Study Skills Connected

Chapter 1. Studying with new technologies

Abstract

This chapter provides you with opportunities to:

• identify your priorities for using new technologies for study;
• understand how new technologies are used to enhance learning in higher education;
• familiarise yourself with the culture and netiquette of the online learning environment;
• consider your online presence as part of an academic community;
• consider issues of privacy and security when using new technologies for study;
• identify the technical resources you will need for making use of new technologies as a student;
• consider broader skill sets that you will need as a student.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 2. Virtual learning environments

Abstract

This chapter offers you opportunities to:

• understand what is meant by a virtual learning environment (VLE) or learning management system (LMS);
• understand the key role played by VLEs/LMSs in higher education and elsewhere;
• gain a sense of some of the many ways that VLEs can be used to support academic study;
• consider how you could make use of a VLE to make your study more enjoyable and to improve your grades.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 3. Managing online information for academic study

Abstract

This chapter provides you with opportunities to:

• understand how to conduct effective searches for the information that you need for your assignments;
• recognise sources of appropriate academic quality;
• find out about tools that can assist you as a student, such as for making automated searches and writing the references for your assignments;
• understand how information management tools can help with collaborative group work that you may need to undertake as a student;
• use YouTube as an additional resource for study;
• consider how to produce video of appropriate quality for student assignments and load these onto YouTube if required.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 4. Podcasts

Abstract

This chapter offers you opportunities to:

• understand what is meant by ‘podcasts’;
• find out how to locate academic versions of these online and download them;
• identify how to use podcasts to support different aspects of study;
• apply study skills effectively when using podcasts;
• learn how to go about creating your own podcasts.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 5. Blogs

Abstract

This chapter offers you opportunities to:

• identify how you might use blogs as a student;
• find out how to create, design and publicise your own blog;
• consider ways of attracting a readership for your blog and becoming part of a blogging community;
• apply study skills when using blogs for academic work;
• consider matters of blog netiquette such as privacy, confidentiality and constructive commenting.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 6. Wikis

Abstract

This chapter offers you opportunities to:

• familiarise yourself with wikis and how they work;
• find out about the principles that underpin the writing and editing of wikis;
• understand when and how it is appropriate to use wikis as a source of information for academic study;
• understand how to create your own wiki pages;
• learn how to write wikis collaboratively with other students for group projects.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 7. Social media

Abstract

This chapter offers you opportunities to:

• identify ways of using social networking tools to enhance your learning;
• build community networks using social networking tools;
• understand how to apply generic study skills when using social media for academic work;
• combine multiple networking tools to support your study and professional development.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 8. Classroom and communication technologies

Abstract

This chapter provides you with opportunities to:

• gain a feel for some of the class-based technologies that you may come across on your programme and understand broadly why they are used and what is expected;
• understand how to use these technologies in ways that help you to develop your own learning;
• identify technologies that you could use in order to support collaborative work with other students;
• consider how you might make use of mobile devices and apps to enhance your study.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris

Chapter 9. Drawing it together

Abstract

By this stage in the book, you have covered:

• many kinds of technology;
• many ways of using those technologies;
• study skills relevant to using those technologies for academic purposes.

Stella Cottrell, Neil Morris