Click on a link in the list below to find out more or scroll below to read the information.

What is the purpose of this online handbook?
How does the handbook work?
How can schools use the handbook?
What are the features of the handbook?
What are the current topics covered by the handbook?
What are the subscription fees?
What age of student is the handbook aimed at?
Why can't individuals subscribe to the handbook?
Can the school subscribe just one year group to the handbook?
Can primary schools use the handbook?
Can we get information as to how much each student has completed or used the handbook?
We have used some of your other products/services will it still be useful for us?
What have people said about the handbook?
What is the process to subscribe?
How do I get a password to view the 'on approval' version of the handbook?
Who can I talk to about the handbook?
Why should we subscribe to the handbook?

What is the purpose of this online handbook?

The ELES Study Skills Handbook provides a comprehensive and interactive online guide for the school community (students, parents and teachers) as to the study skills needed for success in high school studies. This approach taps into students’ affinity with technology to create a new and effective way to improve students’ study skills.

The handbook can be used independently or in conjunction with other ELES resources or sessions as a multi-layered approach that will assist further in the development of students’ study skills. The aim is to allow schools to address study skills from as many different angles as possible so that students get a wide exposure to and reinforcement of the ideas and the opportunity to access the information in many different ways. As teachers we know that it may be necessary to explain or present a concept in a number of different ways so that all students have the ‘aha, I get it’ moment.

How does the handbook work?

The school subscribes for the year and receives a user name and password for their school that they can give to all of the students, teachers and parents in their high school community. Schools with a secure section of their website can also place a link on a page on the school site where students can click directly through to the handbook site without needing to enter a user name or password.

How can schools use the handbook?

Any, or all, of the ways below:

1. PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN BROWSE THE SITE AT HOME
Schools will give their login details to the high school students, parents and teachers of their school (schools can also create a direct link from the school intranet to the site or put login details in the school diary) so they can use the handbook as needed, submit study skills questions, print the summary sheets or explore ways to improve results at their own convenience. This is a great resource for all students, parents and teachers to have at their fingertips. There are also FAQ sections for parents and teachers to use (with extra material to download and use) as well as links to useful sites and articles.

2. SCHOOLS MAY INTEGRATE UNITS IN PASTORAL PROGRAMS
Teachers may have students work through the topics systematically at school during pastoral lessons or other appropriate times to improve overall study skills. The units may be integrated into the school's pastoral program. Some schools print off all the worksheets and bind them into a workbook for the students. Throughout the year they then have the students work systematically through the topics (or allocate different topics to different year groups).

3. TEACHERS MAY SPECIFY UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Teachers may direct students or parents to a particular unit when issues arise with respect to academic performance at school (eg. a teacher may suggest a parent work through the time management section with their student or the section on how to study).

4. TEACHERS MAY DIRECT CLASSES TO COMPLETE UNITS
Teachers may set particular units as homework for students to complete or suggest students review particular units at certain times of the year (eg. the section on examinations at examination time) or to meet particular class needs (eg. some classes might benefit from visiting the section on organisational skills).

What are the features of the handbook?

In addition to the huge amount of content, the systematic program for students to work through includes:
online quizzes, summary sheets, worksheets, lots of FAQs answered, articles and links, online polls, facility to submit questions, helpful grids and planners, jokes and quotes, student thoughts, images and photos, students can submit ideas to win, competitions…
Plus:
- audio and video files (lots more of these being added this year!)
- streaming audio (to allow students the option to read or listen to the content.)
And: new content added weekly, new units added each year, new features added regularly.
There is also a tracking system available where students can save the results of their quizzes over the years.

What are the current topics covered by the handbook?

What are the subscription fees?

Annual subscription fees are as follows (and are in Australian dollars and include GST for Australian schools) and are based on high school enrolment numbers (payment must be received before passwords can be issued):

AUD$597 for a small school (<500 students)
AUD$797 for a medium school (500-799 students)
AUD$997 for a large school (800-1099 students)
AUD$1197 for a very large school (1100+ students)

For most schools this works out at around $1 per student (or less!). For only $1 per student for most schools, every student, parent and teacher in your school has unlimited access to the site and all the online activities for a whole year!

Notes:
 
1. The additional one-off $550 joining fee is waived for schools that start their subscription now.

2. Subscriptions are for a calendar year only. The subscription will be valid only for the year that you sign up in – therefore it is best to sign up as early in the year as possible!

What age of student is the handbook aimed at?

This handbook is designed for high school or secondary students. It is not suitable for primary school students. All high school students will find all units of the handbook valuable although juniors and seniors will experience the units at different levels of understanding and relevance. Every year when students have access to the handbook again, a different section may seem more pertinent to them based on what issues are current in their lives at that time. In addition to this, units that they have previously worked through may have greater meaning at different levels of their schooling.

This is a resource that is designed to benefit the school community as a whole. It is much more effective if teachers, parents and students are all hearing the same message about study skills and it is important to ELES that access is not limited due to financial means of individuals. (Click here if you want us to tell your school about the handbook.)

Can the school subscribe just one year group to the handbook?

No. You need to subscribe for your school and the number of students enrolled in your high school. It is not possible to ensure that your school's password is kept for the use of one year group in the school only.

No. The handbook is designed for high school students. If your school has both primary and secondary students, your enrolment numbers are calculated on the secondary students only.

Yes!
Option 1: Print off all the worksheets for each unit, bind them into a booklet (or allocate particular units to particular year groups) and that way you can easily see which units students have and have not completed. Students by nature will tend to browse erratically through the handbook so having students complete the worksheets for each unit ensures they have worked thoroughly through the material for each unit. The Record of Completion Grid and Topics Completed Tracker available to print from the site will also help.
Option 2: Prefer a more high-tech solution? Just have your students sign up for the Tracking System on the handbook site. They will enter a user name and password of their choice and at the end of each unit quiz will have the option to save their results. The system will keep track of their results over the years until the end of Year 12. They can check their progress at any time through the tracking system. The school contact person will also be given an administrator password which will allow schools to view the progress of any students who have signed up for the tracking system in any year group in their school.

We have used some of your resources or had our students attend one of your study skills sessions.
Will this handbook still be useful for us?

Definitely! Study skills is all about building layers of knowledge, it is about taking the information and presenting it to students in numerous and different ways. The more we can constantly expose our students to the concepts needed for academic success, and the more diverse ways we can get them to interact with the information on a regular basis, the better chance we have that they will retain it and apply it. From the other perspective, if you are using the handbook your students will still find the sessions and resources useful.

What have people said about the handbook?

"The ELES Study Skills Handbook is an amazing resource that every school in the country should purchase. As a Year Coordinator and Counsellor, I believe the benefit and value that this handbook offers schools, teachers, students and parents is a tiny fraction of the cost of purchasing the handbook. The depth, quality and variety of topics and information is excellent. Also, this handbook is designed to be used. Its interactive nature will engage both students and teachers. It offers valuable information and experiences not only on study skills but on key issues in pastoral care. I strongly recommend that you provide this valuable resource to the teachers, parents and students of your school."
Rocky Biasi, Coordinator at Emmaus Catholic College + Director of Human Connections.

"Many faxes, e-mails and advertisements come across my desk urging the school to buy the book, worksheets, programmes or employ a consultant or specialist for lectures or workshops on study skills but this concept is superior. The ELES Study Skills Handbook is unique. It is original, innovative and engages students in the process of gaining skills and understanding.
     The active involvement of students with the website, through audio and video clips, online polls and the welcoming of submissions enhances the students’ motivation and interest more than I’ve witnessed with other material.
     This approach to study skills is accessible to students at all levels; differences in age, gender, cultural background, academic potential and motivation are all able to engage in the programme.
     Schools want parents to support their children, yet often parents don’t have a foundation on which to assist the students academically, this programme provides parents with a structure and framework to work alongside their sons and daughters in developing these vital skills for learning.
     The practical tips, the welcoming and clear language and the depth of penetration available for each topic most certainly make this programme distinctive, and the best I’ve seen."
Wendy Lindeman, Principal Australian International School Saigon.

"We live in an age when students/children are switched on - to TV, computers,mobile phones, I-pods - when the distractions to study are so numerous that a programme like this that is accessed through attractive, slick, computer generated  multi-media material is just what the doctor - or principal - ordered. The whole area of how to study and how to learn has been neglected in our classrooms - and ELES addresses this really serious demand in a way that will be enormously helpful to students, teachers and parents. I cannot recommend it too highly." 
Coral Dixon,  Retired School Principal.

"Students today are surrounded by the many distractions of the technical age in which we all have to conduct our lives. With this amazing site, Prue has found a really effective way to communicate with students in a way with which they can easily connect . She shows them so clearly how to live and study properly whilst surrounded by all the clutter and enticements of this electronic age. This is a programe that should be in action in every school!"
Carolyn McMurtrie, Director of Easy School Books.

“The Handbook has been a great success.”
Head of Faculty-Exceptional Learners, St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, QLD

“I have added links inside our MOODLE in the revision centre for each year level that automates access, great idea. Fab resource.”
Head Of Faculty – ICT, St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace

“Many thanks for a great product.”
Director of Teaching and Learning, St Edmund’s College, Manuka, ACT

“I did receive the latest package thanks and the handbook continues to look fantastic.”
Head of Senior School, Penrhos College, WA

“I have been surfing around the handbook and it is really wonderful.  I am sure that our students will get a lot out of it.”
Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning, Moorebank High School, NSW

“Thanks for the information, updates and ongoing communication.  We look forward to using the program quite extensively this year.”
Director of Special Education, Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew, VIC

“I have had a look at the site and it is great with loads of information and great downloads.  Thank you for the chance to help our kids at home and improve their study habits.”
Distance Education Coordinator, Mountain View Adventist College, NSW

“Thanks for helping out our students. Your product and your services are exemplary!”
Coordinator Digital Learning, CLI Strathfield

Comments from Parents and Students using the site (usually after they have had a question answered):
-  “Hey, you guys are great help! thank you very much for all the tips and guides you provide us.”
- “Thanks so much for your detailed reply; you are clearly a dedicated educator.”
- “Thank you sooooooooooo much! You actually looked at my notes thoroughly and your feedback was amazing and much appreciated. Honestly thank you so much! That really did help, and if it weren’t for you I’d probably still be doing nothing until the exams! ”
- “Keep doing what you’re doing because you help all us lost teenagers!”

What is the process to subscribe?

1. Print the subscription form. 2. Fax it to us to request an invoice or post it to us with your payment.
You will be sent your subscription details (ie school user name and password) as soon as payment is received.
Click Here To Print The Subscription Form

How do I get a password to view the 'on approval' version of the handbook?

Simply fill in the form below and we will send you a password that will be valid for at least 10 days. Just let us know if you need longer and we will send through a new password.

Who can I talk to about the handbook?

Prue Salter is the founder and director of Enhanced Learning Educational Services. Prue has been writing study skills resources for teachers to use with students and running study skills sessions for parents and students across Australia (and Asia) since 2001 and has helped thousands of high school students enjoy greater academic success at school. We really are 'the study skills specialist'!

To find out more about the handbook or ELES products and services for your school, visit www.enhanced-learning.net  or call Prue on 0416 293 087.

Why should we subscribe to the handbook?

Click here to see all the reasons why (you can then just click on back to return to this page).