Education and Leadership › Women’s Academy › School to University Pathway › Study & Learning Skills › Course Materials
The first course of the “School to University” programme and our recommended starting point. This course teaches learning methods that scientific research has shown to be effective (such as retrieval practice and spaced repetition), so that independent study at home becomes organised and productive.
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Course details
| Level | Foundation course for all levels |
| Estimated duration | About 10 hours (16 lessons, 6 tests and a final project) |
| Prerequisite | None |
| Language of instruction | Farsi-e-Dari (with key terms in English) |
| Cost | Free |
| Assessment | A test after each section and a final exam; pass mark 70%; certificate after approval by the Academy |
After this course you will be able to
- Create a realistic weekly study plan
- Learn material so it lasts, using retrieval practice and spaced repetition
- Take organised notes from texts and videos
- Prepare for exams in a focused way and manage exam stress
- Measure your progress and improve your methods
Course outline
Section 1: How learning works
- Lesson 1.1: How does memory work?
- Lesson 1.2: Mistaken beliefs about studying
- Lesson 1.3: Growth mindset, self-belief and goals
- Section 1 test: How learning works
Section 2: Effective study methods
- Lesson 2.1: Retrieval practice: test yourself
- Lesson 2.2: Spaced repetition: less, but at the right time
- Lesson 2.3: Interleaving, explaining and worked examples
- Section 2 test: Effective methods
Section 3: Notes, summaries and reading textbooks
- Lesson 3.1: Note-taking with the Cornell method
- Lesson 3.2: Mind maps and concept maps
- Lesson 3.3: Active textbook reading and summary writing
- Section 3 test: Notes and summaries
Section 4: Planning, focus and study environment
- Lesson 4.1: Weekly planning and time management
- Lesson 4.2: Focus: the Pomodoro technique and managing your phone
- Lesson 4.3: Study environment at home, sleep and study groups
- Section 4 test: Planning and focus
Section 5: Exam preparation
- Lesson 5.1: Focused preparation: from exam outline to practice test
- Lesson 5.2: Strategies in the exam room
- Lesson 5.3: Managing exam stress
- Section 5 test: Exam preparation
Section 6: Final exam and certificate
- Final exam: Study & Learning Skills
- End of course: my learning system, certificate and next step
Week-by-week learning path
With about 30 to 45 minutes of study and practice a day, you will complete this course in 6 weeks:
| Week | Topic | Weekly outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | How learning works | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 2 | Effective methods | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 3 | Notes and summaries | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 4 | Planning and focus | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 5 | Exams | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 6 | Final project and final exam | Completed project and a score of 70% or higher |
Final project
“Four-week personal learning plan”: a weekly schedule, review cards for one subject, two self-made practice tests with results, and a reflection on which methods worked best.
Project assessment criteria:
- A realistic plan
- Correct use of methods
- Recording of results
- Reflection and improvement
Key course terms
Retrieval practice
Spaced repetition
Growth mindset
Mind map
Cornell notes
Focus
Practice test
Self-assessment
Assessment and certificate
- After each section: a short quiz (70% recommended before moving on)
- Practical exercises in each lesson are for learning; send your questions via the Questions .
- End of course: final exam (pass mark 70%) and submission of the final project
- Digital certificate after review and approval by the Academy: Request a certificate
Teaching method
Each lesson includes learning objectives, explanations with real examples and images, key terms in Dari and English, common mistakes, practical exercises, a self-test and a summary. In every lesson you can ask the teacher questions using the Questions button. Courses are impartial, free and open to all young people.
Get ready now
- For one week, write down when and how you study
- Set aside a notebook for your study plan
- Also take a look at the “Time Management” course
Free and reliable resources
These resources were selected by the Academy team. Most are in English; Chrome’s Translate feature can help if needed. Large files (books, exercise files, videos) will be placed in the Academy’s official Google Drive folder when the course opens and linked from this page.
- Khan Academy, free lessons in mathematics, science and economics
- OpenLearn – The Open University, hundreds of free short courses with a certificate of participation
- Darakht-e Danesh Library, free educational resources in Dari, Pashto and English
Help and questions
Questions about this course: [email protected] · All courses: Online Learning Centre · Active course: Computer and Internet Basics
Women’s Academy, Afghanistan Youth Parliament · Free and open to all young people