Having located, bookmarked and borrowed (from the library) a range of useful and relevant sources, you are now ready to extract the information you need through effective reading and note-taking.

Effective reading

 You can’t read everything on your subject. The following process will help you to locate and select specific information you need for your assignment, quickly and efficiently

• Be clear what you need to find out about

Identify key words or terms connected to the information you need from your assignment question or task.

• Skim read to identify useful sections of text

Read fast, looking for key words in contents pages, abstracts, introductions, conclusions, headings and index pages to identify chapters or sections of text that are most likely to contain the information you need.

• Scan selected sections to locate the specific text you need

Let your eyes wander around the page searching for the key words or terms, concepts, data, figures, dates and events that you need to learn about. Mark selected passages of text (e.g. using mini post-it notes) for detailed reading later.

• Read in detail using ‘active reading’

Read your chosen texts carefully, line for line, aware of what you need to understand and analyse e.g. background information, facts, theories and ideas.

Note-taking

 Notes are a written summary of the academic information that you read or listen to on your course. You will need to refer to your notes as you undertake assignments, revise for exams, prepare for presentations or seminars. To ensure that your notes work well:

• Find a note-taking style that works for you, then stick with it

– There are many different note-taking techniques – from writing bullet point lists to drawing spidergrams. For advice and examples go to the SLAS website.

• Ensure your notes contain key ingredients

– Reference details of the source you are using (author, date, title etc)

– Summary of key facts, terms, theories, points made by the author

– Key evidence/examples used by the author to support their ideas

– Your observations about the strengths/weaknesses (critical analysis) of the arguments or ideas contained in the text

• Write notes mostly in your own words (paraphrased*), but also…

– Jot down short quotations from the author to use later as evidence, or to emphasise key points (noting the page number on which they appear)

– To avoid confusion later, use quotation marks or a highlighter pen to clearly distinguish an author’s exact words from your own in your notes

• Make sure your notes are legible, for future use

– Use readable fonts/clear handwriting

– Tidy up your notes or redraft, as necessary, to make them easy to follow

• Ensure your notes are clearly titled (module/topic/title of publication), dated (when you made the notes), and filed with other related materials e.g. assignment brief, for easy retrieval

Resources
For guidance on all the topics mentioned above – including Understanding the question, Effective reading, Note-taking, Referencing and Critical analysis – the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) provides 1-1 appointments, workshops and study guides.

When you start university there is a lot to get to grips with starting a new course, but the key to a great student experience is striking a balance between study and play. Time away from your books also helps to maintain a healthy life balance and can really benefit your studies.

Remember to check your emails and the Student News regularly for opportunities and events.  We’ve also put together a list of extra-curricular opportunities worth considering below.

Want to learn a language alongside your studies? 

• The Language Centre offers Kent students the opportunity to study a variety of language modules as part of your existing degree programme or as an additional extracurricular module.
• Language Express offer evening courses from beginner’s level.

Have you thought about volunteering?

Volunteering can be a good way to gain experience, build skills and network.  Find more about volunteer opportunities while at Kent.

• Kent Volunteering Scheme (KVS)has been designed to recognise and support the hard-work University of Kent students do when volunteering. The scheme is open from 19 May 2021 to 17 May 2022.
• Find out more about volunteering with Kent Union.

Student Activities

At Kent, there are numerous student activities including sport, societies and more!

Student Societies
Societies bring people together with common interests and can help you make new friends with people you might not meet on your course. And don’t forget, a CV packed full of experiences and activities shows potential employers that you like to get involved. See the wide range of clubs and societies at Kent:

• • Kent Union at Canterbury
  • GKSU at Medway

Get Active with Kent Sport
Whether you play competitively or just for fun, sport is an important part of the student experience. Accessible facilities, inter-college sports programme and over 50 sports clubs run by Kent Union. Find out more about sport at Kent.

Make Music at Kent
Do you sing or play an instrument? Join the Chorus, Symphony Orchestra, Concert and Big Bands, Chamber Choir or one of the many other bands and ensembles formed each year. Find out more about making music at Kent.

Get Creative on Campus
As well as numerous creative societies, Kent offers exceptional opportunities for you to enjoy the very latest in film, art, music, history and architecture.

• Gulbenkian Arts Centre
  Exciting events including film, comedy, music and much more on the Canterbury Campus.
  Check out Gulbenkian’s student offers. Gulbenkian also offer creative engagement opportunities for students:
  Gulbenkian Uncovered is a Young Film Programmer’s Group giving students the chance to get behind the scenes, develop new skills and run events. Gulbenkian Performance Company – If you want to build up your performance skills whilst at University, or want to continue a hobby whilst working or studying, why not join Gulbenkian’s new Gulbenkian Performance Company for anyone aged 19-25. Find out more about Gulbenkian and what’s on.
• Studio 3 Gallery
  Hosts major exhibitions by acclaimed artists throughout the year. Find out more about Studio 3 Gallery.
• College and Community Life
  Organise fun events throughout the year on campus and offer opportunities to volunteer and get involved with the college communities.  Find out more about College and Community Life events.

One of the purposes of assignments is to show that you can increase your knowledge through independent reading and research. To identify and seek out information you will need to:

• Be clear on what you are looking for

– Make sure you understand your essay question, or task, and what you need to investigate.

– Note down key words from your essay question or task and relevant lecture notes to use in your search for information.

• To find the information you need

– Always start with reading lists provided by your course; these can then lead you onto other texts.

– Examine core textbooks, scanning contents pages, index pages, introductions and sub-headings for key words indicating sections of text relevant to your assignment or task.

– Look through the bibliographies (of your textbooks) for other relevant book titles.

– Undertake a key word search of library databases or the internet. Visit the library webpages to find out how to use the university library services and facilities You might also try searching for academic information on Google Scholar.

• Consider the most authoritative voices in your subject

– Identify and use well-respected sources in your work e.g. industry experts or organisations, professional journals, recommended textbooks.

– You will need to justify your choice of reading material.

• Always take notes and keep a record of the sources of your notes

Having located, bookmarked and borrowed (from the library) a range of useful sources, you are now ready to extract the information you need in a process of effective reading and note-taking.

Resources
For guidance on all the topics mentioned above – including Understanding the question, Effective reading and Note-taking – the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) provides 1-1 appointments, workshops and study guides.

At university you will have to: take personal responsibility for your time and your studies; think for yourself, questioning, evaluating and drawing conclusions about what you hear, see, read and do; and reflect on your experiences, making changes accordingly to improve your performance. To do all this involves the following:

Independent learning

This means being pro-active and taking personal responsibility for:

• Understanding how your course works

Carefully study the information provided to you. Keep a checklist of things you still need to know and find them out from your tutors or appropriate university services.

• Seeking help when you need it

Create your own contact list for your tutors and university support services. This list should include:

• • The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) 
  • Libraries & IT (Information Services – IS)
  • Careers and Employability Service (CES)

• Getting organised and managing your studies

– Find or establish a quiet, comfortable workspace in which to study.

– Make sure you have the files (physical and/or digital) that you’ll need to organise all your course and assignment information.

– Set up the IT you’ll need and familiarise yourself with the university’s online learning systems.

– Use a diary, termly or year planner to plan your studies around your other activities. Find termly and weekly time planners under Time Management on the SLAS website.

– Create and build your own glossary of subject terms and definitions.

• Managing your learning in lectures and seminars

– Arrive on time, prepared, notes to hand, and having read any background material requested.

– Listen carefully throughout, taking notes of key points, theories and ideas.

– Be prepared to take part in discussions, if requested.

• Considering how you learn and revise best, and studying accordingly
• Finding a note-taking method that works well for you and your subject
• Completing each assignment on time, following the project brief

Critical thinking

Critical thinking means:

• Questioning what you hear, see, read and did (e.g. a method you used) and assessing how convincing, or efficient, or valuable, or useful it is.
• Going beyond pure description, so that:

– As well as giving facts or data, you say what they show and challenge the methods by which they were gathered – e.g. ‘The survey does not take full account of…’

– As well as describing a theory or process, you discuss its strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages – e.g. ‘This method has several benefits…’

– As well as summarising a piece of text, you say what it shows, identify the key points it makes, and explore its accuracy – e.g. ‘The main weakness of the author’s argument is…’

• Reflecting on your own learning to create a cycle of improvement

– Read and consider assignment feedback to identify areas for improvement, then take action to improve your performance next time, including seeking help if you need it.

– Keep a learning journal in which you consider a specific learning experience (e.g. a deadline missed), reflect on how and why it happened, and plan how to avoid similar problems in future

– Reflect on what went well, as well as what didn’t. This will help you repeat good performances.

Resources
For guidance on all the topics mentioned above – including Lectures and seminars, Critical and reflective thinking and Time management – the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) provides 1-1 appointments, workshops and study guides.

Good organisation is key to staying on top of your studies. You will need to plan your time and your assignments, maintain a good filing system for all your study materials, and ensure that you keep pace with your course.

Plan your time

• Use a time planner

– Plot and organise your studies (lectures, seminars, reading and assignments) around all your other activities (work, social, holidays etc) throughout the year. Try colour coding different activities on your planner to help keep track of them. Allow time for breaks, exercise, and social activities to maintain a healthy work/life balance

• Plan each assignment

– Start each assignment as early as possible. Working back from the deadline, consider the stages of work needed to complete each one and plot them on your time planner. Complete each stage of work on time to avoid last minute panics and meet your deadlines

• Set achievable goals and prioritise tasks

– Divide individual days into bitesize chunks of time and allocate an achievable task to each session e.g. 9-11am – Read/make notes on Journal article x; 11-12am – Draw up essay plan for assignment y; 12-1pm – Proof-read report z… etc. This will keep you focussed and productive, and ensure constant progress

– Consider which tasks are both important and urgent – e.g. Proof-read and submit assignment x – and prioritise these on your daily schedule

Find termly and weekly time planners under Time Management on the SLAS website.

Set up a filing system

• Group, organise and store information and work

– Think about where and how you will group, organise and store course information, handouts, research and your notes so you can find them easily e.g. ‘Module X: Topic A/B/C/D’ or ‘Assignment Y: Research/Notes/Drafts’

– Number assignment drafts (essays, project reports etc) to keep track of the most recent version

– Use ring binders with labelled dividers, computer folders/files or a mixture both to stay organised and save time.

• Back-up work regularly on your computer to avoid any risk of losing it

Keep on top of your work

• Be pro-active

– If you find yourself falling behind with your studies don’t ignore it. Reflect on the reasons, consider solutions and take action – action can even be seeking advice if you are struggling or not sure of what you are doing

• Seek help if you need it

– Ask your lecturer or seek advice from relevant university services which may include:

• • The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS)
  • Libraries & IT (Information Services – IS)
  • Student Support & Wellbeing (SSW)

Resources
For guidance on all the topics mentioned above – including Getting organised and Time management – the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) provides 1-1 appointments, workshops and study guides.