Transcript banish myths and misconceptions

Demystifying your first year at
Birkbeck
Angela Dierks
Head of My Birkbeck Student Services
Aim
• provide
an overview of the academic year
• explore how you might be feeling
• banish myths and misconceptions
• provide first hand experience of life at
Birkbeck
Butterflies
Nervous
Excitement
Meeting new people
Meeting new people
Learning something new
Learning something new
Coping with the demands of Rising to the challenge of
the course
the course
Finding time to study
Enjoying time spent
studying
Not completing/defer/take a
break
Graduating
A typical week – your timetable
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
am
8-12
Gym/
Work
Work
Gym/
Work
Work
Work
HW and HW and
errands errands
pm
12 - 6
Work
Work
Work
Work
Work
Study
Eve
6-9
BBK
BBK
BBK
Gym
Family/ Study
Friends/
Fun
Night
9 - 12
TV
Library
Key
reading
Key
reading
Family/ Family/ TV
Friends/ Friends/
Fun
Fun
Family/
Friends/
Fun
TV
Get organised
• Learn to manage your time effectively
• Get a study planner
• Identify a study space
• Have system in place for study material
Distractions and procrastination
• Avoid lots of displacement activities
• Check that your study goals are realistic – are you trying
to do too much?
• Know yourself
• Reward yourself
• Just do it – something is better than nothing
• Talk to your family members/friends asking them to
respect your study time
• Identify your time wasters
The first year – 3 terms
• Spring (9th January – 23rd March)
• Summer (23rd April until 6th July)
• Autumn (1st October – 14th December)
Spring– what to expect
• 11 weeks
• 1st week induction; student handbook; getting to know
staff and fellow students
• Teaching – lectures, seminars, labs
• Reading week half way through – catch up or get ahead
• Stay Ahead Motivated programme– February
• Preparing for assessment/exams – February/March
• Meeting first deadline – March/April
Summer Term
• 11 weeks
• Using feedback from term one assessments to “feed
forward”
• Revisit and review work from Spring term
• Exam revision – consider taking block of annual leave?
• Exams – always during the working day
• Preparing for next year
• Update your CV
• Enjoy the break!
Autumn Term
•
•
•
•
•
Consolidating knowledge from previous terms
Teaching – lectures, seminars, labs
Reading week half way through – catch up or get ahead
Stay Ahead Programme – November
Preparing for assessment – December
Support services
• Birkbeck Students Union (incl. Advice Centre and
Counselling Service)
• Birkbeck Careers Service
• IT Services
• Disability and Dyslexia Support
• International Office
• Learning support and study sk
• Library Services
• Nursery
• Student Centre
Five fast facts
• There is 24 hour access to the building – study rooms
are always available – Room 536
• There are showers available – ask reception for the key
• There is a cash machine and prayer room at the School
of Oriental and African Studies
• ULU has the largest swimming pool in central London –
gym is £26.00 direct debit but can pay daily £4.50
• Buy one get one free at the BBK bar on a Friday …