Introduction to studying at University

STUDY SUPPORT

LANGUAGE AND LEARNING ADVISERS

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Workshop overviewHow to manage your studyStudy support – Overview

• Study support services

• Course expectations

• Time management

Academic requirements – Overview

• Reading academic texts

• Academic writing

• Referencing

Study skills service

For more information on study skills services and resources watch an overview of the study skills service

Language and Learning Advisers / Students Helping Students (SHS) drop-in

• Time management• Understanding assignment questions • Reading and writing skills• English language skills• Referencing

For details on consultations and drop-in stations at your campus:http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/ask-us

• General study tips and strategies• Using IT for study• Where to get help• Clubs and social activities

Where to find us

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support

Academic skills resources

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/academic-resources

Language and communication resources

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/language-and-communication

Unistart

• Prepare for university study• Practise using CloudDeakin tools

(discussion forum, Turnitin, submit an assignment)

• IT information• Prepare for a job• How to use the Deakin Library

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/new-students

All students are automatically enrolled in Unistart

CloudDeakinStudents can use a range of tools within CloudDeakin:

• Access units and courses including assessment items using tools such as discussions, quizzes and the ability to submit assignments online

• Curate and present their learning achievements (using the CloudDeakin Portfolio)

• View all readings in a contained list within the Resources tool

• Engage with Unit Chairs, Tutors and other students in virtual classrooms (using eLive)

• Listen to and watch recorded lectures from their desktop or via a tablet or mobile device (EchoSystem)

• Create and manage blogs (using Drupal) and wikis (using MediaWiki)

• Manage personal academic integrity (using Turnitin)

Select ‘current-students’ from the Deakin homepage

Log in using your Deakin username and

password

www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/

Your expectations• What do you expect to learn from the unit(s) you are studying?

• What is a reasonable amount of time to spend on one unit?

• How much time will you devote to your studies?

• Do you intend to do Honours / Masters / PhD in the future?

• After you have been awarded your degree, what’s next?

What concerns you the most?Do you feel like this? (Rank in order of importance: 1 = what you worry about the most)

• I can’t keep up with the reading!

• I don’t know who to ask!

• Not sure what to do and don’t know where to start…

• I have information overload!

• I don’t get the technology!

• I don’t understand the lectures!

• I don’t know how to write academically!

Take control of your learning

• What things will you give up to spend time

studying?

• What will you do if the course is quite

challenging?

• How will you manage your work / family /

study load?

Time management and diary

How many hours of study are expected per unit (subject) per week?

A. 15B. 10C. 7

• Start from week 1• Keep a ‘to do’ list • Be specific• Give time frames• Schedule planning time• Start assignments early

The unit guide• Learning outcomes

• Unit chair, staff and contact details

• Weekly topics

• Materials for the unit

• Unit aims

• Assessment tasks: dates and weighting

• Referencing style required (sometimes)

Library servicesResearch• What is your unit?

• What is your assignment topic?

• What are you looking for?

• What don’t you need?

• Technology training for study

Have you seen the Getting Started library resource?

Academic requirements Reading and writing at university

Academic requirements – Overview

• Reading skills

• Referencing

• Academic writing

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/academic-resources

Curating >> mind mapping >> sharing

http://www.scoop.it/ http://padlet.com/

Students and LLAs talk about creating mind maps and using flip cards to revise

Mapping assignments

http://popplet.com/

Reading an academic text

• Knowing how texts are organised

• Knowing what and how to read

• Reading different texts for different purposes and in different ways

• Knowing what not to read

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/academic-resources/reading-and-note-taking

Reading an academic text • Read broadly

• Use reputable writers

• State your position

• Draw comparisons

• Develop themes

• Read critically

Do I agree with this?

Planning to read

Plan

Read

Reference

ParaphraseSummarise

Connect

Note taking template

Active Reading = Effective Reading = Quality over Quantity

Why reference?

• To support and strengthen your

argument

• To show that you have read

• To show what you have read

• To enable the reader to locate the

sources mentioned in your paper

• To acknowledge your sources and

avoid plagiarism

Deakin guide to

referencing

Up to date examples and

sources Plagiarism and collusion quiz

Summarising and paraphrasing

PDF or online

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/referencing

Referencing styles

In-text citations Reference list

Example Author-date (Harvard)

Reference list

author’s family name initial year article title

Cincotta, K 2003, ‘Red, hot branding: riding the colour wave’, Professional Marketing, May/June, pp. 21-5.

journal title issue page numbers

Assignment purpose

• Just a collection of facts about a topic?

OR

• A balanced investigation of a topic?

Assignment purpose

• Answers a specific question

• Presents a reasoned answer

• Critically evaluates texts to get answers

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/academic-resources/writing-an-academic-assignment

Assignment tasks• Essay – discussion, argument, response

• Literature review / Annotated bibliography

• Reflection

• Commentary

• Research report / Business report

• Case study

• Presentation

• Other

Where can you find out

what the genre is?

Are they structured in

the same way?

The writing process

Writing

Analysequestion

Read Take notes

SummariseParaphrase

Quote

Reference sources

Organise structure

Analyse the question

Analyse the question

‘An essay is essentially a written argument.’

Discuss in terms of the implications for students and lecturers.

Essay structure Introduction

• General statement • Specific topic/issue• Viewpoint on the topic/issue• Plan of coverage – ideas A, B, C

Topic sentence: idea A

• Gives an explanation of an idea• Provides examples to illustrate the point• Expands the discussion• Uses a reference!• Tidies up the paragraph with a summarising or concluding sentence

Ideas B and C in new separate paragraphs Conclusion

• Re-statement or summary of main points and viewpoint on the topic/issue

• Optional: implications/future directions

Support

Examples usually taken from a variety of readings with references.

Remember

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/ask-us

There is a lot of support available, so make the most of it…And remember: the earlier the better!

Good luck with your

studies!