Study strategies

Preparing for tutorials

Most courses have blended learning which means that online material needs to be accessed and prepared prior to tutorials. There may be recorded modules, readings, or videos to work through. You access your learning material through Canvas, and this is also where you upload your completed assessments. It is a good idea to schedule time each week prior to the tutorial to work through your learning material. You can create SMART goals that focus on getting specific tasks completed.  

Attending tutorials

Tutorials are usually held weekly, and this is where you can ask questions and get to know other students. Your tutor will guide the sessions and answer any questions. At UniSC you are encouraged to ask questions to make sure you have understood the material. This may be a bit different to what you are used to so don't worry if it feels a bit strange at first. You can always check with the tutor at the end of class and get help from your classmates. It is okay to ask for help.

If you are doing a science or health-based subject, you may also attend laboratory sessions on campus. If this is the case, you will also do an online laboratory induction module to help prepare for the course and how to safely behave in the labs. 

Asynchronous teaching

Some courses are asynchronous online which means you don’t have to attend a tutorial, but you do need to keep up with work. There are usually drop-in Zoom sessions held each week where you can ask questions. It is important to read your course welcome in Canvas and check what work you need to complete and when you are expected to engage with your tutors or course coordinators. If you need help planning out your weekly work or are unsure how to approach your study, reach out to a Learning Adviser.  

Assessments

There are several ways your learning may be assessed, from essays and case studies to exams and quizzes. It is important to identify early on when your assessments are due and what the expectations are. You can book an appointment with a Learning Adviser to break down your task requirements and also use the Assignment calculator to help plan your time. Don’t forget to also ask your tutor in class as they will usually provide key information about each assessment. You can check what they are marking by looking at the rubric. Most courses give you a grade and this is the range of grades here at UniSC: 

Some courses such as placements or prepare for placements are pass or fail. You can see how your course is graded on Canvas. If you have any questions about your grade, you can check in with your course coordinator or the tutor. Getting feedback from them will help you develop your skills.   

At UniSC and other Australian universities, academic writing requires you to support your ideas with evidence from reliable sources. In order to state something, we need to support it with credible sources, as shown in the example below:

The evidence being referred to in the sentence above is a journal article that discusses this topic. Please have a look at the below library guides to further help you understand these concepts:

This use of evidence to support your statements may be different to what you are used to in your home country for several reasons, including cultural differences. For example, some educational systems focus more on memorising and repeating knowledge, others may not require formal citations, and some cultures view directly questioning or criticising respected authors as inappropriate. At UniSC, academic writing requires the use of evidence to:

• Build on existing knowledge and research.
• Acknowledge other ideas and contributions.
• Develop critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrate understanding of the field.

This means that as you begin your studies in Australia, you will need to:

1. Learn to properly cite and reference other authors' work.
2. Develop skills in critically analysing sources.
3. Balance respect for expertise with appropriate academic critique.
4. Understand when and how to use evidence to support your arguments.

UniSC offers extensive support to help you develop these skills. You can refer to the academic skills library guides, attend workshops, and book appointments with Learning Advisers. Remember, you are developing your academic toolbox, and all of these new skills contribute to your international study journey. We are here to help. 

Step 1: Finding credible sources

One of the first steps in research is finding quality credible sources. This involves exploring multiple sources, such as:

• University library databases: allow you to access peer-reviewed journals and academic books.
• Course readings: are available on Canvas and are chosen by your Course Coordinators specifically for your course, often assigned as readings. 
• Google Scholar: allows you to search for publications and connect through your university library.
• Reference lists in other journal articles: allow you to follow citations to find related research.
• Library guides created specifically for your field: these give discipline-specific advice to assist you in the research process.

Make sure you go through the research skills tutorial below as this will help you identify and develop these key skills:

Step 2: Choosing relevant sources

Choosing relevant sources is important as not every academic source fits your topic. Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating a source:

• Does this source directly address my research question?
• Is it from my field of study?
• How recent is the research?
• Does the source help explain, support, or challenge my main arguments?
• Can I clearly explain how this source connects to my topic?

It is important that you are using a source that fits with your assessment task and that you can incorporate that source in your writing.

Step 3: Making connections between sources to add to your writing

While you are researching, you will probably find a few different sources that discuss your topic. How do you make connections between those sources and include them in your writing? Consider the following:

1. Start with your research question or assignment topic. 
2. Look for patterns and themes across different sources.
3. Build "research conversations" by finding authors who discuss similar ideas. 
4. Notice when authors disagree and explore why. 
5. Consider publication dates to understand how ideas develop over time. 

You could do this through mind maps or creating an annotated bibliography. This is a table of sources where you can identify the connections between the different authors, allowing you to see which authors present similar ideas and then use multiple sources in your writing to show you have read widely and are applying critical thinking. This will take time to develop but the earlier you start thinking about this process, the easier you will find adding sources to your writing. Remember:

• Start early: Good research takes time. 
• Take notes about how sources connect to your topic.
• Create research maps to visualize connections between sources. 
• Ask your tutors for feedback on your source selection.
• Practice summarizing how each source contributes to your argument - when you summarise the key points it helps you understand the topic. 

Navigating common problems when researching

Remember that research skills develop with practice, so you may feel overwhelmed when you first begin. Below are some solutions to try when you face some of these problems:

• Feeling overwhelmed by too many sources: Start with course readings and branch out gradually. Use reference lists from key readings to find related sources. 
• Struggling to see connections between sources: Make notes about main themes and arguments. Look for common keywords and concepts across sources.
• Concerned your chosen sources do not fit well: Write a sentence explaining how each source connects to your topic. If you can't explain the connection clearly, reconsider using that source. 

Your university's library staff and learning advisers are here to help you improve these research skills throughout your studies. 

Academic Integrity is an important aspect of study at UniSC. Acting with Academic Integrity means you are completing your own work and acknowledging the work of other sources when you add evidence.

Generative AI

One area of academic integrity that can cause problems for students is the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools. Whilst GenAI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for brainstorming or understanding complex content, using AI to write assignments is considered academic misconduct.  It is therefore very important to know when and how to use gen AI tools appropriately.

If you are permitted to use AI tools as noted in your courses on Canvas, you must:

• Acknowledge their use.
• Verify any information they provide.
• Use them as a support tool, not as a replacement for your own learning.

For example: I acknowledge the use of Claude.ai in the production of this guide. For more detailed information on how to use AI tools, including examples, take a look at our guide:

Referencing

When adding evidence, we also need to correctly cite and add a reference list to show where we got the source from. There are several referencing styles used at UniSC and you will be advised which one to use on Canvas by your course coordinator. The UniSC website is the best place to access the referencing style guides as they are kept up-to-date and follow the required guidelines. If you need help with understanding or applying the referencing style book in with a librarian or Learning Adviser.

Cumming, A., Lai, C., & Cho, H. (2016). Student's writing from soruces for academic purposes: A synthesis of recent research. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 23, 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.06.002