Keys to Success Program
Semester 2, 2009
About the Program
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You have to produce assignments for different units, good enough to convince
the examiners of your ability, and you can’t even get started!
Having trouble managing the demands of academic writing? Not only that, but
your writing in general lacks fluency.
You are quite concerned about the study load and time management required
for success in your study.
You have heard the word plagiarism but don’t know how to avoid it.
You are not sure about your ability in participating in a group project. You have
never done any oral presentation in academic setting.
You are interested in developing a broader and deeper understanding of
academic skills related to your subjects.
If any of this is your concern, Keys to Success Program will be something which can
really help you.
The Learning Skill Unit within the Monash Caulfield library runs academic skills
workshops for all students who wish to update or improve their study skills, their
marks and hence their futures. The Faculty of Information Technology, in conjunction
with the Learning Skills unit, has developed a tailored programme of academic
support, called Keys to Success, particularly aimed at post graduate coursework
students.
Book into the Keys to Success Program by logging in to my monash portal, then into
Blackboard.
Registration
To register for a workshop:
https://my.monash.edu.au
under the “Blackboard” system under the “My Monash” portal
Keys to Success – Nira Rahman, Learning Skills Advisor, Monash Library, Caulfield
Workshops: date, time, location
Title
Key 1
Unlocking the Library - Library
Research Skills
Date
Time
Room
24/07/09
10 –11 am H1.26
29/07/09
12-1 pm
H1.26
Presenter
Andrew
Dixon
Andrew
Dixon
Nira
Rahman
Key 2
Effective Academic Writing in
English
31/07/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Key 3
Understanding and Using
Assignment Writing Guidelines
07/08/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Nira
Rahman
Key 4
Plagiarism: Why it happens, how it
is detected, and most importantly,
how to avoid it
14/08/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
David
Squire
Key 5
Beyond Cutting and Pasting:
Incorporating Sources into your
Writing
21/08/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Nira
Rahman
Key 6
Structuring a Report
28/08/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Nira
Rahman
Key 7
Making Group work Work:
Academic Discussion Skills
04/09/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Nira
Rahman
Key 8
Presenting with Impact: Academic
Oral Presentations
11/09/09
10am –
12pm
H1.26
Nira
Rahman
Writing Sessions
These writing sessions are terrific ways for new coursework postgraduate student
writers to support, encourage, critique and motivate one another in writing academic
assignments. These writing sessions will provide an opportunity for: exploring writing
styles and techniques; discussing frameworks and critical arguments; sharing
academic references; discussing strategies for structuring and what is required in an
academic assignment; and other ideas. This one hour session will run from week four
to week ten of the semester. Students are encouraged to bring their own
assignments and their written work to get assistance in required writing style and
structure and then formulating their own write-ups.
.Week
4
5
7
9
10
Date
12/08/09
19/08/09
02/09/09
16/09/09
23/09/09
Time
12 – 1 pm
12 – 1 pm
12 – 1 pm
12 – 1 pm
12 – 1 pm
Place
H7.81
H7.81
H7.81
H7.81
H7.81
Keys to Success – Nira Rahman, Learning Skills Advisor, Monash Library, Caulfield
Workshops explained
Key 1 Unlocking the Library - Library Research Skills
This workshop will provide an introduction to library resources and services. This will
also focus on how to find information and access electronic databases as well as
acknowledging & listing sources and using Citing & referencing.
Key 2 Effective Academic Writing in English
This workshop will cover the linguistic and structural/contextual aspect of academic
writing in English, and provide some tips and practice for improving your writing skill.
Key 3 Understanding and using Assignment Writing Guidelines
By using the assignment requirements as writing guidelines, this workshop will explore
the expectations of writing at postgraduate level. This will include understanding the
task, appropriately using research literature, and structuring a well developed and
logical assignment.
Key 4 Plagiarism: Why it happens, how it is detected, and most importantly,
how to avoid it
This workshop will explain what plagiarism means in an academic context. It will
discuss various reasons why students might plagiarize, how plagiarism is detected at
Monash, and what its consequences are. It will also focus on why plagiarism is
considered such an academic sin, and how students can work in ways that help them
to avoid it.
Key 5 Beyond Cutting and Pasting: Incorporating Sources into your Writing
This workshop will focus on dealing with different relevant reading materials and
incorporate those into your writing. This workshop will help you identify strategies for
using references effectively while maintaining your own voice in writing.
Key 6 Structuring a Report
This workshop will cover how to structure and write a report according to correct
academic procedures. This workshop will also cover paraphrasing techniques.
Key 7 Making Group work Work: Academic Discussion Skills
This workshop will provide useful tips for effective group participation, such as
knowing when to speak, what to say, and how to address your peers within a group.
This workshop will also suggest ways of sharing information in pro-active discussions,
as well as being an effective listener and critical thinker.
Key 8 Presenting with Impact: Academic Oral Presentations
This workshop will provide various strategies for effective oral / seminar presentation,
with opportunities for participants to practice what they learn.
Keys to Success – Nira Rahman, Learning Skills Advisor, Monash Library, Caulfield
Learning Skills Unit;
services for students
Learning skills are the core skills and attributes that tertiary students need to acquire
within an academic environment and disciplinary context. Learning Skills Advisers
provide services and resources to those who want to improve their academic learning
skills, including:
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academic English for native and non-native speakers
oral communication and presentation
academic reading skills
study skills, exam preparation, effective listening and note-taking
problem-solving and critical thinking
academic essay, report and thesis writing
http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/classes/caulfield/
Drop-in sessions
Drop in sessions will run everyday from week 2 to week 14.
Monday
12 – 2 pm
Tuesday
5 – 8 pm
Wednesday
12 – 2 pm & 5 – 8 pm
Thursday
5 – 8 pm
Friday
12 – 2 pm
http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/classes/caulfield/learning-skills.html
One to one consultations
Students can directly contact Nira Rahman to have individual appointments.
Phone: 9903 2444
Email: nira.rahman@lib.monash.edu.au
Facilitated Study Groups/ Writing Sessions
Students can bring examples of their assignment and discuss and work it with others
in the group. The Learning Skills Adviser will guide your study group in reviewing any
questions or issues regarding the tiny details of academic writing.
Workshops
A series of workshops on a range of topics from reading and writing skills to time
management to exam techniques will be offered under the Keys to Success
Programme.
Keys to Success Program
compiled by
Nira Rahman of the Learning Skills Unit
Keys to Success – Nira Rahman, Learning Skills Advisor, Monash Library, Caulfield