ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS Supporting Access, Fostering Success - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS Supporting Access, Fostering Success VUReady 2 PROGRAM NAME Department of Academic Support and Development

Congratulations! You’ve made it to University. You’re smart. You’re motivated. But is this enough?

Success at Uni • Uni is different • New skills are required • It’s supposed to be challenging! • Seek help early

VUReady2: 2015 program • Independent learning • Lectures & tutorials • Reading & research • Assessment: – Essays / reports – Academic language – Referencing – Exams

INDEPENDENT LEARNING

Discuss • How will Uni differ from previous study? • What are your lecturers’/tutors’ roles? • What are your responsibilities as a student? Independent learning

Academic expectations: Time management https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= QmuK508gsyI Independent learning

Strategies for time and task management • Prioritise your study • Prepare for classes • Practice the reading strategies we’ll discuss soon • Create a study planner Independent learning

Tips for time and task management • Complete small tasks straight away • Break difficult or 'boring' work into sections. • Never try writing an assignment in one go. • Write through 'writer's block.’ • If you find yourself overwhelmed or losing direction, stop and think about why you’re at uni. • Remembering your goals can put everything into perspective. Independent learning

Study goals I am doing this course because… …in the future I want to… This semester I will… Independent learning

Help from peers… Independent learning

University services… Independent learning

Book online or Call 9919 4744 Independent learning

VU YouTube Channel • https://www.youtube.com/user/snapvu/feat ured Independent learning

Help yourself! Are you… A binge worker? A snack worker? A procrastinator? A perfectionist? What are the benefits? disadvantages? (Murray, 2006) Independent learning

Einstein says… Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them http://einstein.biz/quotes.php Independent learning

Independent learning  Take responsibility for your own learning  Plan for study time  Do the reading, prepare for classes.  Participate in tutorials  Reflect on your learning  Set goals  Seek help, if necessary Practice BEFORE DURING AFTER study strategies Independent learning

LECTURES & TUTORIALS

Lectures What happens in lectures? • Lecturers talk and show slides or other info • Students listen & take notes Lectures & tutorials

Ways to prepare for lectures • Look at the unit guide • Do the reading • Lecture slides are gold!! Lectures & tutorials

Note taking: Cornell notes BEFORE Lectures & tutorials

Note taking: Cornell notes DURING Lectures & tutorials

Note taking: Cornell notes AFTER AFTER Lectures & tutorials

Einstein says If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough http://einstein.biz/quotes.php Lectures & tutorials

Lecture FAQs • Do I need to prepare for lectures? YES!! • Do I have to attend every lecture? YES!!! • Even if the notes are online? YES!!!! Lectures & tutorials

Lectures  Listen!  Take notes  If lecturer’s notes are published online, Use them!!!  Use Before During After strategies Lectures & tutorials

Tutorials workshops labs seminars… • What are tutorials? • What am I expected to do? • What does the tutor do? Lectures & tutorials

Tutorials workshops labs seminars… Your participation is important. When asking questions help your tutors to help you: Be on topic • Refer to the readings • Be as specific as you can • Lectures & tutorials

Tutorials workshops labs seminars… • Come prepared! • Do the reading • Participate in activities • Ask questions • Start a coffee club Lectures & tutorials

READING & RESEARCH

Einstein says I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. The important thing is to never stop questioning . http://einstein.biz/quotes.php Reading & research

Reading at university BEFORE DURING AFTER • Scan • Highlight • Discuss • Skim • Note the reference • Explain • Read for gist • Make notes • Summarise • Write what you know • Sticky notes, margins • Sum up about the topic already • Question • Concept map • Paraphrase • Link Reading & research

Reading at university Image:Malya<http://nightclubsecurityconsulting.wordpress.com/category/paperwork/> Reading & research

Critical reading • Reading involves considering other people’s ideas • Most academic writing begins with a claim or thesis that the writer will try to convince you of • The claim and the reasoning used to support it is called an argument. A good writer will make their argument clear and provide valid academic evidence • But, not all academics are good writers and not all claims are easy to understand • Sometimes you’ll need more background knowledge, or more technical terms • Sometimes the writing will sound very authoritative or persuasive, but on examination the evidence isn’t convincing Reading & research

Challenge your readings! • You must evaluate an author’s argument based on their evidence and analysis • You must always question your readings Reading & research

Critical reading The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts, but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks http://einstein.biz/quotes.php Reading & research

Academic validity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPwZLV1gc Rw Reading & research

Rate the academic credibility of these s ources 1 = very credible…………………5 = not very credible • The Age article on global business • The Herald Sun article on cancer research • A chapter from a published book (Knox, B. 2005, Globalisation , Oxford University Press, Oxford) • An article in Policy Studies (a refereed journal) • Oxford University website • A Current Affair story on government corruption • An Australian Government report on indigenous health Adapted from University of South Australia

“Original thought” • Your assignments should present your point of view and not simply restate your readings. • But, your point of view must be based on valid academic evidence – not just your opinion. Reading & research

ASSESSMENT

Assessment • Essays • Reports • Exams • Presentations • Other… Assessment

Text types- Different writing for different purposes • DISCIPLINES sciences, law, education, arts • FORMATS reports, essays, literature reviews • KEY WORDS discuss, compare, reflect, analyse • CONVENTIONS referencing, voice, vocabulary Assessment

Different language for different purposes According to Piaget (1958, p. 34), your behaviour can be classified as a classic case of passive aggression. Passive aggression is a phenomenon whereby … Assessment

What if you’re not sure of the requirements? • How am I being asked to do this assignment ? (format, directive, style, word limit) • What am I being asked to write about? Firstly, Don’t panic! Assignments are supposed to be challenging Break the assignment down into ‘the How & the What’ Assessment

What if the question is hard or difficult to understand? The How… • Argue how we should move forward with reconciliation between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians • Discuss how we should move forward with reconciliation between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians Assessment

The What… “Argue how we should move forward with reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians ?” • Break the question down, define terms, define limits Assessment

What if the question is hard or difficult to understand?  Break the question down– HOW and WHAT  Include what you already know  Look for gaps  List what you need to find out (new knowledge or evidence for your point of view)  Get researching!  If you are still unsure…Get help! Assessment

Academic writing: common features Topic sentence Paraphrase Referencing Assessment

General features of academic writing Formal language Uses discipline-specific vocabulary (‘literacy levels’ vs ‘read well’) • Avoids colloquialisms (arvo) and Clichés (‘in this day and age’) • Avoids contractions (can’t, won’t) • Avoids sarcasm (anyone with any intelligence would know…) • Objective style Makes claims based on evidence/research • Avoids generalizations • Persuasion happens through logical arguments • Precise and clear • Avoids vague words • Avoids wordiness • Refers to specific information + uses referencing or citations Assessment

What is it with all this referencing? • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHAAchfx JYo Assessment