One of our main services to you, as the University Library, is providing access to high-quality academic resources and we do this in abundance – although at present you cannot access the physical book stock, you do have access to nearly 250,000 online resources!
Accessing
Online Resources
The best place to start accessing your online resources is your Online Reading List, as your tutors will have compiled a list of great materials to begin your research journey. But really great research doesn’t limit itself to just one place, so be sure to make the most of all your resources via the Library Catalogue, Discover More and your online specialist subject databases.
Lots of eBooks remain multi-user, where available, with many extended to unlimited access until 30th June. We are also continuing to prioritise eBook purchases, looking into further electronic provisions and have a handy eBooks Guide to help you read online, or download, at your leisure.
If you come across any materials, such as books or journal articles, that are not currently accessible online then don’t despair – this isn’t the end of the line! Simply place a request via our You Want It, We Get It service, select the electronic option and we will do our best* to source a copy for you.
*Please note not all requests can be fulfilled electronically, but we will always try out best
Additional
Resources
Many publishers around the world are still making additional content temporarily available to support teaching and learning where access to physical books and resources may be limited. Keep up to date with all of these extra resources, and how to access them, on the additional access to eResources webpage.
UniSkills
So, all these resources, and lots of ways to access them, may feel a little overwhelming but don’t worry because that’s another great service we provide – helping you find, navigate and make the most of all your online resources!
A great
place to start is our Digital
Library Induction and UniSkills
Finding Academic Information webpages. On here we have created a package of
online tutorials to guide you through how to access, and make the most of, your
key learning resources. And don’t forget you can also book
a UniSkills virtual 1-2-1 appointment for support with library search
skills, finding resources and improving your search strategy, including:
Finding resources for your assignment
Searching the Library Catalogue for books and eBooks
Using Discover More to find online journal articles and other online resources
Discuss and develop search strategies
Further
Help & Support
If you need any further help or support with your online resources, or any other library related queries, get in touch with us via email or live chat.
All the team in Library and Learning Services want to say a big virtual HELLO to all the new Fastrack students who are joining us from 15th June. We know that it is an usual time to be starting a new course but we would like to reassure you that even though the University Library is currently closed, there is still lots of help available. All our staff are working virtually to provide all the support that you would normally receive on campus.
The University Library, based in Catalyst, is currently closed but we do have an extensive range of online resources including thousands of eJournals and eBooks that you can access online at a time that suits you. Search for online resources via our Library Catalogue and Discover More. There are lots of guides, toolkits and videos available to help you access and make the most of these resources on our Finding Academic Information webpages.
Your DASS module will give you lots of information about how to develop your study skills at University. The UniSkills service is also available to provide extra help, support and guidance should you need it. We have webinars running all over the summer and we are also running a special webinar for Fastrack students called Grow Your Academic Resilience on 18th June at 11am and 2pm – put the date in your diary!
If you have, or think you have, a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) such as dyslexia or dyspraxia then you can contact the SpLD team via email for more information about what support is available.
For general enquiries about resources for your study, IT related enquiries or academic skills support you can contact the Catalyst Helpdesk Monday to Friday between 08am and 8pm and Saturday and Sunday between 10am – 6pm.
Studying and learning online can seem challenging at first so why not check out our top tips for studying off campus. We would like to wish you all the very best of luck with your Fastrack course and we look forward to supporting you very soon.
With so many of us now working – and studying – from home, we thought you might be missing our friendly faces. With that in mind, our team wanted to reintroduce ourselves and give you a little reminder about who we are and what we do…
LS Student Engagement Team on Weekly ‘Coffee Break’ Meeting
The Student Engagement team is part of Learning Services and can normally be found in Catalyst. You may well have met some of us (prior to lockdown) at one of our UniSkills workshops or 1-2-1 appointments, but if you haven’t, now might be the time to get to know us. Most of our team are Academic Skills Advisors, who meet with students to discuss any concerns they may have about their academic writing, referencing, searching for books and journals, making presentations etc. – the list goes on. This can be during a 1-2-1 appointment where we can focus solely on your work, or during a UniSkills workshop where we meet with you in small groups and tackle academic skills together.
Whilst we might not be able to meet with you face to face at the moment, we can still support you online via virtual appointmentsand webinars – we are only a couple of mouse clicks away. Why not check out the full list of UniSkills webinars we currently run, to see if there is something we can help you with. Webinars are great, as you can sit back, take the information in and ask any questions through the chat function – no video/audio is required. For 1-2-1 appointments we can use video/audio, but if you prefer not to, we don’t mind, as there is always the chat function available and you can type what you would like to say instead. All our support is self-bookable online through the links included above.
We hope that your academic writing is going well, but if you are
finding it difficult, please do get in touch and don’t struggle alone. Our team
is here to help.
Now over to
my colleagues, so you can see who makes up the team and find out a little bit
more about us all. I’ll go first…
Claire Olson – Academic Skills Advisor
Hello, I’m Claire, I’ve worked at Edge Hill for over 3 years and have enjoyed every moment. I love that I get to meet so many students and hopefully help them when they are struggling with their writing or referencing. Sometimes it’s just the opportunity to talk an essay through which helps and that to me is the best bit of my role.
Outside of work, I’m juggling homeschooling my 7-year-old daughter (like so many others) with completing my final Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education assignment. Hats off to those of you writing essays whilst keeping little ones amused, I know it’s not easy!
To try and relax I’m enjoying lots of reading in the sun and playing too much online scrabble! More reasons why my assignment still isn’t finished, now what do we say about procrastination…
Maisie Prior – Academic Skills Advisor
I’m passionate about helping students navigate through the minefield of university assessment and reflect on their own learning.
There’s nothing like the lightbulb moment when criticality “clicks”, or seeing students support one another in our UniSkills workshops and learning communities.
Originally from Anglesey, in beautiful North Wales, I’ve been a librarian for over 20 years and I still provide support in finding, evaluating and deploying information.
However, within my role here at Edge Hill, I get to support students in developing their academic writing practice too. It’s great to see students develop and improve as a result of your intervention, be that through one-to-one appointments, workshops or embedded sessions. During these challenging times, I’ve been trying to make the most of the lovely weather by getting out on my bike.
Andy Tomkins – Academic Skills Advisor
I am a qualified librarian and have worked at Edge Hill for 13 years. My role involves helping students with referencing, finding academic information and developing their academic writing. This can involve one to one support, a UniSkills workshop or an embedded session arranged by your tutor.
I find it very rewarding to help someone with something that they may have struggled with and to see their understanding develop. I’ve been really impressed with the students I’ve helped during the current pandemic, that so many people are working hard under very challenging circumstances.
My main hobby is hillwalking and for much of the lockdown I wasn’t able to do this, something that was very difficult for me. Instead, I’ve been on lots of local walks and have noted the wildlife I’ve seen. As a result, my appreciation and knowledge of the area I live in, has really increased. That has been a big positive for me.
Helen Briscoe – Academic Skills Advisor
My name is Helen and I have worked in the Student Engagement Team for 18 months, but have been at Edge Hill University for almost 18 years! I love that my role enables me to meet so many students and support them with academic skills development, and couldn’t ask for a more friendly and encouraging team to work in 😊
Since starting in this post I have really enjoyed being involved in developing new initiatives such as UniSpeaks and Returning to Learning that enables students to come together in learning communities to support each other.
Currently, I am working from home with two teenagers in the house, so I always try to carve out some time to relax when I can. I am an avid reader and love cryptic crosswords which are a great way to become totally absorbed in something other than work or study. I also really enjoy jigsaws and am now onto my 3rd since the start of lockdown.
Sharon Pieroni – Academic Skills Advisor
I work with students to help them to develop new skills and to enhance existing skills, particularly in relation to academic writing.
During the lockdown, like many staff, I’ve been working from home. When I’m not working, I enjoy sewing and making clothes. To put this to use, I’ve joined the local For the Love of Scrubs group and we’ve made lots of scrubs for those working at Ormskirk and Southport hospitals, as well as for many Health Care Professionals from Edge Hill University. I’m happy that what I consider to be my ‘therapeutic pastime’ can help in a small way during this time!
Louise Speakman – Academic Skills Advisor
My name is Louise, the one with the lovely Wigan accent where you may need subtitles in a session or appointment to understand it, the accent that is not the work. I am usually based in the Catalyst but right now can be found in a workspace at home. I genuinely enjoy the total diverse range of students I see on a daily basis; I am selfishly thrilled when I see the recognition or light bulb moment on your face when something works, and I learn so much from you guys.
Lockdown has been tough for many of us, I invested in a second-hand treadmill, I did not want to splurge too much, I am hoping to leave the house at some point in the future. As well as discovering my friends can use online meeting software, this to me has been a very special piece of equipment physically and psychologically. #staysafe
Kat Molesworth – Academic Skills Advisor
I am usually based at the Manchester St. James’ campus but with the opportunity to work in Catalyst too – best of both worlds! Amongst other things, I really like meeting the range of students we have here at Edge Hill through UniSkills workshops and 1-2-1 support, talking about writing and thinking together with them, learning about what they are working on, and most of all seeing it when their hard work pays off.
During lockdown, my office has been in the kitchen, so I’ve tried to relax by growing some healthy vegetables with the help of my cat to cut the snacking (not sure it’s working yet!).
Whilst our Academic Skills Advisors spend a lot of time front of house, meeting with students face to face, we also have key members of the team backstage who keep us all on track and have the big responsibility of managing the team and academic skills provision…
Helen Jamieson – Head of Student Engagement
I’m Helen and I am responsible for the delivery of academic skills support – what we call UniSkills at Edge Hill. I manage the Academic Skills Advisors who deliver the support and manage the quality of the provision we provide.
I particularly enjoy using quantitative and qualitative data to improve service provision and plan new student-centred academic skills interventions. I have recently moved house so lockdown has been challenging on many levels! To relax I like to do yoga (currently via Zoom) and go for long walks while listening to a podcast.
Julie Nolan – Student Engagement Manager
Hi, I am Julie and I do a lot of the ‘behind the scenes’ operational and organisational work to ensure the UniSkills offer runs as effectively (and smoothly) as possible for students. Amongst many tasks, this includes working with your academic tutors to coordinate our embedded UniSkills classroom sessions, writing informational and supportive online content for web and blogs, curating our student facing social media campaigns across all our LS platforms and responding to student support enquiries. I really enjoy all aspects of my job, but possibly my favourite part of the role is working closely with our fabulous Student Advisors who in turn offer you peer to peer support.
During lockdown, I have been able to spend more time in my garden and have been working hard to renovate the bottom third to reintroduced a (very overgrown!) greenhouse and vegetable patch…fingers crossed it isn’t all eaten by snails or, my English Bull Terrier, Dobby!
Alice Murphy – Student Engagement Officer
Hi,
I’m Alice. My role is to co-ordinate a range of campaigns and initiatives
and support the delivery of academic skills support for students. I
particularly enjoy the interaction with students and team spirit. During
lockdown besides home schooling and working I have started running to ease
stress and relax.
Student Advisors
Last but by no means least, we also have a fabulous team of Student Advisors who offer peer to peer support. They have written lots of blog posts about who they are and what they get up to, so do check out some of their previous posts to find out more about them and the support they provide.
We hope you have enjoyed hearing a bit more about the Student Engagement team. We miss seeing your lovely faces in Catalyst and hope we will see you all back on campus soon. In the meantime, you know where we are if you need academic skills support, so get in touch.
Take care and stay safe, The Student Engagement Team
UniSkills provides a wide range of support designed to help you develop your academic skills and confidence at University and beyond. Since the University closed in the middle of March we have continued to provide academic skills support, albeit in a slightly different way.
Our 1-2-1 appointments and UniSkills workshops (now webinars!) are being offered virtually using Blackboard Collaborate. Our webinar programme in May was really popular with a range of students from across all years of study, so we are delighted that our June programme, which includes all our popular webinar topics, is now open for booking!
Booking on a UniSkills webinar couldn’t be easier. There are no limits to how many webinars you can attend, so book your place today via ehu.ac.uk/workshops. You will receive a booking confirmation email immediately to confirm your place and, closer to the event, you will receive another email with more details on how to join your online session. Please note bookings close 24 hours before the webinar start time.
If you have any questions or queries about how we can support you with your academic skills during this period contact us via email at CatalystEnquiries@edgehill.ac.uk or use our Ask Us service.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our June webinars soon!
We know that, along with many other University activities at the moment, this round of assessments will be different but Library and Learning Services are here to help and support you to complete your Online Assessments.
Our new Online Learning and Assessments web pages have been designed with you in mind. They will help guide you through the process of preparing for and completing your Online Assessment whether that be a video submission, online test or a time limited assessment (TLA). The pages contain lots of useful information including technical guides to the different types of assessments, Internet/WiFi troubleshooting information and recommended web browsers.
To get Online Assessment ready we recommend following this pre-assessment checklist the week before your first assessment to avoid any pesky technical problems on the day:
Install Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox onto your PC or laptop as the University systems work best on these web browsers. We don’t recommend trying to complete assessments using a tablet or phone. If you don’t have access to a PC or laptop contact the Catalyst Helpdesk.
Read and digest any information provided by your tutors for the assessments you will be taking. It is a good idea to have the information about how the assessment will work clear in your head prior to the assessment date itself.
Make sure you have access to the software you will need, including Microsoft Word or another text editor. Remember that you have access to Office 365 and can download the software to your device for free.
Log into Blackboard on the device you will be using to check your access.
Update your alternative email. This is so you can easily reset your password should you need to.
Access our Help and Support guides which provide lots of step by step technical information on how to access and submit your assessment.
If you experience any technical issues or would like advice and guidance on how to set up your technology in an optimum way for your assessment then help is available by contacting the Catalyst Helpdesk virtually via email or live chat. The Helpdesk is available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm at weekends.
Remember that being prepared is one way to help you feel more organised and minimise any assessment nerves – so why not make a start and complete your pre-assessment checklist today.
If like all of us in Library & Learning Services you are missing Catalyst, and haven’t quite perfected your new study space, we hope these handy tips will provide some useful guidance on how to make the most of your off campus studying.
Tip 1:
Plan (and adapt) your new study routine
It can be challenging
when your regular routine changes, even more so when it is out of our control,
so taking time to plan a new study routine is a great place to start – think
about what works best for you! Start small and plan a day/week at a time or
look ahead and plan backwards from future deadlines and/or assessment dates.
Although it isn’t always possible to plan for every eventuality it is sensible
to set boundaries and consider other commitments, such as
childcare or employment, when adapting to your ‘new’ routine.
A good daily routine can be as simple as getting up at a set time, changing out of your sleepwear and eating breakfast before starting your day ahead…and don’t forget to include an end routine to bring your study to a close. Take a look at our UniSkills Getting Organised webpages for lots of useful guides and toolkits to help you effectively prioritise your time.
Tip 2:
Study Happy 😊
It is equally important to factor in some downtime alongside your studies to ensure you maintain a good study-life balance. By creating your own physical ‘study’ space (which could be as lavish as a home office, or as simple as a comfy spot on your bedroom floor) it will establish one of those all-important boundaries and help put you in the right mindset to work when you are there…and it will also enable you to ‘leave’ and get some headspace away from your studies. Why not revisit Student Advisor Maisie’s Study Happy Student Tips blog or remind yourself of all our Student Advisors’ top study happy tips in the UniSkills: Be Study Happy! video:
This video footage was recorded on campus in 2019.
Although it can be tempting to sit in front of a screen all day (computer/smartphone/TV) it isn’t healthy nor productive. Make the most of your daily exercise and get outside! Be that on a walk/run/bike ride, sitting in your garden reading or digging up some weeds, it is all extremely beneficial for your mental wellbeing! And if you don’t have access to a garden, why not create your own eco-friendly planters out of old newspapers or empty toilet rolls and grow some seeds on your windowsills!
Tip 3:
Engage with your learning communities
Don’t forget
that as an Edge Hill University student you are part of a wider learning
community, so make sure you are engaging with your peers and wider
support networks. Your tutors will be keeping in touch with you through
online teaching and making sure you have the necessary information about your research,
coursework and assessments, but they are also there for you if you have any
subject specific queries or just feel a little bit overwhelmed by it all – and they
can direct you to other support services, if needed. You could also set up/join
anonline study group with your course mates to discuss research and
keep each other motivated!
UniSkills also offers a learning community where you can take part in online webinars alongside students from a variety of courses and years – a reallygreat way to share knowledge and experience with peers from across the University! There are a wide range of academic skills webinars available for you to join including academic writing, referencing and being critical – check out the latest schedule and book your place online today.
Although it
may feel like you are fully self-isolated right now it is important to remember
you are not alone and there is lots of help and support available…
Keep in contact with your social circle of friends/family through regular video calls or online chats!
Engage with your online learning, speak to your tutors and maintain connections with your peers!
UniSkills provides a wide range of support designed to help you develop your academic skills and confidence at University and beyond. We are committed to continuing our support during this uncertain time, albeit in a slightly different way…
We know our popular UniSkills workshops are valued by students across all years of study to help you find high-quality academic information online and develop your academic writing and referencing skills. Over the next few weeks we will be delivering these workshops via an online classroom which means you can join us wherever you are.
UniSkills Webinars
Finding Academic Information Improve your search strategy, make the most of the library catalogue, online reading lists and Discover More to find eBooks and journal articles for your assignments, and learn how to evaluate your sources.
Become a Paraphrasing Pro This webinar will teach you handy techniques to avoid plagiarism, as well as how to strike that all-important balance between paraphrased sentences and direct quotes.
Academic Writing Join us for an Introduction to Academic Writing webinar or, if you are looking to take your writing to the next level, why not join our Develop Your Academic Writing.
Harvard Referencing An introduction to the Harvard referencing style including in-text citations, bibliography/reference lists and the importance of referencing to avoid plagiarism.
There are no limits to how many webinars you can attend, so book your place today via the date links above or visit ehu.ac.uk/workshops to browse them all. You will receive a booking confirmation email immediately to confirm your place and, closer to the event, you will receive another email with more details on how to join your online session. Please note bookings close 24 hours before the webinar start time.
Don’t forget there is a wide range of online support and information available 24/7 on the UniSkills webpages, and your ‘My Library’ tab in Blackboard Learning Edge, and you can still access individualised 1-2-1 UniSkills support online with one of our Academic Skills Advisors weekdays 8am-6pm.
If you have any questions or queries about how we can support you with your academic skills during this period contact us via email at CatalystEnquiries@edgehill.ac.uk or use our Ask Us service.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our webinars soon!
During this period of uncertainty let us reassure you that you can still access lots of help, support and guidance with your academic skills via our UniSkills service.
UniSkills provides a wide range of support designed to help you develop your academic skills and confidence at University and beyond. Our team are ready and waiting (virtually!) to provide advice and support around assignment planning, academic writing and referencing, finding academic information and more.
We are no strangers to providing information virtually and many of you will be familiar with accessing UniSkills information via the UniSkills webpages and your My Library Tab in Blackboard. Here you will find a wide range of support materials including online guides, videos and toolkits on topics from time management to presentation tips.
The Finding Academic Information pages are a great place to start if you are looking for tips on how to access high-quality information for your assignment. Here you will find a package of online video tutorials to guide you through how to make the most of your key learning resources.
The Academic Reading and Writing pages provide information about academic writing including being critical, paraphrasing and proofreading.
Individualised 1-2-1 UniSkills support continues to be available but we have relocated our face to face appointments online and will be offering virtual appointments for the foreseeable future. If you would like an appointment with one of our Academic Skills Advisors just book online and we will send you all the details you need to join the session:
If you cannot find a suitable date or time then just get in touch.
Our popular UniSkills workshops will be returning w/c 20th April with a fully online programme of webinars – lookout for the new virtual timetable coming soon!
If you have a question or query about how we can support you with your academic skills during this period contact us via email at CatalystEnquiries@edgehill.ac.uk or use our Ask Us service. Don’t forget – we are here to support you – just in a slightly different way.
As we find ourselves transitioning to a digital study
environment Library and Learning Services are here to help you know what
online resources are available for you, how to access them and how
to get the most out of them.
Library and Learning Services are no strangers to offering a digital library service and have been supporting students studying online and at distance for many years, so don’t worry if this is a totally new experience for you because we are here to help.
A great place to start your digital learning journey is our Digital Library Induction and UniSkills Finding Academic Information webpages. On here we have created a package of online tutorials to guide you through how to access, and make the most of, your key learning resources.
Most of the eBooks we currently have are now unlimited access (meaning no limits to numbers accessing at any one time), we are prioritising eBook purchases, looking at further electronic provision moving forward and even have a handy eBooks Guide to help you read online and download at your leisure. Many publishers around the world are also making additional content temporarily available to support teaching and learning where access to physical books and resources may be limited. Details of all these extra resources and how to access them can be found on the additional access to eResources webpage.
If you are struggling to get hold of any resources, please
use our You Want It, We Get It service and select the electronic
option and we will do our best to help.
So, remember even though you cannot see us right now we are still here to support you. If you need any further help or support you can keep up to date on our COVID-19 Keeping You Updated webpages or get in touch with us via email or live chat.
Are you returning to education after a break? Does the thought of studying again fill you with trepidation as well as excitement? Are you anxious that you won’t be able to ‘keep up’ with other students?
You are not alone! Students who are returning to study after time away sometimes feel that their academic skills are ‘rusty’, and worry about whether they will be able to remember how to undertake academic study, or write assignments. However, research shows that students who return to study after a break from education are often found to be more motivated, self-determined, focussed and hard-working (Hunter-Johnson, 2017; Kasworm, 2018). Our experience has also shown that given the right encouragement and access to support, all students have the potential to achieve, regardless of their age or stage in life.
Did you know?
… that Edge Hill University have a high percentage of students who have not come directly from school or college? The most recently available statistics show that more than a third (35.4%) of our students in the 2017/2018 academic year were over 25, and almost a quarter (24.8%) were over 30. While higher education does not have an upper age limit, the chances are that there will be several people on your course who are returning to education after a significant break.
The Returning to Learning community of support has been developed to offer a safe space for students re-entering education at Edge Hill to reconnect with learning and share their experiences with others in the same boat. We also welcome anyone who has previously been in the same position, and can offer peer support or tips for ways to ease back into an educational setting.
Returning to Learning Ethos
Our aim is to create a community of positive support to help develop the confidence of returning students, enabling them to believe that they can achieve, and be academically successful. To ensure that we can offer our students the best experience, we draw upon research, our experience and academic skills knowledge, as well as students’ own ideas about what they need, to best support their transition back into education.
The Returning to Learning group will meet on the first Wednesday of every month between 2pm-4pm in The Willow Room, Catalyst. Whether you are totally new to university, are in your final year, or are returning to postgraduate study, why not come along and share your experiences? Each session will offer you the opportunity to:
Meet other Returning to Learning students
Share your concerns about returning to academic study at university
Learn how others in this situation have adapted to Higher Education
Suggest tips for effective learning
Develop your academic resilience
At each session we will also aim to gather information about any key areas of concern for the group, and will use this to design a short, structured session, to run at the start of the session the following month.
HUNTER-JOHNSON, Y., 2017. Demystifying Educational Resilience: Barriers of Bahamian Nontraditional Adult Learners in Higher Education. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 65 (3), pp. 175-186.
KASWORM, C. E., 2018. Adult Students: A Confusing World in Undergraduate Higher Education. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 66 (2), pp. 77-87.
