About this course: This Specialization is aimed at preparing students for undergraduate study in an English-speaking university. The course equips you for full participation and engagement with your studies by building awareness and understanding of the core values and expectations of academic culture, and providing you with practical strategies to apply to your studies. In this course, you will learn how to develop your Information & Digital Literacy Skills to help you achieve success in your university studies. After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Access and search for information efficiently and effectively using a variety of digital tools. 2. Critically evaluate the reliability of sources for an academic context. 3. Filter, manage and organize information from a wide variety of sources for use in academic study. 4. Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues related to academic integrity surrounding the access and use of information. 5. Understand how to use digital tools for referencing and attribution in order to avoid plagiarism. 6. Understand how to disseminate and communicate information in a professional way, including managing digital identity and building networks for learning and research.
Who is this class for: This course is a high-level academic skills course designed to increase your level of academic preparedness prior to commencement of your studies in an English-medium university. The course equips you for full participation and engagement with your studies by building awareness and understanding of the core values and expectations of academic culture. The course may also benefit learners who have already commenced their studies and would like to further improve their academic skills to support and increase their chance for success at university.
Created by: The University of Sydney
Taught by: Katherine Olston, Deputy Director (Digital Learning)
University of Sydney Centre for English Teaching
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 5 in the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 6 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to Information & Digital Literacy at University
After this module you will be able to (1). Understand the structure and expectations of the course (2). Understand expectations about information and digital literacy within academic culture (3). Articulate the skills & dispositions needed to function effectively in the digital space (4). Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues related to academic integrity surrounding the access and use of information
7 videos, 9 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- Reading: Information & Digital Literacy Overview & Learning Outcomes
- Reading: Information & Digital Literacy Assessment Overview
- Reading: Summative Peer Assessment
- Reading: Glossary of Terms
- Reading: Acknowledgements
- LTI Item: Before Module 1 - Confidence Dashboard
- Reading: 1.1 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 1.1a Welcome and Course Information
- Video: 1.1b Introduction to Example Essay Question
- Practice Quiz: 1.1 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 1.1 Introduce yourself
- Reading: 1.2 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 1.2a Introduction to Academic Culture
- Video: 1.2b Introduction to Digital Literacy
- Practice Quiz: 1.2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 1.3 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 1.3 Survival Skills for University
- Practice Quiz: 1.3 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 1.4 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 1.4 Academic Integrity
- Practice Quiz: 1.4 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 1.4 Academic Integrity
- Discussion Prompt: Module 1 - Questions for Instructors
- LTI Item: After Module 1 - Confidence Dashboard
Graded: Summative Quiz - Module 1
Graded: Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 1
WEEK 2
Defining, Accessing & Searching for Information
After this module you will be able to (1). Define the characteristics of different kinds of information (2). Know where to look for information from various sources (3). Develop a search strategy and filter large numbers of search results effectively (4). Document and evaluate your search strategy
9 videos, 7 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- LTI Item: Before Module 2 - Confidence Dashboard
- Reading: 2.1 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 2.1b Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources
- Reading: 2.1b Information Types by Field
- Video: 2.1c Discipline Specific Information
- Practice Quiz: 2.1 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 2.1 Information Sources in your Field
- Reading: 2.2 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 2.2a Common Information Sources at University
- Video: 2.2b Characteristics of Journal Articles
- Reading: 2.2b How to Read a Journal Article in the Humanities
- Reading: 2.2b How to Read a Journal Article in the Sciences
- Practice Quiz: 2.2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 2.3 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 2.3 Accessing Information (Experts)
- Practice Quiz: 2.3 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 2.4 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 2.4a Defining an Information Need
- Video: 2.4b Developing a Search Strategy
- Video: 2.4c Documenting and Evaluating the Search Strategy
- Practice Quiz: 2.4 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 2.4 Searching for Information
- Discussion Prompt: Module 2 - Questions for Instructors
- LTI Item: After Module 2 - Confidence Dashboard
Graded: Summative Quiz - Module 2
Graded: Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 2
WEEK 3
Critically Evaluating, Filtering & Managing Information
After this module you will be able to (1). Apply criteria to critically evaluate the reliability of sources for an academic context (2). Identify the factors that make a web resource reliable (3). Filter information effectively (4). Use file-naming conventions and appropriate software to effectively organize and store information
9 videos, 6 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- LTI Item: Before Module 3 - Confidence Dashboard
- Reading: 3.1 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 3.1b Critically Evaluating Web Resources
- Video: 3.1c Critically Evaluating Wikipedia (Screencast)
- Discussion Prompt: 3.1b Critically Evaluating Information Online
- Practice Quiz: 3.1 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 3.2 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 3.2a Establishing Relevance
- Video: 3.2b Establishing Relevance
- Reading: 3.2b Supplementary Academic Articles
- Practice Quiz: 3.2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 3.3 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 3.3a Managing Information: Files
- Video: 3.3b Managing Information: Folders
- Reading: 3.3b Guides to File-naming Conventions and Folder Hierarchies
- Practice Quiz: 3.3 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 3.3 Managing your Information
- Reading: 3.4 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 3.4a Processing and Coding: Steps 1 and 2
- Video: 3.4b Processing and Coding: Step 3
- Practice Quiz: 3.4 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: Module 3 - Questions for Instructors
- LTI Item: After Module 3 - Confidence Dashboard
Graded: Summative - Module 3
Graded: Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 3
WEEK 4
Referencing, Incorporating Sources & Avoiding Plagiarism
After this module you will be able to (1). Understand the consequences of plagiarism in the academic context (2). Use referencing conventions to appropriately cite a variety of information sources and avoid plagiarism (3). Understand how to incorportate ideas from sources into your work (4). Be familiar with different referencing software and evaluate it for your own purposes
9 videos, 5 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- LTI Item: Before Module 4 - Confidence Dashboard
- Reading: 4.1 Learning Outcomes
- Practice Quiz: 4.1 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 4.1 Avoiding Plagiarism
- Reading: 4.2 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 4.2 Referencing & Attributing Resources
- Practice Quiz: 4.2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 4.3 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 4.3a Incorporating Sources
- Video: 4.3b Incorporating Sources: Quotes
- Video: 4.3c Paraphrasing and Summarising
- Practice Quiz: 4.3 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 4.4 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 4.4a Referencing Software
- Reading: 4.4a Referencing Software
- Video: 4.4b Mendeley
- Video: 4.4c Zotero
- Video: 4.4d EndNote
- Discussion Prompt: 4.4 Referencing Software
- Discussion Prompt: Module 4 - Questions for Instructors
- LTI Item: After Module 4 - Confidence Dashboard
Graded: Summative - Module 4
Graded: Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 4
WEEK 5
Disseminating & Communicating Information
After this module you will be able to (1). Understand new forms of licensing for online content (2). Communicate effectively in different digital modes (3). Manage digital identity across different domains (4). Use digital networks to manage and advance learning
9 videos, 5 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- LTI Item: Before Module 5 - Confidence Dashboard
- Reading: 5.1 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 5.1b Creative Commons Licencing
- Practice Quiz: 5.1 Practice Quiz
- Reading: 5.2 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 5.2 Digital Networks for Learning and Research
- Practice Quiz: 5.2 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 5.2 Your Personal Learning Network
- Reading: 5.3 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 5.3a Managing Digital Identity
- Discussion Prompt: 5.3a Managing your Digital Identity
- Reading: 5.3a Security Management Tips
- Video: 5.3b Presenting yourself online
- Practice Quiz: 5.3 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: 5.3b Write a Twitter Bio
- Reading: 5.4 Learning Outcomes
- Video: 5.4a Communicating Online
- Video: 5.4b Emailing Lecturers
- Video: 5.4c Writing an Email
- Video: 5.4d Discussion Board Netiquette
- Practice Quiz: 5.4 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: Module 5 - Questions for Instructors
- LTI Item: After Module 5 - Confidence Dashboard
Graded: Summative - Module 5
Graded: Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 5
WEEK 6
Summative Assessment
3 readings
- Reading: Summative assignment overview
- Reading: How to mark your peer's assignments
- Reading: Practice peer marking activity answers
Graded: Critically evaluating sources
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Ratings and Reviews
The course is more than interesting and useful!
I would give 5 stars but at the end of peer-reviewed part I do not like the error.
It helped me to be well-prepared before I'm going to University in this Month.
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I find it extremely useful and very comprehensive. Every student (and teaching professional for that matter) interested in learning about basic skills required for a meaningful and rewarding learning journey at university level will not regret taking this course.