Ask a Librarian @ the Pod – update to services

In a slight change of schedule, the Ask a Librarian service @ the Pod, run by a Librarian from the Library’s Academic Support team, is now offered at the following times:

Monday:            1pm – 5pm
Tuesday:           1pm – 7pm
Wednesday:     1pm – 5pm
Thursday:         1pm – 7pm
Friday:                1pm – 5pm

If you need help tracking down resources or searching for literature for your projects and assignments, advice on using Library databases and other resources, or help with referencing the sources you use, a Librarian will be available at the above times to assist you.

The Pod is a separate desk area on the ground floor of the Library, past the main staircase, near the ASK area and Study Skills collection. Look for a blue semi-circle and appropriate signage above it!

Maximise Your Potential – Attend ASK Week!

Between Monday 13th and Friday 17^th February ASK Academic Skills, in conjunction with other university services are running a whole week of academic skills workshops. This is a chance to catch up on events you may have missed during our central workshop programme and to learn even more about how to develop your learning potential and succeed at university.

Workshops include:

• Analysing the Data from your Questionnaire
• 13 Ways to Structure Assignments (with Brunel’s Royal Literary Fellow)
• Writing a Literature Review
• Powerful Presentations and Public Speaking
• Dissertation Question Time (a chance to discuss questions about your dissertation/FYP with a panel of staff and students)

…and much more…

 For more information and to download a timetable, visit http://tinyurl.com/askweekfeb2012

 We hope to see you all there!

 ASK Academic Skills

ask@brunel.ac.uk

Ask a Librarian @ The Pod

Need help searching for literature for your next assignment or research project? Trying to track down a resource from a reference or reading list? Would you like advice on getting the most from Summon and other Library databases and resources? Need advice on referencing your assignment?

We can help.

A Librarian from the Library’s Academic Support Team is available Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm to help with all this and more. Between 1-7pm we are at the Ask a Librarian pod, near the ASK area and Study Skills collection on the ground floor of the Library. Before 1pm please request our help at the Helpdesk. We look forward to seeing you soon!

ASK Week starts on Monday 7th November

The Academic Skills Service, ASK, are running a week of workshops between Monday 7 and Friday 11 November.

The week gives you a chance to catch up on events you missed during the central workshop programme, and to learn even more about how to succeed at university.

All workshops are held in the Library and there’s no need to book – just turn up!

Download the timetable

Find out more on the Autumn ASK Week web page or email ask@brunel.ac.uk.

ASK Week is coming!

ASK Week is coming!

Between Monday 7th November and Friday 11th November, ASK Academic Skills, in conjunction with other university services, are running a whole week of academic skills workshops. This is a chance to catch up on events you missed during our central workshop programme and to learn even more about how to succeed at university.

Timetables are available to view here.

ASK Love Learning Study Tip Winner

A fantastic 561 students attended the recent ASK Week - if you didn’t manage to attend, don’t worry,  slides from the workshops are available to view on u-Link.

During ASK week we asked students to submit study tips to our ‘Love Learning’ board in the Library. We had some fantastic entries for our competition so thank you to all those who entered and voted.

 The winner with the most votes is Hassan Sheraz with his tip:

 Build a positive attitude towards your studies from the first day. Then, when you come to revise, everything will be much easier!

 2 runners up were:

 Kannija Sivaselvarajah:

Meet with your friends to discuss what you read. Talking about your ideas helps you understand them more clearly.  

Maria Eca Pinheiro (this one made us smile!)

 First:

-          Go on Facebook

-          Go to your email

-          Go to YouTube (and watch that stupid video you really want to watch)

-          Go play your computer game/read your blog/whatever…

 Your head should be clear now –SO NOW CLOSE IT ALL AND STUDY ASAP!

Look out for more study tips on Facebook and Twitter, or view a slide show of them.

Plagiarism in the News

Tom Geoghegan has written an interesting article on plagiarism, published in the Guardian recently. The article entitled Plagiarism: The Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V boom ranges from recent high profile cases to the historical context and highlights what HE establishments are doing to tackle it.  

For more information about plagiarism and how to avoid it check out this Library page. If you are interested in attending a training course on referencing and plagiarism then you can find details here.

ASK Week – Love Learning

ASK Week, running from Monday 14 – Friday 18 February, is a week of academic skills workshops held in the Library.

Workshops include:

•  SPSS Basics and Advanced
• Advanced academic writing
• Writing a literature review
• Confident public speaking
• Success in your numerical reasoning test
• Dissertation question time (a chance to ask staff and students anything about your dissertation)…and much more.

There is no need to book – just turn up!

Download the timetable (pdf)

As it starts on Valentine’s Day we’ve given this week a ‘Love Learning’ theme and we’ll be running a competition throughout the week for providing your best study tip. Do you have a great strategy to help manage your time or plan your assignments or feel more confident speaking in seminars?

If so, simply post your tip up on the Love Learning board in the Library and place your vote for the chance to win a £30 Amazon voucher.

ASK Maths, Numeracy and Statistics Drop-ins

Do you have assessments coming up? Do you need to refresh your maths, numeracy or statistical skills? If so, then come along to the ASK drop-in sessions where experienced maths tutors can provide resources, explain topics and help guide you through example questions.

Wednesday 1 December

 Mathematics and Numeracy: 10am-12noon and 2pm-4pm

Thursday 2 December

Statistics: 4pm-6pm

Friday 3 December

Statistics: 10am-12noon

Mathematics and Numeracy: 2pm-4pm

All sessions will be held in the ASK Computer Room in the Library. There is no need to book, just turn up!

View and book ASK workshops using the new online calendar

All ASK workshops are now available to view and book using the new online calendar. The site allows you to view upcoming workshops by subject and date. Booking is optional but recommended as it will ensure that you have a space and that the team know what subject you are studying and can prepare accordingly.

Upcoming workshops include:

• Argument and Rhetoric
• Reflective Writing
•  Scientific and Technical Writing
• The Basics of Integration
• Using Excel for Statistical Analysis and more.

If you are viewing this site off campus you will need to enter your Brunel username and password. For more information please email ask@brunel.ac.uk.