switched on 2010

8/8/2019 Switched On 2010

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SectiononeStudy...how tosurvive andthrive

SectiontwoStart meup...be preparedright fromthe

start

SectionthreeGet organised...useyour time efficiently

SectionfourPleaseexplore our website...its veryus

eful

SectionfiveLearn more on Learnline...practice ses

sions and tutorials

SectionsixLoveyour library...youravailable resou

rces

SectionsevenWebsites...learn tosortbetween credib

le anddodgy

SectioneightFinalwords...the DOs andDONTs ofst

udying

pageoneContents

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Study...beenthere,donethat,survive

dandthrived...andsocanyou.

SectiononeTe tips andadviceinthisbookletarestraightromCDUgraduatesandfnal yearstudents. Its designed orallCDUstudents,especiallythoseoyouwhoarestartingtostudylaterinlieorstartingagainateralongbreak.

All thecontributorsemphasised theimportanceobeingswitchedontothoseactivitiesthatleadtosuccessinstudentlie:

howtostudyeectivelywithoutitconsumingyourlie, whattodotomake themostotutorials andlectures, wheretofndthegoodwebsites, howtorecognisethebadones,andwhytimemanagementisvital.

Startinguniversityis a lie-changingevent. Yourenolongerconstrainedbyhigh schoolrules,yetyourestill a studentand youcould be agedanywhere rom 18to 98! Youmaybeworkingull-time, a stay-at-homeparent, ora retiree withathirstorknowledge.Tese tips are designedtohelp minimiseupheavalinyourliewhen you take up universitystudy.

AtCharles DarwinUniversityweunderstand thatmanyoourstudentsace thechallengeobalancingstudycommitmentswith thedemands owork, home and amilylie.

We recognise thatatypical student doesntexistanymore. So, whateveryourageorsituation, CDUs exibleapproachto learningmeans you nolongerhaveto attendull-time, on-campus lectures togetyourdegree.AtCDUyoucan prettymuchundertake studyromanywherein theworld, atanytimeyou choose.

Withthis in mind, we havecompiledthisguidewiththe helpoexpertsourstudentcontributorswho havestudiedin various modestocompletetheirdegrees.Manyare matureage students (meaningtheywerentreshoutohighschool)whichalsogivesthem averydierentperspectiveonstudying.

Basedon theirtimeatCDU, theyhave providedinvaluable practical,personal andacademicsurvival strategies to helpyouundertakeyourownstudiessuccessullyandconfdently.

Didyouknow?Matureagemeansanystudentwhoisover19yearsoldandhasbeenoutoffull-timeeducationformorethanayear.


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pagethreeStart me up

All the students we talked to emphasised the importance o gettingof to a good start, and being well-prepared and organised.

Overload alertBe objective about your home/work/study balance. Consider how manyresponsibilities you have in a week and how your studies will ft witheverything else you need to do. Realistically, how many hours a week canyou commit to study? Many students start o enthusiastically and take onmore units than they can handle comortably in one semester.

Avoid taking on too much when you start out as this can lead to high stressand poor results. I you have heavy work and amily commitments, considera lighter load to start with until you settle into your new routine. For help

with time management and planning your study visitW: www.learnline.cdu.edu.au/studyskills.

Upgrade your computer skillsKnowing how to word process, send emails and sur the net is just thebeginning. Learn all you can about your computer. Its your primary linkto the university and an essential study tool. Know how to download fles,create zip fles, create olders, archive documents and create shortcuts.

IT set-up for successDierent courses have varying sotware program requirements.Ensure your system has the capacity to download the relevant programs.Discuss sotware needs with your lecturer beore starting a unit. CDUsInormation echnology Management and Support team has guidelinesor computer set-up requirements in the I support section at W: www.cdu.edu.au/studentnet/support.

Did you know?A full-time study load is four units a

semester. Most units carry 10 credit points.

A full-time study load represents 40 credit pointsa semester, but if youre studying part-time CDUs

academic support staff recommend that you take

no more than two units a semester. A full-time study

load for Centrelink purposes is 30 credit points

a semester. Youll find that each course outline

on the web has a recommended study plan.

The computer ate my homework.This excuse just doesnt cut it in this ageof super-sophisticated IT. Its vital that

you have a reliable internet connectionand that you back up your files regularly.

Insider tip: Simple but useful save the layouts to items suchas your generic assignment cover sheet, contents pages andreference pages to your personal files. That way you can reusethem and change details as needed without having to start fromscratch every time you submit an assignment.

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Sectionthree

No means noYour time is valuable. Just because youre astudent does not mean youre ree to take onextra commitments. Learning to say no toriends and relatives in avour o study is one othe most dicult changes to come to terms with.

Timetable tacticsDraw up a timetable or buy an oce-style

wall-planner and identiy university, work andpersonal commitments. It also helps to blockout times or study and assignments weeks inadvance so you wont over-commit. Ten, i youdo end up with some spare time, its a bonus.ry programming dates or assignments andexams into a computer calendar withan electronic reminder.

pagefour

Night owls and early birdsStudents with amilies oten fnd it easierto read or long periods at night or early in themorning when home is quiet, and do ollow-upwriting activities during the day in short burstsbetween amily demands.

Quiet zonesChoose a quiet space or study. Local universities

and council libraries are ideal locations, ree romthe distractions o home.

Dont panicI you realise youve taken on too much andyou need to withdraw rom a unit, its notthe end o the world or your degree. Youcan re-enrol in that unit at a later date.

Get organisedYoull keep up with your study program more easily i you organise your time eectively.Successul students are disciplined with time, set clear study goals and use their available ree time.

Didyouknow?

Someinterstateunilibrarie

shavereciprocalborrowin

grights

withCDU.AskCDUslibra

rystaffforinformation.


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pagefive

Did you know?CDU provides you with an individualstudent email account and uses this

account to communicate with you

about your course and your enrolment.

You need to check it regularly to

ensure you have the latest information

about study.

Please explore... our websiteHave a good look at the CDU website. Its user-riendly andcontains important and helpul inormation about our services,sta contacts and courses.

Visit W: www.cdu.edu.au/studentnet to fnd answers to mosto your getting started questions, including an interactivestudy skills program. Another useul site or students is at W: www.cdu.edu.au/studentnet/adminorms.

I youre studying o-campus, visit the External Student Support

site at W: www.cdu.edu.au/library/access/index. Support stacan assist students who are studying externally/o-campus andthey oer a variety o services including assignment tracking andarrangements or taking external exams.

Talk before you leap(or withdraw from a unit!)

Always discuss your study options with your lecturer. Keep in mind that if you withdraw before

census date, you will not be charged fees for the unit. The census date refers to the last date you

can withdraw from a unit without suffering any academic or financial penalty.Youll find censusdate information at W: www.cdu.edu.au/studentnet/calendar.


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Asking for helpfrom your lecturersor support staff isone of the simplestand smartest thingsyou can do.

Sectionfive Learn moreon LearnlineLearnline is the name o CDUs online learningenvironment. Every CDU student needs to know howto use it, but Learnline is particularly important orexternal students. It is also a good social networking toolor meeting and chatting with other students and lecturers.Visit W: www.cdu.edu.au/gettingstarted/learnline.

ake a ew Learnline practice activities throughthe online tutorials to develop your confdence.Visit W: http://online.cdu.edu.au.

Te discussion boards on Learnline quickly connectstudents with each other, providing the opportunityto exchange inormation and assistance on study topics.

Insider tip: Always ask questions no matter how silly or

unimportant you think they are. Chances are therell be

plenty of others wondering the same thing too.

Did you know?Almost all CDU students are required to undertake a unit called Academic Literacies, but exemptions

may be considered for students who have undertaken previous relevant study. Academic support staff

advise that if youre not confident about your writing or havent written uni-style for a while,

its a good idea to take it in your first semester.


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Love your libraryTe CDU library may prove to be one o your most useul study buddies. Get to know whatresources are available. Te library has specialist sta who help students fnd what theyre lookingor. Knowing how to fnd good primary and secondary online inormation sources is essential.Te library website is a great starting point. ry the virtual library tour to become amiliar withwhats on oer in this great resource. Update your research and essay writing skills through onlinetutorials at W: www.cdu.edu.au/library/inolit/tutorials.

Ace your assignmentsAssignments can be daunting, particularly i you havent studied or a while. Te hardeststep is the frst one, ie making a start and getting something down on paper.

ry carving your assignment into bite-size pieces. I you tackle smaller, more manageable sectionsby giving each one a mini-deadline ahead o the due date, as you fnish a section you will eelyou have accomplished something. Youll also save lots o time working out reerencing in yourassignments by visiting W: www.cdu.edu.au/library/LILL/reerencing.

Give yoursel a break. Leave the frst drat o an assignment alone or at least 24 hoursand then come back to it and read it with resh eyes.

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Sectionseven Websites...the good,

the bad and thedownright dodgyA typical search or inormation on the web will throw up links tothousands, i not millions, o sites. Siting through them can be conusingand time-consuming. Not all websites and sources are credible, so read

with a critical, objective eye. CDUs library sta can help you to determinewhats worth reading, but below are some useul tips:

Find the authors name and qualifcations. I theyre a university lectureror subject expert, keep reading. I theyre a journalist, no matter howgood the writing, their opinion may be biased. I they are an anonymoussource writing under a pseudonym, they may also be biased or theinormation questionable.

Avoid Wikipedia. Its a well known name, but its not regulated so its notnecessarily a reliable source o inormation. Anyone can contribute to it

or edit its content. Consider the sites publication date. Inormation posted more than a ew

years ago may be out o date.

Always read the websites recommended by your lecturer on Learnline. Teyvedone the leg-work or you through years o their own study and research, so youcan be sure the inormation on these sites is credible and will also be relevant toyour assignment topic.


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SectioneightMybestadvice?Dontgiveup!You

willmakeit

throughyourdegree.Asyourconfid

enceandknowledge

grow,youmightevenfindyouenjoy

italongtheway.

DOaskquestionsiyoureunsure.Seekclarifcationro

myourlecturer

iyoudontunderstandsomething.And...

DONleaveallyourquestionsandconcernsuntilthenightbeore

yourassignmentisdue.

DOkeepintouchwithyourlecturers.Findoutthebest

waytocontact

themandthebesttimestodoso.Atthestartosem

ester,askindividual

lecturersabouttheirpreerences.Somepreeremail

onlywhileothersare

happytotalkoverthephone.Ieitherwayisaccepta

ble,sendabrieemail

askingoraconvenienttimetocall,particularlyiyou

wishtodiscussa

personalorcomplexstudymatter.

DOmaketheeorttoconnectwithother

students.Studygroupsare

particularlyhelpulinkeepingmotivationhighandhelpingyoutoremain

ontopotheunit.

DOveriyallinormationsourcesromtheinternet.Te

amounto

inormationavailableonanytopicviatheinternetis

overwhelming.Its

otenhardtoknowwhatsactandwhatsnot.Auth

enticateallinormation

oryourassignmentsbycheckingallsourcesanddate

s,etc.

DONgettoodistractedbydiscussionboarddebates.

Certainissuescangenerateheated,opinionateddisc

ussion

andcanbecomepersonalandupsettingorsomestu

dents.

DONrelyonotherslecturenotes.Whileitsuse

ulto

borrowanotherstudentsnotestosupplementyourown,itis

acaseobuyerbeware.Teyarenotyournotes,soy

oudont

knowhowaccuratetheyareandtheymayendupbe

ingmore

conusingthanhelpul.

DONgettooinvolvedinonlinestudentgossip.Asw

ithany

workplacetherewillalwaysbegossipaboutteachin

gstaand

theuniitsel.Dontplacetoomuchstockinonlinec

hatterabout

thephilosophicalpreerencesandthelikesanddislik

eso

particularlecturers.

DONrelyonspellcheck.Askariendtoprooreadthe

assignmentorspellingandgrammar.

DOcontactStudentServicesiyouhaveanyquestions

about

yourenrolmentorees,E:[email protected].

au.

DOcalltheInormationCentrehelpline

1800061963duringocehours.

Somefinalwordsofwisdom...


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