The 6S Study Skills
Certificated Coaching Course

FEEDBACK: Aimhigher Event Aylesbury 28 September 2009

Here is what Aimhigher delegates had to say about their 6S Study Skills Certificated Coaching Course held in Aylesbury on Monday 28 September.

“I have learnt more about sleep debt as I have been diagnosed as sleep deprived! So even though I only had 3 hours last night, I’m able to remember some new techniques to pass on to my mentees! Many thanks.”

“Techniques given were very useful, particularly the study tips and linking them to stories and images to remember. These can be very helpful and motivating for the students. From a teacher perspective, making learning fun and ‘positive’ is crucial. Your success stories with a child who was labelled ‘stupid’ was a good example of how to change the opinions of other staff who are unaware of how negative their words and actions can be. Thanks for an enjoyable day.”  Emel Thomas

“I liked your style and admired your level of energy given that you started so early! As a fully committed linear learner, I found it useful to review alternative styles and approaches and was particularly keen to learn about teaching tools to deliver content – always the hardest bit! Thank you.”

“Very interesting day which has given excellent ideas. I will try and apply this to specific subject areas that students struggle with. Reflective practice is very useful to current thinking around Personal Learning and Thinking Skills now integral to diplomas, etc.” Anne Gray

“I enjoyed the day. Lots to take on, but I intend to use my own son as the guinea pig first as a trial run. Very useful tips and tools that can be used to support students across all year groups.” Lorraine

“Very positive day. Learnt many new ways to deliver positive sessions. Personally, will get my daughter to look at new ways to revise as she will be taking her GCSE this next year. Many of the things I have seen will also help me with my own education as I go forward in doing my Masters this coming year. Many thanks.”

“Interesting and good ideas. There was a lot to take in in one day, but looking forward on reviewing it all with the pack and slides. Will definitely use the strategies and run the course with students. Good to be able to pass the ideas onto other teachers and mentors.” Janet Grose

“Very useful day. Have come across most of the techniques before but makes it much easier to understand when you sit down and do them. I think it would be more useful for classroom teachers to these kind of things in lesson plenaries so pupils learn as they go. Thank you.”

“I thought the day was very insightful. It opened your mind up to lots of different types of learning for all different types of learners. I would be interested to know how students could time manage this alongside all their other homework. Thank you for the enthusiasm!” Ali Chandler, Oxford Brookes University

“Enjoyed the day and can see how beneficial this course will be for our learners. The holistic approach to learning is really good and worth passing on. The humour is an essential ingredient and thanks for really making me laugh!”

“I found this course to be very fun and informative. I almost wish someone had taught me these skills when I was doing my exams! Looking at the course as a whole, I can definitely see how certain activities can be incorporated into existing projects and sessions. The interactive element of the course is its greatest asset as you are much more likely to engage with young people if what you are telling them is something fun and not a lecture. The activities are also not very restrictive and so can work for many different age groups – which is a definite plus! Thank you!”  Sneha Solanki, University of Oxford

“An exciting way of convincing students they can have a value and are able to learn and ‘do the best that is possible’ (our school motto). Looking forward to using the resources with some of my more challenging students.” Laura Cox, St Paul’s Catholic School, Milton Keynes

“Great day, well-run and nicely timed. Didn’t feel like it was rushed at all. I learnt a lot myself and really think I could take this to a school and actually make a difference.”

“Thank you Alan. A very enjoyable session. I am committed to reading up on all the information provided so I can begin to deliver 6S to learners in my school. It is good that we can personalise the information because we are all different.” Margaret

“Dear Alan. My worry was this morning that I would be clock watching the day away ... oh how wrong I was! It was a fantastic day full of information and techniques that I am now able to take back to my amazing year 11’s (all 28 of them) and encourage them to practise skills which will make them more successful learners in preparation for their Mock’s in December and their GCSEs next May (and the rest of their lives!!) Thank you.”

“Alan, this is the first time I have felt that educational-style training has given my life/career something – rather than make me depressed. I am looking forward to integrating some ideas into my teaching as well as delivering full workshop sessions. Thanks.”

FEEDBACK: AimHigher team enjoy Certificated Coaching Courses

A small team of  AimHigher trainers attended the Goal Mapping and 6S Study Skills coaching courses, which were held at the University Of East Anglia Sportspark, Norwich. We asked them to rate their sessions using a 5 star rating system - with 5 stars being 'excellent'. Here is their 4 and 5 star feedback:

6S Study Skills

***** 5 Stars

• Very good. A lot of information to take in, but done at a good pace. I am looking forward to using the resources.
• Lots of information to absorb in a short time but good support materials. Promise of continued support is valuable.
• Very easy to understand and I am looking forward to using the techniques with our students. Extremely useful seeing the system run in a school before having the training as everything was then easy to follow.

****4 Stars

• Lots of useful techniques that I am sure will help students get their head around Revision!

Many thanks for everyone’s comments. We look forward to hearing about your success as you apply these programmes in schools.

Various Testimonials

“Excellent course. I enjoyed it very much. Most useful comment was this is about brain and remember – not how to motivate disaffected kids (though this would come using these techniques. Thank you.” (Jo Lewis, LSA, Glan-Y-Mor)

“An inspirational well-planned course which presents lots of new ideas.” (Jackie Amey, ESOL Lecturer, Swansea College)

“A fantastic day, full of exciting workshops and great clips on the screen.” (Kathryn Evans, School Support Officer, Glan-Y-Mor)

“Excellent.” (Elin Davis, Glan-Y-Mor)

“A bubbly enthusiastic presentation with a good assortment of study strategies.” (Tracey Elsdin, Learning Coach, Morriston Comprehensive)

“A very energetic and confident deliverer. Some of the exercises were other ideas that have been around for a while – but differently delivered.” (Clive Williams, Programme Leader, Llanelli Rural Council Training)

“A very good idea for a course by a very enthusiastic presenter.” (Gemma Morgan, Assistant Head of Year 9, Cumraine Comprehensive)

“It was amazing. For years I have wanted this type of learning and I attended it today and it feels great.” (Sabina Islam, Learning Mentor, Bishop Gore)

“The course was very interesting and useful. It will be interesting to see how the children at my school work with some of the methods.”  (Cheryl Thomas, LSA, Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade)

“This course was really useful for teachers who like to do changes and want to get success.” (Shaily Jain, Teacher, Glan-Y-Mor School)

“This course was very interesting and I have learnt many tips about revision.” (Emma Latlam, LSA, Ysgol Y Strode)

“An excellent day. The information delivered was interesting and enthusiastically delivered.” (Christopher Wyn Davies, Head of Year 11, Ammon Valley School)

“I really enjoyed the course and will plan some activities for my learners using these techniques.” (Fiona Neill, Team Leader: ESOL, Swansea College)