Getting the Most Out of Studying

Is the glass half full or half empty? It really does not matter if
you get the most out of the liquid in the glass.

Getting the most out of your studies is really challenging because it
can be a bit scary to take a complex subject and get to the other
side.

It is interesting to note that at different NQF levels – you are
expected to learn different things. It means that if you are looking at
a NQF 5

It is also not only about getting through and passing a subject but
to achieve mastery. You may ask mastery of what?

When you are studying – you are working through a curriculum that is
aligned to the National Qualifications Framework. The National
Qualifications Framework outlines that you need to be demonstrate an
appropriate level of skills development in:

• Scope of knowledge

• Knowledge literacy

• Method and procedure

• Problem solving

• Ethics and professional practice

• Accessing, processing and managing information

• Producing and communicating of information

• Context and systems

• Management of learning

• Accountability

So as an example here are some breakdowns of what you learn at
different degree levels for scope of knowledge.

NQF	Qualification	Descriptor (Scope of Knowledge
4	Matric	Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge base of the most important areas of a discipline including key terms, rules, concepts, principles and theories.
5	HCBM	Informed understanding of the core areas, disciplines, practices and an informed understanding of key terms, concepts, facts, general principles, rules and theories of that field, discipline or practice.
6	BBA 2nd Year	Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the main areas of one or more fields, disciplines including an understanding of and the ability to apply key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of that field, discipline or practice to unfamiliar but relevant contexts, and knowledge of an area of specialisation of how that knowledge relates to other fields, disciplines or practices.
7	BBA	Scope of knowledge, in respect of which a learner is able to demonstrate integrated knowledge of the central areas of one or more fields, disciplines or practices, including an understanding of and the ability to apply and evaluate key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of that field, discipline or practice; and detailed knowledge of an area or areas of specialisation and how that knowledge relates to other fields, disciplines or practices.
8	PDM / P-PDM	Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in an area at the forefront of a field, discipline or practice; and understanding of the theories, research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to the field, discipline or practice; or an understanding of how to apply such knowledge in a particular context.
9	MBA / MAS	Demonstrate specialist knowledge to enable engagement with and critique of current research or practices, as well as advances scholarship or research in a particular field, discipline or practice.

This already should give you some idea of what you should be looking
for in your module.

If you are an MBA student you need to be looking at what the latest
authors are saying and reading about and around the subject.

For a PDM student – the challenge is harder – you must show that you
really know what is going on here and look at the specialist knowledge
of your area.

If you are a BBA student, you need to learn terminology and concepts.
You can research more but you really need to master the basics
firsts.

So many students want to know how to get the most of their
studies.

There are some very key things that have to happen:

Read

• Reading is a key aspect of any studies. You need to read the
  subject, get to grips with the concepts and study what different people
  are saying about the subject. Master the ideas in the text and seek to
  find more at every point. Ask yourself what you are not understanding
  and reflect on what you have learnt.

Form an opinion

• Once you have an opinion around a subject, you know that you have
  made good progress. Discuss it with others and look for gaps in your
  knowledge. Sharing questions on the forums is another key way to get
  another opinion.

Write

• Being able to express you idea is another half of the battle. Just
  understanding something is not enough. You need to be able to put it in
  words. In the time before universities people studied grammar, rhetoric
  and logic and this tradition was carried into universities. So you need
  to be able to express your idea in written format, talk about it and
  form logical arguments around it.

Pace yourself

• You cannot know everything at once. So create a study plan and look
  at the major areas you need to cover and the time you have to cover it
  in. Make sure that you make small strides every day. Studying ever day
  is also important. If you missed a day, get back to it as soon as
  possible – but don’t put off studying to the last minute.

Go deeper

• Going deeper into your studies is important. Get behind what is
  being said. Don’t ignore words you do not understand. Look them up and
  find out what they really mean. Challenge your tutor, other students and
  yourself and get more out of it. If you read about something, devise a
  method to do this yourself. If you see a calculation in a book, pick up
  a calculator and try it. Do it until you can say that you have mastered
  the material. Any studying is only as useful as a tool to open your mind
  to new possibilities. It does not happen if you choose only to skim over
  it.

Don’t forget the assignment and exams

• You may have so much fun studying that you forget that you need to
  create an output. Assignments and exams are there to keep you focused on
  output. Use the opportunity to really get to know your subject and
  prepare for the assignment and exams. Write a little bit on your
  assignment every day and soon you have produced a masterpiece. Never
  forget to reference your sources and remember that more sources is
  better.

Review your work

• Proof-reading, grammar checking and reading through your own
  assigments a couple of times makes a big difference. Also ask others to
  read and give you feedback if possible. Ask yourself if you presented
  you assignment to the CEO of a large corporation if they would give you
  a job.

Reflect

• Few things in the universe are as powerful as determined and focused
  effort. There are few things that build focus as effectively as
  reflecting. Find a place where you can work through your ideas and
  reflect. Make them part of your mind and carry them with you. There is
  wisdom in the saying that real knowledge can never be taken from
  you.

Conclusion

With studies, as with most things – you get out what you put in. When
studying though you often get out a bit more because learning opens
opportunities that you have not imagined yet.

Remember that time is precious and the absolute privilege of studying
is an opportunity that you only have once in a lifetime. It is not okay
to fail, and failure should not be an option. Studying is not there to
teach failure, it is there to teach success. To learn to succeed, it is
necessary to take on the challenge and chip away at it every day. Give
it your all and your perseverance will be rewarded.