A note on this textbook
This textbook is written specifically for you, the students who may have not followed the traditional path to university. In Australia, there are programs designed to help students like you develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate a bachelor’s degree. These programs are known as “enabling” courses. They focus on essential skills such as writing, reading, research, mathematics, and study skills. This textbook focuses on the latter, addressing a current gap in resources by exploring the emotional aspects of re-learning and acknowledging that many of you may have had negative and often damaging past educational experiences.
The Art of Re-learning invites you to compassionately reflect on and reframe your experiences, empowering you to approach your higher education learning journey with confidence, self-awareness, and belief in your potential.
While this textbook is designed for Australian enabling students, much of what you will learn here is relevant to any first-year university or college student navigating the complexities of higher education. It offers practical strategies and insights into building a strong foundation for learning, growth, and development.
As you read this textbook, you will notice the inclusion of citations. Citations acknowledge the work of other researchers, and they are presented by including an author’s name and year of publication, for example, (Smith, 2020) would reference work published by Smith in 2020. If you are interested in an idea cited in this textbook, you can find the full reference list at the end of each chapter to explore further.
The author acknowledges that many of you may have faced “deficit discourses” in your educational journey. Deficit discourse refers to the way mainstream education often labels students from marginalised groups by focusing on perceived weaknesses and barriers rather than their strengths and unique experiences. Unfortunately, students enrolling in enabling courses often face additional challenges, such as belonging to a minority group, managing a disability, or being labelled as “at risk” of failing. These labels can make traditional learning environments difficult to navigate. While the author has made every effort to celebrate your strength and resilience in this textbook, deficit discourses still appear in certain educational research, political documents, and policy documents. If anything in this textbook triggers negative feelings about your situation, the author sincerely apologises, as this is not the intention. This textbook is intended to equip you with the tools to successfully navigate your first year of university study while promoting a positive, empowering, and compassionate view of your experiences. As you explore The Art of Re-Learning, you will discover that re-learning is not only about acquiring new knowledge, it is about letting go of assumptions and habits that no longer serve you, allowing you to reconnect with the person you were always meant to be.
Accessing Handouts
All handouts are linked to the title of the learning activity. Alternatively, all handouts can be downloaded in pdf format in the Appendices section of this textbook.
Providing Feedback
Each chapter has a link to provide anonymous feedback on the textbook. You can also contact the author directly via email: l.frost-camilleri@federation.edu.au.
