Coming from College - Newsletter Four

Coming From College Newsletter

Issue #4

August 2021

In this issue:

Coming from College Induction - links for the next sessions
Your dedicated webpage on Coming from College
Recommended readings and advice from the Effective Learning Service
Matriculation and Student Cards
Coming from College Facebook Group

Coming from College Induction Programme - session for the next fortnight

We hope you have enjoyed the Coming from College Induction programme so far, and are learning lots from our team of PALS Leaders.

Things to remember when joining a session:

Please use Google Chrome for the best experience with Collaborate. Internet Explorer will not work.
All sessions will be recorded so that we can share them later on the Coming from College webpage so please don't give out any personal information.
If your internet connection is weak, try turning off your video.
Mute your microphone when you are not speaking to reduce background interference.

Please see the details of forthcoming sessions in the table below:

Date & Time	Session	Link to join live event	Link to access recordings
Monday 30th August	RECORDED SESSION: - The School Office and how we support your success		Coming from College Induction webpage
Tuesday 31st August, 10am	LIVE SEMINAR @ 10am: - Study Skills - expert guidance from the PALS Leaders	Click here to join. This session is hosted on Collaborate, one of the University's online learning platforms. Please access it via Google Chrome for full functionality.	Coming from College Induction webpage
Thursday 2nd October, 10am	LIVE STUDENT DROP-IN @ 10am: with PALS Leaders and the Students' Union - Bring your own cuppa and have a chat with our students. Find out more about campus life and how to make the most of your time at QMU. Being a student is not all about studying!	Click here to join. This session is hosted on Collaborate, one of the University's online learning platforms. Please access it via Google Chrome for full functionality.	Coming from College Induction webpage
Friday 3rd September	PALS PODCASTS: - Study Skills and Support for Learning at QMU - Student Services at QMU		Coming from College Induction webpage
Monday 6th September	RECORDED SESSION: - Digital Festival: learn about & log on to QMU IT systems		Coming from College Induction webpage
Tuesday 7th September, 10am	LIVE SEMINAR @ 10am: - Receiving feedback and what to do with it	Click here to join. This session is hosted on Collaborate, one of the University's online learning platforms. Please access it via Google Chrome for full functionality.	Coming from College Induction webpage
Wednesday 8th September, 10am	LRC (Learning Resource Centre) - Attend this live Q&A session with Lauren, the Senior Liaison Librarian and get your questions about finding your way around the Learning Resource Centre (library) and how you can make the most of online resources for your studies answered!	You need to book for this session. Register here and you will be sent a Teams link to join.	Coming from College Induction webpage
Thursday 9th September, 10am	LIVE STUDENT DROP-IN @ 10am: with PALS Leaders and the Students' Union - Bring your own cuppa and have a chat with our students. Find out more about campus life and how to make the most of your time at QMU. Being a student is not all about studying!	Click here to join. This session is hosted on Collaborate, one of the University's online learning platforms. Please access it via Google Chrome for full functionality.	Coming from College Induction webpage
Friday 10th September	PALS Podcasts: - Getting involved in student life - Teaching & learning: part 2		Coming from College Induction webpage

Don't forget about your dedicated Coming from College webpage!

You can access all the materials from your online induction, including back issues of these newsletters, recordings of sessions and the PALS Podcasts, plus your suggested Reading Lists on the Coming from College webpage.

We will be regularly updating the page so be sure to keep checking it. Click on the link to be redirected to the Coming from College webpage.

Getting started with academic reading

If you want to start preparing for the new semester, you can now see some recommended readings from your academic teams on the Coming from College webpage.

Don't go out and buy lots of books - many of these resources are available from the QMU Learning Resource Centre (LRC), and don't feel you have to read everything for September. These are suggestions to give you a head start, or maybe help you brush up on knowledge before you start.

You will have heard the phrase, "Reading for a degree" and it's certainly true! Reading is a really important part of your studies, and effective reading skills can help you to manage your time effectively and ensure you don't get overwhelmed. You may look at your official reading list and feel a bit daunted by it, and not sure where to start. However, whilst nobody can underestimate the importance of reading books, journals, websites and other resources to support your learning, don't feel you need to read everything word for word, or line by line.

There are some basic hints and tips from the QMU Effective Learning Service below which can help you decide where to focus your efforts and how to get the most from all the resources available to you.

Remember: You all use these skills every day, and they are key for academic reading too.

Survey: glance at the contents list, chapter headings, any summaries or abstracts, to get a quick overview of the text. What is it about? What might you read it for?

Skim: look over a text quickly, like you would a magazine, and try to get a quick idea of what it's about, spotting key words, and generally getting a feel for the content. Always skim a text before reading - it's like glancing over a map before you head off into a strange city. A rough idea of what it's about and what looks useful can help!

Scan: look through a text for a particular bit of information, or key fact. You don't need to read it all if you only need one or two things. In fact, you rarely need to read a whole text in detail. Before you jump in, look at the structure of the material. Are there useful headings? Sections? A clear introduction that says what it will cover?

An active reading approach: This 'stop-start' approach can also help you concentrate. Try reading in short bursts, using your own questions to help you focus and review what you have read.

Question: Try questioning what the material is about. What is it covering? Who is it aimed at? How and why is it relevant?

Read more carefully: maybe a paragraph at a time. Try to read in a relaxed way. Don't take notes yet if it gets in the way of understanding.

Recall: Stop reading and think - what is this saying? Am I following it? What is the main point?

Review: Go back to the paragraph, or page, and read it again, this time taking brief notes. Use your own words, and imagine how you might explain it to someone else.

Reading critically: taking a closer look. Being critical doesn't mean being negative. It's more about taking a close, sceptical look at what you read. Use these questions as a guide, and try them out on newspapers as well as texts.

- What is the aim of this text? To inform? Persuade? Argue a point of view?

- Is there a clear point of view or argument? What is it?

- What is the perspective of the author? Can you work it out?

- Does the author use evidence to back up what they say? What kind of evidence?

- Is there anything left out of this account? Any questions you would like to ask?

- What other questions could you ask about the topic?

Matriculation & Student Cards

Registration or Matriculation is when you register online for starting your course in September. Everybody is required to do online matriculation before arriving at QMU, and you will continue to do it before the start of each academic year. You will receive an email from Registry once the system opens for you to complete the matriculation process.

If you have any problems with completing this process, please email registry@qmu.ac.uk for advice.

You will be given a system-generated password - please write this down! You will need it.

You will need to matriculate in order to get your student card. You will be required to submit a photo for your card. More information on the format of that picture and what will be acceptable will follow in your matriculation email from Registry.

Cards will be posted out to students who are able to provide a UK address. If you are unable to provide this information yet, or you are staying in the QMU Accommodation, then there will be the option to collect your card on campus.

Coming From College Facebook Group

Join our Coming from College Facebook Group - start connecting with our team of students you will be meeting at induction, and with your soon-to-be classmates! Some of our PALS Leaders who you have met in Induction will be looking after the page and answering your questions. Sign up and say "Hello"!

What Next?

Check out the website for regular updates - there's a helpful page on the new academic year here.

Look out for Newsletter #5, coming in a fortnight!

It will be packed with useful info including hints and tips from us on how to brush up on your academic skills before you begin your studies at QMU.

There will also be further information on what to look out for in the first week of term, including information on the Students' Union and Freshers Events for 2021.

Get in touch:

Admissions@qmu.ac.uk

+44 (0) 131 4740000

www.qmu.ac.uk

Queen Margaret University

Edinburgh, Scotland

EH21 6UU

Coming from College - Newsletter Four

Useful Links