Your first year
Discover the academic and IT skills you'll need during your first year at University.
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Academic Essentials
Academic Essentials is our interactive online eLearning content to support you to study at level 4 as you transition to learning at university. It will help you develop the core skills you need to be successful.
At the end of the eLearning you will be directed to complete a short quiz (in Blackboard) to test your knowledge of the topic. If you pass the quiz you will earn a digital badge.
You may be directed to these from your programme modules in Blackboard. Provided you pass each of the quizzes your engagement with the content will be captured.
Content
Academic Integrity in Assessment [30 mins]
In Academic Integrity in Assessment you will learn:
- What academic integrity is.
- Why conducting yourself appropriately in the assessment process is important.
- How to avoid plagiarism when referring to the work and ideas of others.
- When collaboration becomes collusion.
- The consequences if you do not conduct yourself appropriately.
Generative AI: Using it Responsibly and Effectively in Your Studies [25 mins]
In Generative AI: Using it Responsibly and Effectively in Your Studies you will learn:
- What GenAI is.
- The importance of checking GenAI guidance in your assessment brief and how to acknowledge its permitted use.
- The risks and opportunities of using GenAI.
- Other Skills courses which can help you develop your academic, research and digital skills beyond the information produced by Generative AI.
Approaching your assessments: six steps to success [30 mins]
Approaching an assessment can be overwhelming. In Six Steps to Success you will learn how to prepare for and complete your assessments by breaking the process down into six smaller, more achievable steps:
- Approaching an assessment can be overwhelming. In Six Steps to Success you will learn how to prepare for and complete your assessments by breaking the process down into six smaller, more achievable steps:
- Identify what you have been asked to do and make a plan.
- Search for information and evaluate what you find.
- Read, take notes and make connections.
- Draft your assessment.
- Review, edit and submit your work.
- Reflect on your feedback.
Assessment methods at University [20 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Understand the difference between formative and summative assessments.
- Know about the different types and methods of assessment you are likely to come across at university.
Understanding your assessment brief [20 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Understand the different components of an assessment brief.
- Be able to identify the assessment task and what you are required to do.
- Understand some of the key words and phrases in the assessment brief.
Module reading lists and how they can help with assessments [10 mins]
When you have completed this course you will have:
- Looked at what module reading lists are.
- Know how to access your module reading list.
- Identified ways to use the information you find in your module reading list materials to help you complete your assessment.
Search the web well for University work [15 mins]
When you have completed the course you will have:
- Identified when it is best to use different web search pages such as your favourite search page or Google Scholar.
- Know how to use Google Scholar to find academic information.
- Understand how to get the full information you need when searching online.
- Looked at what Lean Library is and how it can help you.
- Be aware of how to use AI tools effectively to help you find information.
How to use Library Search to find academic information to use in your assessments [15 mins]
When you have completed this course you will have:
- Know how to perform a search for different types of academic information in Library Search.
- Know how to use filters to make your results more relevant.
- Identified how to save your search results and favourite resources.
- Experienced using Library Search to find great quality academic information.
- Know how Library Search can help you create your reference list.
- Searched for information for your next assessment.
Academic information and why it is important [10 mins]
When you have completed this course you will have:
- Looked at what academic information is and why this is important.
- Explored why it is important for you to search for, find and use academic information in your university work and assessments.
Planning your search for academic information [15 mins]
When you have completed this course you will:
- Understand why it's important to plan your search for information.
- Know best practice for searching for the information you need.
- Be able to identify keywords and key phrases from your assessment brief to search for relevant and useful results.
- Have created a search plan for your next assessment.
Read, take notes and use academic information in your assessments [10 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Understand best practice tips for getting the most out of reading for academic purposes.
- Be able to use different note-taking strategies.
- Know how to use the academic information your have found in your assessments.
Writing at University [30 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Understand how academic writing at university differs from writing in school or college.
- Learn to use reliable evidence to support, explain, and connect ideas effectively.
- Develop awareness of academic style, structure, clarity, and accuracy in writing.
- Write with the reader in mind to enhance communication and impact.
- Recognise the importance of planning before writing.
- Apply proofreading techniques to improve the quality and professionalism of your work.
What is referencing, and why do you need to do it? [20 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Understand what referencing is and why we do it.
- Know about different referencing styles.
- Know when we reference.
- Recognise the importance of knowing what you are referencing.
How to create references using APA 7th style [20 mins]
When you have completed the course you will:
- Know what the APA 7th edition referencing style looks like in your work
- Understand how to create and use in-text citations.
- Know how to format your references.
How to benefit from feedback [20 mins]
When you have completed this course you will:
- Know how to recognise when you are receiving feedback.
- Understand how to use feedback to develop yourself.