Should you apply for postgraduate study?

Are you unsure whether you should undertake post graduate study?

Has it been a while since you studied? You've most likely completed a Bachelor Degree and are currently in the workforce so you are an excellent candidate for further study in your field of knowledge and expertise. 

A recent conversation with a friend led me to write this post. My friend wasn't sure whether she should study again, especially seeing as it had been a long time since she had last attended University. She had completed her undergraduate before online learning had come about. These days, enrolling in subjects, signing up for tutorials, searching for journal articles, participating in discussions with other students and submission of assignments can all be done online.

Learning has never been easier. Whether you decide to be an on campus student, an online learner or a mixture of both, studying has never been so accessible and flexible! 

Here are five tips for enrolling in postgraduate studies:

1) Choose your postgraduate study

There are postgraduate certificates and degrees or if you have completed a degree with honours, you may want to look at undertaking research for a Doctorate. Research courses at different Universities as many have studying by distance options. This opens up the choice of available courses.

2) Choose your area of study 

Ask yourself is there anything you would like to specialise in. Carefully check the pre-requisites for entry into the course as some require the area of study to be in the same stream as your undergraduate degree. Many courses can be tailored to meet your learning needs.

3) Choose your mode of study

If you're working full-time, enrolling in 1-2 subjects per semester would be doable. Take into consideration that postgraduate studies are typically shorter than undergraduate degrees. Even if you are an on campus student, there will still most likely be an online component.

4) Fitting Uni in with your life

With your life busy with work, family and social commitments, how do you fit in Uni? Think of your postgraduate studies as a hobby. You know how to learn, you are just having fun in a field that's already familiar. Organise yourself so that you find the balance in your life.  Use a calendar and schedule in the weekends when study is a must and include important birthdays, events etc to work around. 

5) Embrace the new way of studying at University

Teaching and learning at University has changed a lot especially over the last decade. It's okay to feel overwhelmed at first. You will have tech staff at the Univeristy to help you with logging on and email etc. As a postgraduate student, there will be a smaller number of students than in an undergraduate course therefore you'll be able to get to know the lecturers better- even online! They are there to help you! And join a study support network like eDegree for some great study tips  ( yep shameless plug!).

eDegree the ebook has arrived!

MEDIA RELEASE

Jilly Stansfield has released her final ebook for the year 2010 - eDegree: study anywhere, anytime.

You can view a sample for FREE by visiting http://www.smashwords.com/  or  click on eDegree's book cover below!

About the book:

Are you wanting to further your education but not sure if it is possible? Many people think that they wouldn’t be able to study externally through the mode of eLearning- ‘it’s too hard’, ‘I wouldn’t stay on track’, ‘I don’t know where to start’. The truth is these days anyone can elearn – anywhere, anytime.

You can become an eLearning student whether you are

- Working full time

- Working part time

- A single parent

- Starting a new business

- Travelling

- Mature age

- A school leaver

- Upgrading your qualification

- changing your career direction

- have no formal education

This book will guide you through choosing a study option, your study and to graduation success. It's your personal study buddy!

Don’t put if off. Now is the time to secure your future and do something for you – live your life and get your education anytime, anywhere.

Is there a textbook?

This was one of the questions asked by a student this week on the online study forum at Uni. Now my original post was going to be about 'how to get back into study mode as the new uni semester begins' but that is quite irrelevant if you don't know what you are meant to study!

Now i'm unsure whether this student is new to Uni but during my four years of study, i have only ever had one subject that did NOT have a textbook. Why does this concern me? As someone who is almost addicted to it and has written a book on studying externally, it makes me wonder how a new or general student thinks.

So my new tip of the week is:
Always assume there is a required textbook for a unit:
Read all unit and assessment information. After checking with the Uni bookshop for required texts for each unit to be studied for the semester, and you still have no textbook for a specific unit then double check with your lecturer that there is no textbook required. And don't leave until week 3 into the semester to find this out!

Another query into week 3 of the semester was: so is the assessment just discussing activities and submitting this?
A very vague question and very far from the required assessment task. Not only has this person put their admission of not reading the unit information on a public forum, the lecture can also see this.
My next tip of the week is:
Download ALL unit information and assessment tasks (and read it!)which is available at the start of the new semester. Don't leave it until week 3 to ask where this information can be found.

By all means if you would class yourself as a 'loafer' (see a previous blog post) or you like to leave things to the last minute it may be hard to change your ways. However, your grades are most likely to reflect this and if you make it known on your public uni forum - the lecturer will also know this!

Studying and working

Studying and working can be done. It is just a matter of whether you work part time, full time, casually and have children in the mix. You may need to consider a part time study load at the beginning and increase the number of units the following semester if you think you can juggle you time and work commitments.

One thing that I cannot reiterate enough is to have a diary and use it! It can be a physical or an electronic one. Either way, diarise all your assignment due dates, dedicated study hours as well as social and work commitments to help you plan your semester. Don’t forget to include break days such as that Saturday trip to the beach!

As a mum of one who works from home part time and studies full time, I can only provide an insight from that perspective. I invite you to comment below with your tips on how you juggle your study load and work commitments.

Remember it can be done - just take one day at a time :)

University Student Etiquette

Don’t be seen as the rude student who thinks of themselves as above everyone else. Here are some tips for some common student etiquette:

Don’t
- make a habit of arriving to tutorials or lectures late -
besides being rude, the lecturer will know you for the wrong reasons

- put your feet up on the seat in front of you – especially if someone is sitting there

- make out you know more than the lecturer – no one likes a ‘know it all’

- be too critical of another’s work especially if you haven’t done any yourself

- be the loafer when working on the group assignment – this is a quick way to lose friends

- put negative comments about lecturers or fellow students on your online social network page- anyone can access the internet and it will only reflect negatively on you

- ignore people – network and you will probably learn a thing or two

- forget who will be marking your assignment – ask questions and if you get a grade you are unhappy about – approach the marker sensibly and preferably after you have had a day to think about it.

- Write on the online Uni forum anything you may regret as it is not easily deleted

University is a fun time of learning. Don’t let poor student etiquette get in the way of making new friends, learning and generally enjoying University life.

Feel free to add your own tips!

Making friends at University

Making friends at University (Uni) when an external student is a little more difficult than if you are attending lectures on campus. You are not likely to see fellow students face to face unless you attend an Intensive School (where you attend a few days on campus with other external students) or have an examination with other students from your area.However, you can get to know people quite well through online communication.

Here are my tips to getting to know others in your course.

1. Introduce yourself in your online unit and read fellow students introductions – comment if someone has a similar interest to you or lives in a nearby location.
2. Find out who lives in your area that is studying your units. Usually a list of names and locations are made available to students studying the same units.
3. If attending an Intensive school, organise to meet with someone you have been chatting to within the unit.
4. If group work is required within a unit, join early, introduce yourself and make regular contributions.
5. Contribute to forum discussions and comment on fellow students posts. It is a great way to learn more about a person.

Your time at University is not only about learning but it also has an important social aspect. You never know, you might just find a lifelong friend!

Residential Schools

“The hardest thing to open is a closed mind.”
Author Unknown

Many Universities that offer external studies require students to attend a residential school or intensive school. This is where you need to attend the University for approximately three to five days.

Usually the cheapest way is to stay on campus in the dormitories if this option is available. The alternative is to source private accommodation at a nearby motel which can work out to be quite expensive.

Residential schools are what you make it. It is a time to meet and get to know your fellow students face to face and possibly make lasting friendships. Although the timetable scheduling can be full on with lecture after lecture and tutorial after tutorial, make the most of the opportunity by networking with other students and lecturers.

Ensure you are well prepared for lectures and tutorials with appropriate notes, texts and pen and paper or your laptop. You will find you will gain further insights and possible hints and tips for the exam and assignment. It is also a great opportunity to speak with your lecturer if you have any questions regarding aspects of the unit.

Your first residential school can be daunting but go in with an open mind and think of it as an adventure.
My top 5 tips for a successful residential school;
1. Keep an open mind - going in with a positive mindset
2. Get to know someone in your online tutorial group and plan to meet up with them
3. Familiarise yourself with a map of the campus – usually downloadable from your University website
4. Be prepared – read the text chapter required before arriving on your first day, have a notepad and pen ready
5. Smile and socialise with fellow students – there will be lots of interesting people to meet!

Don’t be the loafer.

When studying either externally or on campus, at some stage you may be required to do a group assignment as part of your assessment.

This can be a frustrating type of assignment especially if you have a loafer in your group. A loafer is one that doesn’t do the work required but expects the credit at the end.

Join an online group as soon as possible as I find those who join first are usually on the ball and ready to work. A wiki is usually where online group work will take place. If there are topics where you are assigned as a leader, ask questions for the others to answer.

Remember the due date is there for a reason but don’t leave your answers and ideas until the last day as the topic leader needs to summarise and most likely post a group response in the forums. Don’t use ‘I work all week’ or ‘it’s not due until tomorrow’ as an excuse not to check the wiki and provide your input. It is better to be up-to-date and involved with the discussion than to whinge that you didn’t get your input posted.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a loafer in your group, you may need to send them a private email along the lines of ‘I hope you are okay, such and such is due tomorrow’. If they do not respond to the group by the deadlines, keep moving along with the topic. The lecturer will read the wiki posts and ascertain who participated actively within the group and who did not respond enough.

You may have the opportunity to do an individual reflective essay on the group assignment where you can talk about participation within the group including the positives and negatives.

Ensuring that you take accountability for your participation in the group will mean an enriched learning experience for you.

Study – what is it and how do I do it?

Study involves learning about a particular topic so that you may retain that information and use it at a later date.

There are many different ways to study. Some people prefer background music, others must have complete silence. Work out the environment that works best for you so that you may get the most out of your study.

Ways of studying include;

- Study notes – a collation of ideas, summaries and general notes made throughout the unit of work.

-Discussion – talk about your topic in person or online with friends, family and fellow students. It doesn’t matter if you go off on a tangent as long as you are talking about and making connections.

-Reading – this could be text books, relevant articles, newspaper reports, online forum posts and anything related to your topic.

-Note taking – take notes of your lectures, text book chapters, interesting articles and any ideas that will be of use

-Self testing – use your study notes to make up your own questions and self test. Give your study notes to a friend or family member to ask you questions. If available, do past exams for practice.

-Ask questions – if you are unsure on a sub – topic, ask your lecturer, fellow students or others knowledgeable in the area of question.

-Investigating – explore further areas of the topic that you find of particular interest or need further explanation.

-Experimenting – especially helpful in the area of science, doing hands on activities may help you make connections.

-Researching – extend your study through wider reading. Find other relevant text books or use the internet for further information on sub-topics.

- Mind mapping - there are many concept maps that can help you show how sub-topics connect

- Brain storming – particularly helpful when preparing for an essay

- Jotting down ideas – anytime ideas may come into your head for that next assignment or exam– make note of these so you can come back to it later.

Ensure you have a tidy desk to do study and to keep your notes. You may choose to be in different environments when you are studying for an exam. For example, you may take your study notes down to the beach for the afternoon or you may take them on the bus to work with you. Wherever you are, make sure you are relaxed and have the concentration you need to make the most of your study.

Exam Blues

An examination (exam) is looming and your stress levels are rising. How can you stay calm, study well and blitz the exam?
Preparing for an exam and getting over the exam jitters is one that takes practice. You need a strategy that works best for you.

Staying calm is the first thing to do. So, you have an exam – find the things you have to learn and know how to do well. Don’t dwell on the fact that an exam is next week. Remind yourself that if you do the preparation work then you will be okay.
Some people prefer the ‘night before cram’ method. Whilst this may work in the short term, the knowledge won’t be there in the long term. It also means that the knowledge you acquire in the cram, you will most likely have to learn again in the future and it won’t be so easy to scaffold for future learning.

A ‘less stress’ method is one that I prefer. Here, you take your learning that you have done throughout the term or semester and compile your study notes. These notes consist of quotes, formulas, models, phrases, ideas, really anything to do with your exam topic. It is best to start compiling notes as the term or semester progresses. For example, if you are required to read chapters two, three, five, seven and eight of your allocated text book then summarise each chapter and include a heading for easy reference.

Most teachers will let provide you with tips on what you will need to know and understand to be successful in your exam. Remember, the exam will only have what you have been learning about during the unit or semester. It is amazing to realise that examination writers (most likely the subject coordinator) that set the exam do not include random topics or questions that you will not have learned about. The examination will cover what you have been learning throughout the term or semester. It is your time to show your teacher what you know!

Know your exam structure. Check whether it is an essay, short answer, multiple choice or a mixture. This should be provided by your teacher prior to your exam and help with your preparation. If it is an essay, know your quotes and who said them. Be able to back up your ideas. Write a sample essay structure including what ideas you will cover in which paragraph. If it is a multiple choice, know your facts. You are usually provided with four possible answers. It will include; one ridiculous answer, one that could be correct, another very close to the true answer and the correct answer. Cross out the definite incorrect answers if you are unsure of the true answer. Just because it is a multiple choice exam does not mean you do not have to know your stuff! With short answer, you will also need to ensure you have plenty of study notes and facts.
Your notes do not have to be full paragraphs. I like to use dot points and expand on anything I am not sure about. Typed notes are easy to read, but written notes are just as good. Make sure you reference where the information came from i.e.: text book, article, lecture. Carry your notes with you wherever you go so that you can glance at them from time to time. The aim is that the information will become familiar, easy to recall, thus ‘stick’ in your mind.

Studying for an exam does not mean you read over your notes day in and day out. You need time to absorb the information and also relax your mind. So make sure you eat well and get enough sleep. You don’t want to be having a brain overload the night before the exam.

The night before the exam, you may have trouble sleeping but if you know you have done the work i.e.: read all chapters, completed assignments, made great notes, spoken with the teacher about any problems, then you have nothing to worry about. You most likely know more than you realise! Get your family members or friends to ask you questions about your topic – just talking about will make you feel better.
One the day of your exam, have one last read over your notes. If you don’t know it now, you won’t know it in time for your exam. But because you have done consistent study over the semester or term you won’t need to stress! Take a bottle of water, pens and sharpened pencils and positive affirmations with you to your exam.

If once you get into your exam, the page in front of you is a blur, take a few deep breaths before starting. Remind yourself that you know your stuff! Take a sip of water and write your name on the exam paper. You will most likely have fifteen minutes reading time and you will be able to make notes. Write all your thoughts and ideas down on paper so that if you do have a mind block – it will be easy for you to refer to your notes. Take note of how much time you have to complete the exam and divide your time between questions so that you pace yourself well.

Once you get writing, it should flow. If you get stuck on a question this is okay. Stop; take a breather and a sip of water. Reread the question or move on to the next question. Don’t forget to mark the unanswered question so you remember to come back to it.

Once you have completed your exam stop, take a sip of water and a few breaths. Reread through your answers checking for punctuation, grammar and that you have answered the question properly.

After your exam – reward yourself. Take the afternoon off study, do something you enjoy. Rest your brain – you deserve it!

5 ways to conquer procrastination

Tired looking at the same white page? Looking and taking any out possible so you don’t have to complete an assignment that is due next Monday?
If you are a procrastinator or experience writer’s block, try these tips to help you get that assignment done and dusted.

1. Just write! It doesn’t have to have referencing, correct spelling and punctuation, just your ideas either written or typed.

2. Jump on to your University forum for inspiration from fellow students who are studying the same topic

3. Talk to your friend, sister, brother, neighbour about the topic your assignment is about. Bouncing ideas off others can sometimes help get your head around what you are going to write.

4. Give yourself a mini reward if you write 100 words. This could be check your email, grab a snack or check your phone. Give yourself a bigger reward if you write your first draft such as read a magazine or take the dog for a walk.

5. Reread your assessment information and write down the key words including words relating to the topic and words on how to write the assignment. This can help with getting a plan of attack to write your assignment.

10 Tips To Kick-Start Your New Study Year

10 Tips to kick start your new study year
It is the start of the New Year and many are first year University students studying via distance for the first time. Elearning is a great way to further your education and get to exactly where you want to be. Receiving all your University material at once can be quite overwhelming. It is best to take small steps and ease yourself into your new study year. Here are ten tips to kick start your new elearning year;
1. Ease yourself into the new semester
- start with navigating your way around the university site
- read through your assignments and study topics
- work out what you will need to read first

2. Organise Yourself
-De-clutter your study space
-Refill your black and colour ink cartridges
-schedule study times
- have plenty of printer paper and pens on hand

3. Order Your Textbooks
- you will need them by the first day of the teaching period.
-order second hand textbooks to reduce costs

4. Prepare your diary
-schedule in important events ie: weddings, birthdays
-write in your assignment due dates
-write in the exam period

5. Introduce yourself to your fellow students
- most of your communication will be online so introduce yourself on the online forum
- include your name, year of study, location and something interesting about yourself
-join online study groups if available

6. Eat well
- eat plenty of fruit and vegetables everyday
-get adequate sleep every night
- you need to have an alert mind

7. Exercise everyday
- even if you only have time for 15 minutes!
- try yoga and stretching
- vary your routine so you don’t get bored
- alert body = alert mind

8. Get into good habits now
- stick to your study schedule
- check your University email regularly
- log on to University forums daily
- use your diary

9. Write down your goals
- have long term and short term goals
- write down what you need to accomplish each study session ie: read article xyz
- reward yourself regularly

10. Remind Yourself
- the overwhelming feeling will go away
- take one day at a time, take one week at a time
- tick of the study schedule as you go
- the more you use online tools , the easier they will become to use

No longer do you have to think ‘where do I start?’ – you have already started. You have taken the first steps to further your education – well done!