Please note that these are broad definitions to help you understand the terms listed, and the support available through the University may vary.
Academic Integrity: the expectation that teachers, students, researchers and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. To maintain academic integrity, you should avoid misleading your readers about any part of your research and refrain from offences like plagiarism and contract cheating, which are examples of academic misconduct.
Referencing: Referencing is how you acknowledge the sources you have used in creating your work. It ensures you get credit for your research, while also helping to avoid plagiarism. It is closely related to finding information and academic writing, which you can learn more about on the Skills for Learning website.
IT (Information Technology): the use of any computers, storage, networking and other physical devices, infrastructure and processes to create, process, store, secure and exchange all forms of electronic data. Please note that Skills for Learning only provide tutorials and guides in specific areas of IT, such as the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher; if you require IT support, please contact Student IT Support in the Library.
Numeracy: being able to understand and use numbers in a range of situations, for example when solving problems or making decisions in situations involving numbers.
Academic literacy: being proficient in reading and writing about academic subjects. Being able to discuss and analyse formal, academic and subject-specific jargon.
Digital literacy: the ability and skill to find, evaluate, utilise, share, and create content using information technologies and the Internet.
Problem solving: the act of defining a problem; determining the cause of the problem; identifying, prioritising, and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution.
Critical thinking: being able to think for yourself, ask what's really going on around you, and understand other people's efforts to manipulate your beliefs and actions. Critical thinking skills help us make informed decisions, solve problems, cultivate curiosity, manage our time better, and become more creative.
Working with others: the ability to effectively interact, cooperate, collaborate, and manage conflicts with other people in order to complete tasks and achieve shared goals.
Research skills: the ability to search for, locate, extract, organise, evaluate and use or present information that is relevant to a particular topic. Academic research is a specific type of research; a process of detailed and methodical investigation into an area of study.
Reflective writing: critically analysing an experience, recording how it has impacted you and what you plan to do with your new knowledge. It can help you to reflect on a deeper level, as the act of getting something down on paper often helps people to think an experience through.