Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks 💡

WordPress User [jec68] Digital proficiency and productivity, LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Support, Microsoft Word, Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment

Blogpost by Jeffrey Clark (Student Digital Champion)

Banner with Student Digital Champion

Making things easier

Microsoft Word is perhaps the most used and widely recognized computer program in all of academia. Virtually every course you can take at Aberystwyth University uses Microsoft Word to some degree, with some courses requiring you to do more with it than just type out an essay. In this blog post, I’ll tell you about some shortcuts in Microsoft Word that have helped me during my studies.

Tip 1: Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are a combination of keys that you press to perform a function. For example, press control (ctrl) and C at the same time while highlighting text copies that text onto your clipboard. Instead of right-clicking and scrolling down the drop-down menu to ‘Paste’, you can press ctrl + V to paste the text instead.

The ALT key can also be used for shortcuts. Specifically, the ALT key is used for shortcuts as they relate to the top task bar. By holding down the ALT key for a few seconds, the keys for each shortcut will pop up. For instance, on my keyboard, pressing ALT and 2 will save my document.

But if we press ALT + S to go to the References tab…

We get an entirely new set of ALT keyboard commands to use!

By holding down the ALT with a different tab open we can see what shortcuts are available for each tab on the taskbar. If you forget what ALT key shortcuts do, holding the ALT key down will give you a helpful reminder of your keyboard shortcuts!

Read More

Discover your Digital Skills at the CareerFest!

WordPress User [jec68] Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment

Blogpost by Jeffrey Clark (Student Digital Champion)

CareerFest Banner. 13-17 February on campus and online.

Are you interested in learning more about digital skills and how developing them can support your learning, your employability, and your general confidence with technology? Then swing by our Digital Skills stand, which will be running as part of the University’s CareerFest on Friday 17 February. You’ll be able to find us on Level D of the Hugh Owen Library from 10:00-13:00.

The stand will be your one-stop-shop for finding information on digital skills and what resources are available to help you develop them. A Student Digital Champion will be there to greet you and answer any questions you may have about digital skills.

There is also an exciting program of skills workshops, employer events, webinars, networking opportunities and in-department sessions being delivered at CareerFest from 13-17 February.

We hope to see you there!

Join the Digital Marketing Masterclass (8 February)

WordPress User [sil12] Digital creation, problem-solving and innovation, Training Leave a comment

Want to learn how you can use digital marketing to promote your Business or Social Enterprise?

Woman holding a tablet

AberPreneurs, part of the University’s Careers Service, are running an exiting online event on Wednesday 8 February (2pm), Digital Marketing Masterclass with Francesca Irving from ‘Lunax Digital’.

Join the webinar online through MS Teams.

For any queries, please contact aberpreneurs@aber.ac.uk.

Busting exam stress with technology 💻

WordPress User [jec68] Digital Identity and Wellbeing, Digital learning and development, Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment

This blogpost has been written by Jeffrey Clark, Student Digital Champion

Banner with Student Digital Champion

That sinking feeling…

With exams around the corner, there’s no doubt that you’re all feeling the pressure. Sometimes that pressure can be overwhelming and lead to periods of high stress and anxiety. No student should have to feel like that! In this blogpost, I’ll go over some tips and useful apps that can help you and other students tackle stress during this difficult period.

Striking a balance ⚖

Here is an example of how I would organize a typical revision weekday using Microsoft Teams

It is perfectly normal to feel mild to moderate levels of stress during your time at university. There is a lot going on! From reading and writing essays to hanging out with friends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times. Even if you really enjoy your degree, it can still be stressful trying to find the time to manage all your modules. That is why I recommend managing your time and controlling your routine rather than letting it control you. Apps like Microsoft To-Do have been incredibly helpful to me since I’m always on-the-go. Microsoft-To-Do is a free cloud-based task management app available for desktops, Androids and Apple devices. The app contains some useful features for keeping you on track such as a customizable calendar and reminders that can be arranged in any order you desire.

Microsoft Teams also features an incredibly customizable calendar that is useful for scheduling meetings as well as keeping you up to date with your university task. Managing your time reduces stress by minimizing unpredictability and giving you the ability to work WITH deadlines as opposed to AGAINST them. Another good tip to reduce exam stress is to focus on one thing at a time. Whilst revising, focus your attention on just one of your modules a day, if you can. This makes it easier to retain information on the module that you’re studying which will make taking an exam all that easier. If you must study multiple modules, make sure you give yourself a meaningful break during your studies. Taking a break is important while studying for any amount of time. Incorporating breaks into your schedule is key to reducing stress and avoiding ‘burnout’, which we will discuss in greater detail later in this post.

Read More

LinkedIn Learning Collections to support students preparing for their exams

Laurie Stevenson [las60] Digital Identity and Wellbeing, LinkedIn Learning, Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment

As exam season approaches we have put together a couple of collections on LinkedIn Learning to help you banish the stress of exams and to help you revise more effectively.

Effective Exam Preparation and Revision Collection

This collection has some tips and advice to help you revise and study for your exams.

Tackling Exam Stress Collection

Exam season can be a challenging time for students, this collection gives you some strategies and advice for managing your stress levels around exams.

All Aberystwyth University students and staff have free access to LinkedIn Learning. Please see our login instructions and more general FAQ’s to help you during exam time. 

Digital Capabilities Training: January 2023

WordPress User [sil12] Digital Discovery Tool, LinkedIn Learning, Training Leave a comment
Orange banner with Aberystwyth University Logo, and Digital Capabilities Training text

Are you interested in learning what resources are available to help you assess and develop your digital capabilities? Or, perhaps you’re interested in learning more about how you can support your students to develop their own digital capabilities?

We will be delivering several training sessions for staff throughout January. If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, please feel free to email digi@aber.ac.uk to arrange a conversation with a member of our team.

Welsh-medium sessions:

English-medium sessions:

Finally, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to continuing to support you in the new year!

Catching up with our Student Digital Champions!

WordPress User [sil12] Student Digital Champions Leave a comment

We’re fast approaching the end of semester 1 and that also marks the halfway point for this year’s Student Digital Champions. We’re catching up today with Laurie Stevenson and Jeffrey Clark to hear about their experiences in the role this semester, to see some of the wonderful resources they have produced and to learn what they hope to achieve in the new year.

Firstly, can you explain what a Student Digital Champion is?

Jeffrey: A Student Digital Champion is someone who can help others with their digital learning and developing their digital capabilities.

Laurie: It is somebody who bring their own experiences as a student to promote and assist others with the skills and knowledge needed online.

What have you enjoyed most about your role?

Laurie: The ability to express myself creatively and learn new skills whilst being able to help other students.

Jeffrey: I have enjoyed creating blogposts on the various aspects of digital capabilities, such as my two-part blogposts on Fake News & Plagiarism – Foiling Fake News (Part 1) and Preventing Plagiarism (Part 2).

What do you feel has been your biggest achievement this semester?

Jeffrey: My biggest achievement this semester has been creating high-quality blogposts which have gained a significant amount of traction.

Laurie: Creating my Ten Top Library and Information Services Tips display and bookmarks (see blogpost) which I really believe will be a beneficial resource for students now and for years to come.

Table and display board with post-it-notes stuck to it.
Laurie’s top tips display in the Hugh Owen Library
Bookmark containing 10 tips for students
Laurie’s top tips bookmark

What new skills have you learnt from this role?

Laurie: I’ve learnt a lot, including media content creation, graphic design skills and communication skills.

Jeffrey: I’ve developed my communication skills, organisational skills, research methods, and fact checking through this role.

What do you hope to achieve next semester?

Jeffrey: I hope to reach more students with my posts so I can help as many students as possible.

Laurie: A continued sense of achievement and enjoyment in the role as well as gaining more insight into how digital capabilities can help students at the university.

Thank you to Laurie and Jeffrey for all their hard work this semester, and we look forward to learning more from them in the new year!

My review of LinkedIn Learning

WordPress User [jec68] LinkedIn Learning, Student Digital Champions Leave a comment

In this blogpost, Jeffrey Clark, a Student Digital Champion within our team, provides his review of LinkedIn Learning.

Banner with Student Digital Champion

LinkedIn Learning: An Introduction

At Aberystwyth University there are plenty of books and learning materials to sink your teeth into. But what about when you’re on the go? Or you want to explore other topics that pique your interest but don’t know where to start? Founded in 1995 as Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform with thousands of courses to choose from. The courses are designed by industry professionals and credible experts in fields ranging from business studies to personal wellbeing. While this service would normally require a paid subscription, students and staff at Aberystwyth University can enjoy access to LinkedIn Learning for free across any device!

Read More

Ten Top Library and Information Services Tips

Laurie Stevenson [las60] Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment
Banner with Student Digital Champion

Starting university can be a daunting and navigating the IT side of things can be confusing. We’ve therefore put together a collecting of helpful links and videos to cover any questions you may have about our IT and library services at Aberystwyth University.

Tip1: Where is everything in the Hugh Owen Library? Watch this virtual library tour:

Tip 2: Which buildings on campus have student printers? Here is the location of all printers on campus.

Tip 3: How do I print from a university printer? Watch this short demo video:

Tip 4: How do I top up my AberCard? Log into your account here to top up your AberCard.

Read More

Fake News & Plagiarism: Stop the Spread! Part 2 – Preventing Plagiarism

WordPress User [jec68] Information, data and media literacies, Student Digital Champions, Students Leave a comment
Banner with Student Digital Champion

Don’t be a copycat!
Welcome to part 2 of our series on fake news and plagiarism. In part one we looked at the world of smoke and mirrors that is fake news. In this part, we will go over the many forms of plagiarism, how to avoid accidental plagiarism, and ways you can combat deliberate acts of plagiarism.

What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work as if it were your own without giving credit to the original author(s) of the work. In other words, plagiarism is a form of theft but instead of physical property it is the idea of someone else, or intellectual property. There are several ways of committing plagiarism, many accidental and others intentional. Fortunately, virtually every course at Aberystwyth University goes over the basics of academic integrity as well as the proper referencing scheme to use for your course. More information on plagiarism can be found through the LibGuides page on plagiarism.

Referencing & Plagiarism Awareness LibGuide

Read More