Rachel 0:15
Welcome to our final podcast in the Library Pathway series for new students here at Falmouth University and Exeter Penryn campus. We've called this podcast Don't panic, and it's about what to do when those panicky feelings start to creep in.
Rachel 0:29
It could be that you're getting anxious because your first assignment deadline is approaching. Sometimes these feelings can be mixed up with other non work related worries. It might be hard to unpick just what the problem is. But the good news is, there's lots of help available both face to face or self help. So they're going to be something to suit everyone.
Rachel 0:47
In this podcast, we'll be reviewing the steps to take as your first assignment deadline approaches. We'll also get some advice from Steve, who works in the frontline team who deals with all student inquiries. The team is very used to dealing with a wide range of stupid questions. Nothing can surprise Steve or his team.
Rachel 1:04
Okay, so to focus back on your academic work, and our top tips as your first assignment deadline approaches, recognise your first assignment. It might be a good idea to listen to podcast seven and eight again, those podcasts we've got some good advice from the academic skills advisors, now is also the time to make use of the people and resources we have in place, such as the study of web pages, and one to one appointments. So to sum up, what we'd advise is to go back to the brief check what sort of assignment it is, are you writing report, an essay or a review? And how many words is it? Does it require you to make use of certain types of resources such as journals, or is it left open? Make sure you know the handling date and the time it may be midday for example, and not five o'clock, and how you're expected to make that hand in. Make sure you know what referencing style you're expected to use. If there was some recommended reading, make sure you do it. Make a plan or a mind map. This should help you identify what you need to find out about will also give you key words that you can use when you're searching and finding more resources to use in your work. Make a plan of what you're going to write what order you're going to put your points in. Start writing factor in time for proofreading clients leave plenty of time to review your work. And this is probably our most important tip. It's really important to remember that this is your first piece of work. There'll be plenty more opportunities to practice and improve on your academic work.
Rachel 2:31
Now here's a quick reminder about the extra help that's available. So if you prefer face to face help, you might like a one to one appointment, the member of the Ask team that's the Academic Skills team. And they give advice about writing and referencing, or a one to one appointment with your liaison librarian for advice about finding good quality sources. if English isn't your first language, there will be academic English classes that you can go to and also the English Academic Services team if you're happy with a more self service approach, run the you have the Study Hub website find it by googling study hall. F x plus is divided into sections such as research skills, which covers finding and evaluating information, and there's also one called Reading lectures and note taking which covers things like effective reading techniques and reading technologies, just free text to speech programmes that you can download. Then there is also the subject guides on the library website. And you can find these by googling library Fx plus, once you're there, look for Subject Guides subject altogether library resources that are relevant to the subject you're studying, provides you with links to your liaison librarian. Finally, we have a study skills book collection in both libraries and online. And these books include books or titles such as the student phrase book vocabulary for writing at university, how to write better essays also getting sorted, how to make the most of your student experience. If all this sounds a bit confusing, or is it likely to answer your question, we have just the person for you. I'm going to introduce you to Steve, who is a student information team leader.
Steve 4:07
The HelpDesk provides that kind of information, guidance and referral to a range of different services on campus. So really the first port of call for help really, absolutely anything and everything. And hopefully in doing so we try and take out some of the time, effort and energy in trying to access support.
Rachel 4:23
So what's the most common questions you get?
Steve 4:26
Given the nature of the service that we provide? We get asked a wide range of different things. It can be anything from very simple orientation stuff. Obviously, being on the university campus, people need to find out where they need to go, which can be big for some people, particularly students with particular needs, can arrange to mental health concerns, crisis situations, but everything in between timetable issues, particularly the start of the university experience kind of homesickness settling in things linked to that really, and then practical things finance bank accounts, that kind of plethora, probably in the seven years that we've been open, we've probably been asked most things our biggest asset is if we don't know the answer, we probably know the person that does the team that was okay, so in terms of new students, what sort of worries to new students come to see you about students and new to the environment. So things such as the orientation of the campus, timetables can be a little bit complex for students, so to help decoding that, I guess in orientating with the timetable, I think General settling in to university and geographically where we're located as well. It's a slightly different experience for many. So adjusting to that if you're from a kind of big city takes a little bit for some people. So I think early on people, perhaps unsure about their course need a little bit of support in finding their way through that a range of different things really early on a lot of practical stuff. Is the time is the time. Yeah, sure. Absolutely.
Rachel 5:48
Okay, so what's the most surprising thing your team has been asked?
Steve 5:51
If there's one thing that always comes comes up that I think I've mentioned earlier that we get asked most things but there was one time when I think it was an overseas student heading back for Christmas or a celebrate, and they wanted to find somebody to look after their pet rat. So that gives us a sense. It matters. However, kind of strange it may seem, is a student with an issue or a problem and hopefully we can try and we didn't actually find Believe it or not,
Rachel 6:20
yeah. Okay, so finally, do you have a favourite place on campus that you could share with us?
Steve 6:24
I think one place that is really great to get away to and I think not a lot of people know about it is a walled garden particularly in the in the summer in the spring and it feels like you're away from it. Even just for 5 or 10 minute escape and just be a bit mindful and just just take advantage of that area's nice. The other place that springs to mind is the chaplaincy the cottages area. I think the chaplaincy for many is regarded as something about faith and spirituality and it's not just a quiet place where people can go and sit and reflect and have a cup of tea and a cup of tea. A piece of cake.
Rachel 6:57
Well, thanks
Rachel 6:57
Steve that was really useful. Thanks a lot. So podcast 10 is the last in the series. We've got a lot of topics from what to expect as you walk into our libraries to thinking critically about the sources you might be using for your assignments. We've also talked to some of the people you might meet. These have included your liaison librarian some of the Academic Skills advisors and there are people like Steve, who can connect you with other students services. So we hope you found that useful, and good luck with your studies.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
