In the second phase of the project, we developed pedagogical resources and support that incorporate the learning and insights gained in Phase 1.
A key aspect of this work involved working in partnership with three Imperial students (funded by StudentShapers) to co-create materials that empower students to make proactive, evidence-based decisions about how to approach their studies in effective ways that also support their wellbeing.
Our resource development and implementation centres on the following two key activities:
- Creating resources and materials that students (from any discipline and year group) can use to:
- Develop an informed understanding of the critical relationship between learning and wellbeing
- Stimulate their thinking about approaches to academic learning that enable them to maintain positive wellbeing
- Access evidence-based ideas for effective and efficient study strategies
- Designing a Learning Well Programme, which will offer a range of interactive sessions where students can learn about effective approaches to their studies that also support their wellbeing and have opportunities to try these out first-hand:
- The programme will be open to the entire student community at Imperial.
- This inaugural event will take place from Monday 10 to Friday 14 February 2025. We aim to run it annually.
Evidence-based resources and support for students’ use:
These resources have been developed based on key findings from our empirical data gathered through focus group discussions with Imperial students. The strategies and ideas shared in these materials are provided as suggestions for consideration and inspiration. They are not intended to imply that these are the ‘best’ or ‘only’ approaches students should use to help them ‘learn well’. Instead, please use these ideas to encourage students to reflect on their own study strategies and learning behaviours and as stimuli for practical steps they can take to craft their own path to learning well here at Imperial.
Understanding 'Learning Well' and strategies to achieve it
"What does learning mean to you?"
"It's not just what you learn the first time. It's how you learn from your mistakes." (Ben Sherman, Y2 Engineering)
Maintaining mental wellbeing is essential for effective learning
Being an effective university student
(tip: it’s not just about navigating the transition from school to university…)
How can digital notes support your learning?
Discover software that are popular among Imperial students - these are just a few suggestions and there are many more to explore.
For other resources and support for students, please refer students to Imperial’s Student Support Zone. This platform offers a range of services, including counselling, workshops, health centre sessions, and student health webinars. Staff can encourage students to explore these options to find sessions best suited to their individual needs, particularly during study and exam periods.
Please note:
Please note:
Students’ anonymity - Our research participants’ voices are represented by quotes from the focus group discussions. To preserve anonymity, real names have been replaced by pseudonyms that the participants either chose themselves or were selected by the research team on behalf of the students.
Accessibility - To ensure that all students can engage with these materials, alt-text has been provided for all relevant images in the materials and the text-enable function has also been activated [Shift+Ctrl+B].
Reference to specific apps and software - Some resources mention specific apps and software discussed by students in the focus group discussions. However, these are just examples of digital tools that students found helpful, and they have been included in case students would like to explore these for themselves (note: some have better data privacy policies than others). There are many other apps and software available, which students may prefer to use or may better suit their needs. As a starting point, please refer students to Imperial’s ICT pages, which offer many useful ideas and suggestions.