access support from a member of staff as studies resume. Settling into your FE course and understanding what is required of you from the offset is key, so course leaders will encourage consistent communication in person where possible, and digitally. Taking the opportunity to see your tutor is a great way to keep track of your own progress, and getting into the habit of this will be beneficial in the long term.
Plan your time and be realistic
Some courses have core hours such as a FE college course or an apprenticeship, but they will likely still require further work outside of these hours at home. With a professional qualification, students are often already in employment, and studies have to take place during evenings. This means that your study time should be delegated appropriately, and while this seems like an overwhelming task, it will help to give you a structure to your own learning. Getting into a healthy routine when it comes to planning your time is also a skill best mastered at the start of your course, meaning you’ll be in good stead for your assessments later in the year. This is also helpful for those who are studying alongside being in part time employment.
Committing to these habits will both enhance your success and widen your skill set, showing your ability to apply organisational skills, communicate consistently, and manage your own time independently. By implementing the routine outlined above early on in your studies, you will be prepared for your course when it comes to assessments and grading.