This workshop will give you the confidence to know how to choose reliable resources. We will show you a variety of information resources and help you decide which ones are suitable for your needs, including newspapers, databases and encyclopaedias. You will also learn how to distinguish, for yourself, which resources to trust.

App Slam

Learn about great apps to boost your productivity and support your study. 

All apps are available for iOS and Android.

Finding company, financial and industry information 

An introduction to the types of company, financial and industry information available. Including financial statements, company profiles, reports, share price and other financial data.

Find out about some of the best databases available through the Library  and learn useful search techniques

Introduction to using academic databases & search tools 

An introduction to academic databases and search tools that will help you find high quality academic research to support your assignments. 

Introduction to critical thinking

Being able to critically evaluate the information you read will help you save time while studying and argue your case in assignments.

Three things to take away

1. Find out why critical thinking is important
2. Learn methods for critical thinking
3. Receive an introduction to evaluating statistics

Overleaf – a beginner’s guide

Overleaf is an online collaborative LaTeX editor that compiles your project in real-time. This practical session will cover the basics to get you started with Overleaf:

• Setting up an Overleaf account, and getting started with your first project
• Managing your projects and adding files to your projects
• Sharing projects and writing collaboratively
• Using Overleaf templates and online guidance

Please note: participants should have a working knowledge of LaTeX

Trace your digital footprint

This workshop will suggest strategies for monitoring your personal profile on the internet.

By the end of the session:

• You will know what a digital footprint is and how it is linked with your digital identity, along with ways other people may use this information.
• You will discover what the Internet knows about YOU.

This workshop is for you if you have a social media presence.

Academic writing tips

The workshop is aimed at those student who are new to writing at degree level. It will introduce the concept of academic writing, how to write for exams, and the different types of writing needed for reports and essays.

Three things to take away

• You will understand what academic writing is and how to achieve it
• You will get an insight into how lecturers decide what marks to give your work
• You will learn some tips on writing in exam situations – how to read the question, and understand what is being asked of you

How to write a literature review

Learn what a literature review is and get advice on how to prepare one.

Find out about effective reading, evaluating your sources, and organising your literature review.

Three things to take away

1. Understand what a literature review is
2. Tips on finding and evaluating your sources so that you are using quality information
3. Tips for how to structure your literature review

Improving your reading and note taking

When you first start your degree it can be a little overwhelming the amount of reading and note taking you are expected to do. Learn how to read efficiently and effectively and how to make clear and useful notes

Three things to take away

1. Assess your current reading speed and learn techniques to increase speed and comprehension.
2. Develop an awareness of how note taking strategies can improve academic performance.
3. Evaluate two different note taking methods using practical hands-on exercises.

Presentation skills

Get advice and tips on preparing and giving a presentation. Advice on how to plan your presentation, presentation tools, tips about structuring your presentations and tips to help you develop your presentation style.

Three things to take away

1. How to plan your presentation
2. Advice on presentation tools
3. How to perfect your presentation style

Tips and techniques for exam revision

Introduction to Mendeley

Mendeley is a reference management tool to help you manage your references easily in one place and across multiple devices and platforms. It facilitates your research and helps keep your references organised.

Learn techniques and tips on adding references and PDFs, organising your work, networking and collaboration, and citations and bibliographies

Reference management for LaTeX users

A short practical session covering:

• citing and referencing sources in your LaTeX document using BibTeX files
• citing and referencing in Harvard and/or Vancouver styles (natbib)
• automatic creation of BibTeX files from databases etc
• interfacing with reference management software e.g. RefWorks

Please note: participants should have a working knowledge of LaTeX

RefWorks: making referencing easier

RefWorks is web-based reference management software useful for undergraduates preparing projects and dissertations, and taught-course postgraduates who may use different computers.

Learn techniques and tips on how to import references from databases or text files, build up your own database of relevant references, add correctly formatted citations to word documents and build a bibliography.

More about RefWorks