Finding information

Learn about the benefits that developing good information searching skills can bring.

 

Develop your search skills

Our guidance can help you to: 

  • save time
  • get the most relevant results
  • expand your subject knowledge
  • complete your university work
  • think critically
  • solve problems in the workplace
  • remain industry aware 
  • enhance your digital skills 
  • prosper on your life-long learning journey.

Academic information and why it is important

Learn:

  • Why it is important for you to search for, find and use academic information in your university work and assessments.

Formats

Module reading lists

Learn:

  • What module reading lists are.
  • How to access them.
  • How to use the information you find in your module reading list to help you complete your assessments.

Formats

Use Library Search to find academic information

Learn how to perform searches for different types of academic information and use filters to make your results more relevant.

Formats

Search the web well for University study

Learn when to use different web search pages, such as your favourite search page or Google Scholar, and understand how to use Google Scholar to find academic information. 

Formats

Planning your search for academic information

Learn why it's important to plan your search for information and understand how to identify keywords and key phrases from your assessment brief to search for relevant and useful results.

Formats

Lean Library: Access the academic information you need easily on the web

What is covered:

  • what Lean Library is
  • how it can help you find the academic information you need when searching the web. 

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Formats

AI Awareness

What is covered:

  • what Generative AI is
  • when it is okay and not okay to use it in your academic work and personal development
  • general guidance on how to use it correctly.

Evaluating sources

What is covered:

  • appraising and evaluating the information you find to check for issues of credibility, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose.

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Using evidence in your work

What is covered:

  • how to paraphrase and summarise evidence correctly in your writing
  • why it's important to use in text citations
  • when to use direct quotations

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Critical writing

What is covered:

  • what critical thinking is
  • how to critically analyse
  • the benefits of critical thinking
  • the difference between critical and descriptive writing.

Estimated duration is 20 minutes.

Databases: What are they and how they can help you with your assessments

What is covered:

  • what a database is
  • why it is important to use databases for your research
  • identifying which databases are helpful for the subject you are studying.

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Read, take notes and use academic information in your assessments

What is covered:

  • best practice tips for getting the most out of reading for academic purposes
  • identifying different note-taking strategies
  • how to use the academic information you have found in your assessments. 

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Academic Skills Workshops

A screenshot of the Academic Skills Workshops portal

Elevate your skills and knowledge with us!

This is a great place to start if you want to:

  • Improve your study and research skills
  • Develop your IT and digital skills
  • Focus on your maths and numeracy.

Workshops are added regularly, so keep checking back to see what's new!

Related topics

Try out some of our other resources.