Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
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5 ways your Online Reading List can help you work smarter, not harder.
How to get the best out of your Online Reading List.
Students today face a whirlwind of competing pressures that often squeeze out time for academic reading.
Family responsibilities, financial concerns, mental burnout, academic overload, social commitments and digital distractions all help create a perfect storm where time is at a premium and academic reading gets sidelined.
Nevertheless, academic reading is vital to developing knowledge, understanding, analytical thinking, and to help you develop the skills employers want. It also develops confidence, helps you master your subject and gives you an edge over your competition. There’s a definite link between academic reading and student performance and so neglecting it will impact your academic outcomes, cognitive development, and even emotional well-being. You absolutely do get out what you put in!
You are not alone - your Online Reading List is there to guide and support you and offers many possibilities when it comes to managing time more effectively, focusing your reading and getting the best out of your academic study time. Look at our top 5 tips below to help you work smarter. Your future self will thank you!
1. Time is precious
Online Reading Lists help you manage your time and workload. Your list has direct links to online materials and information on where to find physical items. It can be accessed from a range of different devices meaning you can read eBooks whilst commuting or reserve a book whilst queuing for your lunch. You can also filter and search your list, allowing you to find specific types of resources in an instant, such a items marked as essential or just the resources available online.
2. Keeping on track
Keep a track of what you have read by using the Reading Intentions feature. A quick click of a button allows you to mark off any titles you have already looked at or those you plan to read next, meaning you know exactly where you are with your reading.
3. Avoid referencing confusion
Your Online Reading List can display the titles in a variety of citation styles. Simply select the one you need and copy and paste the reference to add into your own work. Alternatively, download the whole Online Reading List in the referencing style of your choice, so you have everything to hand when it comes to finalising those assignments. (Always double check any references to ensure you are happy with them before including in your work!)
4. Focus your attention
Read any Student Notes added by your lecturers to direct your reading. It might be a helpful resource summary, directions to key pages or chapters to focus on, or even discussion points to think about as you read.
5. Do it your own way
Use the Personal Notes feature to add your own comments, summaries or key findings from any titles you have read. Sometimes you just need to do things your own way and what’s even better is that these notes are confidential.
Top students don’t just study harder, they read smarter. Your Online Reading List is waiting.
For more information on how to access and use your online Reading Lists contact your Academic Librarians Subject Support - Skills & Subject Support - The Library at Leeds Beckett University
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