Workshops
If you have ever wished there was a place to go where someone could show you how to conduct research, correctly craft citations, write an engaging paper, or even make studying less stressful and more effective, you should explore the workshops offered here!
Workshop Schedule
Navigate to by month using the arrows on the left and right. The upcoming events are displayed below the calendar. Click on an event to view a description and to register.
Resources and Recorded Workshops
General
Get to know the Library and the Student Learning Centre! This workshop will introduce you to our library space, services, resources, and our Page 1+ search platform. Discover more about Peer Tutoring and Coaching - SLC’s supportive services that can help you succeed in your courses.
For more information, please visit our Services page. - Opens in a new window
Meet Page 1+ - it’s a lot like Google, but instead of searching the web, it searches the library’s online and in-house collection! This workshop will introduce you to Page 1+ and show you how it can be used for your assignments and projects. Learn how to manage your account, save your searches, track your sources, and more.
For more support see our user guide on Page 1+ - Opens in a new window or view our video Searching with Page 1+
Learn how to find and use free and openly licenced resources from the internet, including high-quality photos, videos, templates, graphic design tools and more. Learn how to incorporate open multimedia into your own projects, and learn the art of attribution through the TASL technique.
Part 1: What are Open Educational Resources (OER) Activity Transcript Part 2: Learning to Use OER Activity Transcript Part 3: Learning to Attribute Activity Transcript
Visit the Presentation Skills module - open in a new tab in the Essential Study Skills guide and check out the videos below for strategies to improve your presentations.
Click on the following titles to view the corresponding videos:
How to present a presentation online
How to present a presentation online Video Transcript.How to Create an Effective Presentation
How to Create an Effective Presentation Video Transcript.How to Prepare for Your Presentation
How to Prepare for a Presentation Video Transcript.How to Manage Presentation Anxiety
How to Manage Presentation Anxiety Video Transcript.How to Deliver an Effective Presentation
How to Manage Presentation Anxiety Video Transcript.Research
Need to write a paper but aren’t sure how to get started? In this workshop, you will learn how to come up with search terms and find reliable sources for your assignments using a combination of the web and library resources.
Go through process of planning and conducting research for your paper in the Research Guide - open in a new tab, and watch the videos below.
Defining a Research Question and Background Research
Choosing Keywords and Brainstorming Synonyms
What makes an article acceptable to use in an academic setting? In this workshop, you will learn how to find academic (AKA scholarly or peer reviewed) articles using the online library and will understand how to differentiate it from a non-academic source.
You can find more information on identifying and finding academic articles in the Learning Portal Module: Types of Resources-Journal Articles - Opens in a new window.
Watch the videos below to learn about how to find scholarly resources using Library search tools, and how to tell if a resource is scholarly.
Finding Peer Reviewed Journals in Page 1+
How to identify a scholarly article
Doing quality research means making sure you are using reliable sources. This workshop will show you how to evaluate the quality of resources using the ‘C.R.A.A.P’ test—a guideline for critically analyzing sources—so you can avoid ‘fake news’.
Improve your evaluation skills, check out our supporting content in our Research Guide - Opens in a new window or The Learning Portal- Opens in a new window. Learn more about how to evaluate all information for quality. Keep in mind that not all the information you find online is credible and reliable or even appropriate for your topic, so you must take a close look at what you are using. Use the tips below to determine whether or not you should use a particular source for your research assignment.
The emergence of ChatGPT has given students easy access to the power of AI in the form of a research and writing tool. In this workshop we will focus on:
For more information, check out our supporting content in our Generative AI Guide- Opens in a new window and Citation Guide - Opens in a new window.
Writing and Citing
What does plagiarism mean? What the potential consequences of it are, and how do I avoid it? How is it related to Academic Integrity? All these questions and more will be answered in this workshop! Gain good work habits and learn the importance of correctly citing your sources.
Complete the activity and watch the video below for an explanation of what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it.
Plagiarism and you Video Transcript (RTF) Opens in a new window
Complete the activity below to learn about avoiding plagiarism in your academic paper.
Module 1: Plagiarism Activity TranscriptThis 2 hour introductory workshop covers how to use the APA citation style for academic purposes. It will familiarize you with how to use in-text citations within the body of the paper and the associated APA rules relating to quotes, paraphrases, and multiple author names. It also covers how to format a Reference List according to APA style rules.
The modules below cover how to use APA 7 to format your papers and cite your sources. Check with your professors to see which edition of APA they want you to use.
Module 1: Plagiarism Activity Transcript Module 2: Introduction to APA Papers Activity Transcript Module 3: Incorporating Sources Activity Transcript Module 4: General Format Activity Transcript Module 5: Creating an APA Reference Page Activity TranscriptIn this workshop we will introduce the concept of plagiarism and how cut/paste research methods can lead to accidental plagiarism. We will explore how properly using quotations can let you use the content you need and avoid plagiarism. (Recommended for EAP Basic)
Visit our APA Module on Incorporating Sources - Opens in a new window. Learn how to incorporate information into your paper using paraphrasing, direct quotes, and in-text citations.
In this workshop we will explore the concept of plagiarism and develop the skill of paraphrasing as a means to correctly use the content you need and avoid plagiarism.
Want to learn more about the skill of paraphrasing? Please visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab for more tips to improve your paraphrase power. - Opens in a new window
(Recommended for EAP Intermediate and anyone interested in improving their paraphrasing skills)
Module 3: Incorporating Sources Activity TranscriptCheck out the Structuring Your Writing - Opens in a new window module of The Learning Portal for help structuring and writing the paragraphs in your essay, as well as with incorporating the sources you found during your research.
Become familiar with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) citation style, which is commonly used in technical fields.
You can find more information on using the rules of IEEE to correctly cite and reference resources by visiting our Citing and Documenting Sources Guide - Opens in a new window.
Computer Skills
Become familiar with Brightspace, ACSIS, Live@AC, and understand how to connect to college WIFI and how to access printing. Discover these essential Algonquin College tools in the following ways:
- Enroll in the AC Café: This self-directed Brightspace course helps you prepare to start your program. The AC Technology module explains AC tech tools like Brightspace, ACSIS, and your student email, as well as technology you can access as a student, like Microsoft 365.
- Visit the Student Survival Guide: Check out the page on Getting Started Online for an introduction to the tech tools you will need to get started. Explore the Navigating Technology page for more in-depth tutorials on tools like Brightspace, Zoom, and more.
Success in a college environment depends on those key skills that you’ve been hearing about throughout your academic career — time management, organization, note-taking, reading, and studying. The Student Learning Centre will be offering FREE weekly workshops on different academic topics throughout first semester. These workshops will give you new strategies to approach your courses and the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other students.
For additional information to help you develop these skills, you can also visit Study Skills: a guide for academic success - opens in a new window.
Managing your time and keeping on top of your work are the keys to success as a college student.
Visit the Time Management module and watch the videos below to learn how to create weekly schedules and a semester plan to manage your time better.
How to create a weekly schedule
How to create a weekly schedule Video Transcript.How to create a semester plan in Word
How to create a semester plan in Word Video Transcript.It can be challenging to listen to your professors while also writing class notes . . . and how do you balance all of the readings that you need to get through, anyway?
Visit the Reading & Note-Taking module and watch the video below to learn some strategies for taking notes in class more effective and useful.
How to Use Cornell Method
How to Use Cornell Method Video Transcript.Do you cringe when your professors assign group projects? Do you dread completing these projects because you know it’s going to be difficult to get everyone on board to get the job done?
Visit the module on Agreeing on Expectations for group projects, and watch the videos below.
About Group Contracts
About Group Contracts Video Transcript.How to be successful when working with classmates using online platforms like Zoom
How to be successful when working with classmates using online platforms like Zoom Video Transcript.“If I’d just started earlier, I could have done so much better.” Although many students claim to work better under the pressure of deadlines, not having enough time to complete assignments can mean that you are not reaching your potential as a student. Learn to maximize your marks by starting early and breaking down your assignments into manageable parts using an “assignment tracker.”
Visit the Time Management module and watch this video to learn how to plan out the time to work on your assignment so you’ll be less likely to put it off.
How to Use Assignment Tracker
How to Use Assignment Tracker Video Transcript.Practice makes perfect! If you want to feel more comfortable with new material, you need to review regularly and actively! Trade in straight reading for techniques that will allow you to rehearse material, test yourself, and come up with memory devices. Learn how to prioritize your studying and focus on the material that really matters.
Visit the Studying and Test-Taking module and watch the videos below for strategies to make your studying more effective.
How to Decide What to Study
How to Decide What to Study Video Transcript.How to Remember Information
How to Remember Information Video Transcript.For many students, exam time can be filled with stress, anxiety, and worry.
Visit the Studying and Test-Taking module and watch the videos below for strategies to make your studying more effective.
Click on the following titles to view the corresponding videos:
How to Use the Stoplight Technique
How to Use the Stoplight Technique Video Transcript.How to Get the Most Out of Your Study Time
How to Get the Most Out of Your Study Time Video Transcript.How to decide what to study
How to decide what to study Video Transcript.What to do during a test
What to do during a test Video Transcript.Balancing your course-load and personal commitments can be a stressful experience for many college students.
Visit the Stress Management module and watch the videos below to learn strategies that can help you deal with stress.
Click on the following titles to view the corresponding videos:
Guided Belly Breathing
Guided Belly Breathing Video Transcript.Let's Take a Mindfulness Moment
Let's Take a Mindfulness Moment Video Transcript.How to Solve Practical Problems
How to Solve Practical Problems Video Transcript.Looking for more support?
The Library provides 1:1 research support in the form of advice or assistance regarding search strategy, finding resources and basic citation support.
The Coaching Lab offers students individual and small group coaching at no charge. The areas of coaching offered are writing, math, presentation skills, ESL, study skills, computer, anatomy and physiology.