library workshops booklet

The Power Hour programme offers a range of one hour workshops aimed at enhancing information, research, study and IT skills. Choose from a variety of topics - from finding information online to preparing for exams and from essay writing to coping with stress.

Power Hours are provided by Information Services and delivered by specialists staff from across the University More information, including presenter details, printable slides , screencasts, handouts and links to additional IT training are available online www.hw.ac.uk/library/workshops.html.

The sessions are all held in the Anderson Room or the adjacent Library Teaching Room, both on the top floor of the Edinburgh Campus Library (local notices will direct you to the appropriate room).

The sessions are open to all students and staff.

PhD students may also be interested in the ‘Research Futures’ programme provided by Academic Enhancement www.hw.ac.uk/AEteam/Research_Futures/ Research_Students.html.

Sessions are usually held at 12.15-13.15 or 16.15-17.15, with many sessions repeated throughout the Semester. If you can’t attend, slides are available online - or you can contact the presenter to arrange a one-to-one or group session.

Unless otherwise indicated, there is no need to book, just come along! (though spaces are limited). For sessions that show ‘booking required’, please email [email protected] giving your name and the workshop title, date and time.

Power HoursWorkshop Programme2012-13 (Semester 1)

Distinctly Ambitiouswww.hw.ac.uk/library/workshops.html

WHAT?

WHERE?

FoR WHo?

WHEn?

Do I HAvE To book? BookIngREquIREd

CITIng AnD REFEREnCIngCome along to this session to make sure you cite it right!

This overview session will cover the what, why, when and how of citing and referencing. Find out how citing and referencing can help you avoid plagiarism and get tips on making the whole process a lot easier. gives general advice on good practice and touches briefly on EndnoteWeb.

Wed 26 Sept,� Tues 16 oct or Thurs 01 nov� 12:15-13:15 or Tues 23 oct 16:15-17:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah kelly / Marion kennedy,� Library

“The most helpful dissertation related lecture so far.”

CITIng AnD REFEREnCIng (HARvARD)Learn how to cite it right using Harvard!

Learn how to cite and reference using a Harvard system. get an overview of the citing and referencing process with details and examples of how to reference using this (author, date) style.

Tues 02 oct or Mon 05 nov� 16:15-17:15 or Fri 26 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: kirsty Thomson,� Library

“very helpful, well explained. Clear concise handouts.”

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EnDnoTEWEbSpend less time typing up reference lists!

Are you jotting down details of sources on scraps of paper that get lost? Can’t find the page numbers of that really good quote? Reference notes in a mess? Citing & referencing a bit of a chore? Find out how EndnoteWeb can help you: collate, annotate and organise your references, create reference lists & add citations in your text - automatically.

Thurs 04 oct, Fri 19 oct, Wed 31 oct, Fri 09 nov� or Thurs 15 nov� 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah kelly / Marion kennedy / kirsty Thomson,� Library

”I am absolutely delighted! A very useful workshop! Will definitely encourage reading more and save time doing referencing.”

UnDERSTAnDIng TURnITInFind out how the plagiarism avoidance tool in Vision can help you cite it right!

� Are you an undergraduate? Does your lecturer use vision and allow you to check your assignments using Turnitin prior to final submission?

� Are you a postgraduate? Do you want to check your thesis or research papers in Turnitin prior to submission?

If you would you like to know how Turnitin can help you avoid plagiarism caused by misunderstanding and misuse, or if you would like to know how to read and interpret reports generated by Turnitin, then come to this session on Turnitin for students.

Mon 15 oct or Fri 02 nov� 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: nicole kipar,� Academic Enhancement

“Excellent friendly delivery. Was well presented.“

Citing,� Referencing and Av�oiding Plagiarism

LET’S gET IT onLInEFind out what you can access on and off-campus!

Can’t make it to the Library? Don’t fancy the bus trip to campus? not sure how to access full-text articles and books off-campus? Wondering if there is a ‘Digital Library’? We have loads available online which you can easily access from home or from your halls…or anywhere around the world! Come along and get answers to your FAQs.

Tues 18 Sept 12:15-13:15 or Tues 25 Sept 16:15-17:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah kelly,� Library

“Was well delivered. Clear, good pace and well prepared.”

googLE gURUBetter searches...better results

Learn how to search google effectively, evaluate what you find and use with confidence in academic assignments. This workshop will introduce you to:

� advanced search techniques � google book search � google Scholar � evaluation techniques

Tues 09 oct 16:15-17:15 or Tues 30 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Catherine ure,� Library

“Excellently Done!”

LITERATURE SEARCHIng / REvIEWWhat is a literature review and how do I find suitable sources to review?

Have you been told to find more suitable ‘academic’ or ‘peer-reviewed’ material to use in your assignments? Do you have to undertake a literature review? Have you tried searching for good information online (i.e. you’ve googled it), but think there must be better information out there? If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, then this non-subject-specific session outlines good practice to help you get the authoritative information you need.

Mon 24 Sept, Mon 22 oct or Tues 06 nov� 12:15-13:15 or Mon 15 oct 16:15-17:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah kelly,� Library

“Well presented. Interesting and clear. Thank you.“

MAxIMISIng THE IMPACT oF yoUR RESEARCH For PHD students and early career researchers.

This workshop will introduce you to various tools to help you monitor and promote your research.

Wed 31 oct 16:15-17:15

PRESEnTER: Catherine ure / Linda kerr,� Library

CRITICAL THInkIng AnD EvALUATIonSources - are they accurate, appropriate, academic?

Learn how to evaluate online resources, including journals, research papers, websites and images.

Mon 08 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Linda kerr,� Library

“very good.”

CRITICAL READIng oF A JoURnAL PAPER (InTERACTIvE)Fun with analysing some research!

Prior reading essential. This interactive workshop will analyse a spoof (i.e. joke) research paper in order to show how a critical reader assesses the claims made in a journal paper and decides to what extent they are based on valid and reliable evidence. It is essential that participants read the paper by Lim et al. (2005) “The case of the disappearing teaspoons” before attending this session and bring a copy to the workshop. Copies of the article are available from the Edinburgh Campus Library Service Desk.

Tues 02 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: olwyn Alexander,� School of Management and Languages

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MInDMAP WITH MInDgEnIUS Is your mind bursting with ideas? Capture, visualise and organise them quickly in a MindMap!

Find out how Mindgenius, a visual tool, can help you collect and organise your ideas. Create and develop your Mindmap, add notes and other information and export it to Word and PowerPoint.

Wed 19 Sept or Mon 29 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Moira Stephen,� IT

Finding and Ev�aluating Information

BookIngREquIREd

You MUST book for these sessions. See front cover for details.

STyLE In ACADEMIC WRITIng (InTERACTIvE)What is academic writing? How do I present myself to my marker?

In this interactive workshop we will contrast academic texts with journalism and other kinds of writing in order to develop an understanding of the audience and purpose of academic texts which determines their structure and style. Participants will be asked to analyse texts and discuss their analysis with a partner.

Mon 01 oct 12:15-13:15


“It is helpful especially to international students.”

WRITIng A LITERATURE REvIEWWhat is a literature review and how do I write one?

A literature review is a justification for doing research and for doing it in a particular way. Participants will explore the purpose of literature reviews in their field, the degree of criticality expected and the relationship to the rest of the dissertation/thesis or paper. They will also consider features such as finding a voice and taking a stance towards the literature under review.

Thurs 25 oct or Mon 05 nov� 12:15-13:15


“Excellent!”

THE WRITE STUFFDevelop your writing skills

get advice on the main stages of essay writing:

� how to analyse titles

� how to organise the material you collect

� what to look for when editing your drafts

� what kind of essays get good marks

� how to plan, develop and write a good argument

� what to do when writer’s block hits

Tues 25 Sept or Thurs 11 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Isabelle Pottinger,� Library

“Well delivered and very helpful.”

REPoRT WRITIngGet the know-how. Get a good report.

Improve your writing skills with this workshop on how to tackle compiling a report. Different from an essay in its layout and structure, this session will help you understand the purpose of a report, how to plan it and how best to structure it in terms of presentation and layout.

Thurs 18 oct 16:15-17:15


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WoRD: ADD A bIT oF STyLE… So busy concentrating on content, you end up with the formatting all over the place? Come and find out how to sort things out – quickly!

As an added bonus, you will also find out how you can quickly create numbered headings and build and update a table of contents. Time saving essentials!

Thurs 27 Sept or Tues 06 nov� 12:15-13:15


BookIngREquIREd

WoRD: DIvIDE AnD ConQUER yoUR PAgE LAyoUT…Get to grips with sections and solve your page layout nightmares

This session on page layout looks at how you can combine different page layouts within the same document - portrait and landscape pages, different page numbering formats, and varying headers and footers.

Tues 16 oct or Wed 14 nov� 12:15 - 13:15


Presenting Information

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WoRD: LInkS, FooTnoTES AnD CAPTIonS… Make sense of your document with these useful features

Find out how you can create links in your file using hyperlinks, bookmarks and cross-references and how to add, format and edit footnotes and endnotes. This session will also show you how to insert captions and create and update a table of figures.

Wed 10 oct or Fri 26 oct 12:15-13:15


PRESEnTATIon SkILLSTips and techniques for giving various different types of presentations

At various points throughout your course, you’ll probably be asked to give talks or presentations – maybe to fellow students or to your tutors. Come along to this session to get some tips and techniques on how to plan, prepare and deliver your presentation. Remember the Library also has two group study rooms with audio-visual equipment where you can run through your presentations. Practice makes perfect!

Thurs 27 Sept 12:15-13:15


“Really professional.”

BookIngREquIREd

PoWERPoInT: FoR PRESEnTATIonS… Essential PowerPoint skills to add some zap to your presentation!

Find out how to add, update, format and animate the objects on your slides.

Mon 01 oct or Thurs 01 nov� 12:15-13:15


PoSTER PRESEnTATIonLearn the key steps to planning and designing a great poster

Posters, once used mainly by researchers to publicise their work, are increasingly being used as a form of assessment for undergraduate courses. If you are:

� unsure what a poster is supposed to achieve

� wondering how best to summarise technical content

� finding designing an academic poster a difficult and time-consuming task

Then come along to this workshop to make planning and designing quality academic posters an achievable goal.

Tues 09 oct 12:15-13:15


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PoWERPoInT: FoR PoSTERS… Need a poster to back up your work? Find out how to create effective posters using PowerPoint

Find out about page size and orientation; guides and grids; zoom, inserting and formatting text; inserting images, tables, graphs and diagrams; aligning and distributing objects; colour, borders and background.

Fri 12 oct or Mon 22 oct 12:15-13:15


BookIngREquIREd

You MUST book for these sessions. See front cover for details.

TEAMWoRkIngLearn the benefits of working with others in a team

As employers increasingly value ‘interpersonal skills’ or ‘people skills’, more of the curriculum at university is being dedicated to training students in the skills of working effectively with others. Come along to this workshop where we will explore how to:

� develop your communication skills

� learn through group work and discussion

� develop confidence in participating in discussion groups

� be part of a mutual support group

Thurs 04 oct 16:15-17:15


gET oRgAnISEDI know I have it somewhere...

Are you surrounded by a sea of paper, but can never find what you’re looking for? In this workshop we’ll share tips and advice for organising your notes and reading material. We’ll look at online tools including Evernote and Instapaper, discuss how to name files so that you can always find that vital journal article, and consider methods for managing your printouts.

Tues 23 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: kirsty Thomson,� Library

HoW To MAnAgE STRESS: TIPS & TECHnIQUESFeeling a bit stressed or anxious with lots of work to do?

Using Cognitive behavioural Principles this workshop will show you some useful methods to remain calm, feel good and manage your workload by exploring:

� how to avoid behaviours that can make stress worse

� how stress can affect you – identifying your own stress ‘triggers’

� how to use breathing techniques to help manage anxiety

Wed 10 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: kenny Boyd,� Student Support and Accommodation

“very helpful to know why we get stressed to start with.“

TIME MAnAgEMEnTHelp balance study, leisure and work!

keen to do well at university? If you find:

� everything is coming at you all at once?

� too much course work - too little time?

� need to earn money but still want to go out with friends?

There’s no need to panic. This practical session covers how to manage your time better, get more done and still have time to go out. Please bring your timetable.

Thurs 20 Sept 12:15-13:15 or Wed 24 oct 16:15-17:15


HoW To SToP PUTTIng THIngS oFF AnD FEEL MoTIvATED: TIPS & TECHnIQUESPutting things off until tomorrow? Avoiding completing tasks altogether? Feeling de-motivated?

Putting off or delaying starting work can result in us feeling more stressed and under pressure, yet we can find ourselves repeating this behaviour time and time again. This workshop will explore:

� the reasons why we put things off

� what we can do about it

� ideas to help with motivation and ‘getting started’

Fri 28 Sept, Thurs 18 oct or Thurs 08 nov� 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: kenny Boyd,� Student Support and Accommodation

“Really useful.”

Study and Lifestyle Tips

TIPS FoR EFFECTIvE STUDyMake use of your strengths and succeed in your studies!

based around techniques and strategies useful for students with dyslexia, the study tips, techniques, links to resources, and advice given in this session will be helpful for all students’ organisational, time management and general study skills. Come along to find out more.

Wed 03 oct or Wed 24 oct 12:15-13:15

PRESEnTER: Lorraine Vallance,� Student Support and Accommodation

“very good. Made clear basic things that I neglected.”

MAkIng THE MoST oF yoUR ACADEMIC MEnToRWhat’s in it for me?

This workshop highlights the role of the student and academic in the mentor relationship. What should the mentor be there to do and provide? The obvious answer is to provide support and guidance to the student on their studies and performance, are you achieving your best? but there is also the role of providing references for their student in relation to employment, accommodation or banks etc (students often forget about this). Providing a reference is difficult if the mentor does not know the student so it also important for the student to take some responsibility in making this relationship work to their advantage. This workshop will look at the student/mentor relationship in more detail.

Tues 18 Sept 16.15-17.15

PRESEnTER: Fiona grant,� School of the Built Env�ironment

gET ACTIvE. EAT WELL. STUDy EFFECTIvELy!Improve your concentration and productivity!

It is well recognised that physical activity can help you to concentrate. It is also understood that a good diet can help. This session will give you some top tips on how to incorporate physical activity and a good diet into your lifestyle to help improve your ability to study effectively. Come along to find out about the benefits of physical activity and good diet on your concentration and productivity. Please bring comfortable shoes and a jacket for a short walk (weather permitting).

Wed 03 oct or Tues 20 nov� 16:15-17:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah Robertson,� Centre for Sport and Exercise

“very good exercise and informative studies.“

STAy FoCUSED FoR STUDy: THE RoLE oF PoSTURE In ConCEnTRATIon Don’t let studying become a pain in the neck!

Spending hours slumped at a desk or hunched over a computer studying? beginning to lose focus? Come along to this session to find out how your posture can affect your concentration. Learn about the role of your frontal cortex and get tips on how to get more from your study time.

Wed 14 nov� 14:15-15:15

PRESEnTER: Sarah Robertson / gary Blackwood,� Centre for Sport and Exercise

bE PREPARED! THE ExAM SURvIvAL gUIDEDon’t let exams get you down...

being prepared, as Scouts around the world will testify, is key to success - especially when it comes to exams. Find out how to:

� work smarter, not harder

� decide which questions to answer and in what order

� communicate what you have learned

� avoid what really irritates examiners

� devise revision strategies

� avoid making common mistakes

Tues 13 nov� or Thurs 22 nov� 12:15-13:15


Information Services

presenter information online www.hw.ac.uk/library/workshops.html

library workshops booklet

Documents