Students' introduction

Flying Start offers essential preparation for your education at a higher level. It will prepare you for a different working environment, and will help you to become a more skilful and effective learner.

Listen to this brief welcome message, and then read the rest of the introduction for further guidance.

 Welcome to Flying Start

Flying Start is based on the following principles:

1 Developing independent learning skills

The overall purpose of the programme is to help you to become a more organised and independent learner, better prepared for the challenges of advanced level study. You will be guided to work within a clear and realistic framework, while taking responsibility for your own time and for planning, carrying out and reviewing your work.

2 Developing individuals

Your continuing education may well be in a different environment. A heavier workload will demand new personal skills. To work at your best in this new environment, you will need to develop in many ways, not just academically.

Flying Start aims to develop your personal skills in line with these differences. It provides activities on assessing your strengths, assertiveness, better organisation, and setting and achieving targets.

3 Improving technological literacy

Developing personal skills, understanding the likely benefits of using technology, and being able to use it effectively in a wide range of situations are some of the most important things you can learn. The Internet and CD-ROMs are both vast sources of educational material that you will find useful in extended work, the workplace and beyond.

Technology is essential in today's world. Employers demand it. So it is important that, at this stage, you can gain experience of the effective use of ICT (information and communication technology). This will help to equip you with the skills, knowledge and understanding that you will need in further or higher education, in work and in everyday life.