Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Postgraduate Essentials
Online induction to the course
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
What is PG Essentials?
• 6 time released modules each live for 1 or
2 weeks
• Forums with access to ~90 brilliant minds!
• Chat rooms for real time discussions
• Videos of real supervisors and students
discussing their experiences
• Surveys, quizzes and downloadable tools
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
•
•
How does it work?
An online learning course hosted in LEARN
You will have 6 modules to work through
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
•
•
•
Getting Started
Getting Organised
Working with Your Supervisor
Searching the Literature
Writing a Literature Review
The first Year Review
You have access to the materials after the course has
finished
Each module is supported by course staff
You work through the course at your own pace, as,
when and where it suits you
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
How does it really work!?
Through your participation and input!
• Communicating and interacting with other
postgraduates is vital if you are to get the
most from this course.
• You can use the chat and forum facilities
to discuss your experiences and explore
concerns and problems with other
postgraduates.
• Peer support and peer resources are a
vital component of the course. You will
have so much to learn from each others
experiences.
• Use the site as a way to explore this
resource.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
The course team
• Tutor: IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?
– Each week a specially selected tutor will be
on hand to offer specific advice, information
and ideas for discussion around the current
topic. You will have a new tutor each module
• Moderator:
– A current PhD student will be on line
throughout the course, prompting discussions
and pointing to useful sources of advice and
information
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Your Role
• Get involved!
• Post on the forums
• Take the information you need from the
session – it is flexible so you can use what
is useful and go at your own pace.
• Let us know if there are additional sources
of information or support you would like to
see in the course
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Lets get started...
This part of the course
will help you log on to
PG Essentials and get
started.
Follow along with
these slides for a tour
of the course…
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
What’s LEARN (VLE)
LEARN is an online learning environment that
packages many different tools together in a single
place along with learning resources to facilitate a
student’s learning.
A student does not have to be physically present in
a classroom to interact with their tutors and fellow
students, and can therefore continue learning
whether doing research in the field or simply from
home where time allows.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Login to LEARN
To login to LEARN follow these instructions:
1.
Login to MyEd and click on the ‘Studies’ Tab
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Login to LEARN cont.
2.
3.
Find the LEARN channel (you will see a list
of courses you are enrolled in)
Click on the PG Essentials course.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
PGE Course Contents
Once Logged in you will see the screen
(on right) with the main navigation
bar.
This bar will help you navigate all the
main sections of the course:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Course Content
Assessments
Discussions
Chat
Who’s Online
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Course Content
The main course content page will show you
the all the course modules as they become
available in folders (like on the right)
Clicking on the folders will take you to the
actual course material that is the heart of the
course.
The modules all have certain icons to help
you work more efficiently on the course (next
slide)…
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Module Icons
Every Module will have a table of contents
that you can navigate on the left hand side
of the screen and icons (circled red in
image).
These icons behave exactly as described:
Notes – lets you take notes
Print – creates a printable document of any
page
Bookmark – lets you bookmark pages for
easy reference
Start, Previous, Next and Last – allow you
to navigate the pages in the learning
module you’re in.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Assessments
This course has several online
assessments you will be asked to
complete. WebCT says they are timed
and graded, however they are not.
The assessments you are asked to
complete as part of PGE are designed
for self reflection, to prompt you to start
thinking about the things you should be
thinking about in the first 6 months of
your PhD.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Discussions
The Discussion forums are
available for a variety of
purposes. We encourage you
to use them as much as
possible. The way PG
Essentials is designed, means
that the more you put into the
course, and the forums, the
more you will get out of it!
Note: We expect all participants to
show professionalism and courtesy in
the forums at all time. Please refrain
from using offensive language and treat
each other with respect.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Chat
The Chat function will allow you to enter the
PGE chat room and have live discussions
with tutors and your peers.
To do so, just click on the ‘Common Room’
as indicated here.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Who’s Online
The Who’s Online link in the Navigation
Menu will show you everyone who is
currently logged into the course.
This is useful if you would like to send instant
messages or chat requests to fellow students
or tutors.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Extras
Help Section
The help section for the course can be
found in the ‘Welcome’ module on the
course contents page. Here you can find
the FAQ and System Requirements for the
course.
FAQ
The FAQ should answer most questions
but should your question not appear, there
is contact info by which you can reach us
directly.
System Requirements
The system requirements will tell you what
the minimum computer requirements are to
run the course, and includes links to all the
needed software and updates, should you
not meet these requirements.
Postgraduate Essentials
University of Edinburgh
Good Luck!
That is everything you need to know to get started. Feel free to log in and explore.
As new modules are made available the corresponding forums will become available for topic relevant
discussion.
For now, head over to the postgraduate lounge and introduce yourself!