Workshops and events

This session will briefly introduce the different areas (descriptive, inferential) and vocabulary related to statistics. By the end of the session you will be able to:

• demonstrate a useful understanding of statistical vocabulary
• recognise when it is appropriate to use statistics
• describe the different areas of statistics
• evaluate when the different areas of statistics are relevant.

This is one of a series of three related workshops, and you may wish to attend all three, but each session is also designed to work on its own.

• Wednesday 30 October 12.30-2.00 p.m.

This workshop is designed to assist students who have a set of collected data and are unsure where to begin. We will briefly define the different areas and types of statistics before discussing how to approach a dataset. We will focus on two main points - understanding the data you have and defining what you want you want to investigate. We will use a mock dataset to put this knowledge into context. By the end of this session you will be able to:

• recognise when it is appropriate to use different areas of statistics
• demonstrate some practical skills that can be applied to any dataset, e.g. graphs
• evaluate and manipulate a dataset
• understand how to develop a strategy to analyse a dataset.

This is one of three related statistics workshops, and you may wish to attend all three, but each session is also designed to work on its own.

• Wednesday 6 November 12.30-2.00 p.m.

This workshop will demonstrate how to approach published papers and how to interpret and understand the results. We will discuss what factors to consider and and how to determine the relevance and validity of the results. By the end of the session you will be able to:

• define how to critically review data and statistics in published work
• identify relevant information from a text for analysis
• apply what you have learned  to your own research/purpose.

This is one of three related statistics workshops and you may wish to attend all three, but each session is also designed to work individually.

• Wednesday 13 November, 12.30-2.00 p.m.

Designed for students at any level including beginners, this interactive session will introduce you to the essential tools and techniques to navigate and utilise Excel for your studies. We will review how to create and format spreadsheets, use basic formulae and functions, and analyse data effectively. We will work through practical exercises together and by the end of the session, you will have built your confidence in using Excel, working with data and finding further resources to keep building your skills.

• Friday 1 November, 12.30-2.00 p.m.

Our colleagues in IT Training offer a course on SPSS that takes you through downloading and setting the software up and then using it for data organisation, presentation and analysis. It is a course you can enrol on yourself via Moodle but there are no assignments or assessments. Its purpose is to support you in using SPSS for your work.

Enrol on SPSS Moodle course

As well as having strong content, outstanding presentations must also be well planned and communicated clearly. In this session we will learn some essential strategies for deciding what to include, and how to include it, in order to make it easy for your audience to understand your ideas. We’ll also work on verbal delivery, using pace and intonation to keep your talk clear and engaging. The workshop will be one hour, with an extra 30 minutes at the end for you to ask questions and discuss your own presentation assignment.

• Tuesday 15 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in week 7.

What can we learn about teamwork from some mental poles and a plate of biscuits? Is teamwork inevitably going to be harder than working on your own or are there things we can do to make it easier, less stressful and more rewarding? Join is in our latest think tank social as we explore the dynamics of teamwork through theories, stories and three-part harmonies.

• Tuesday 15 October, 5.00-7.00 p.m
• JHBB, 203.

When you’re focusing on what you want to say, it can be easy to forget that your reader needs to easily follow and understand your ideas. This session will show you some simple ways to keep your reader engaged and clear about the points you want to make, allowing your good ideas to stand out and be noticed. 

• Wednesday 16 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in week 10.

Come to the library platfom today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development, Library and the Assistive Technology Suite for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Today we are particularly offering guidance on digital organisation, so if you are finding it difficult to find files you thought you had saved, or want to explore how software might help you organise sources, this is for you. If you have a laptop that is just not doing what you want it to do, feel free to bring that along.

• Wednesday 16 October, 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.

Are you struggling to get your Harvard referencing conventions right? Perhaps you’ve had feedback about your referencing and you’re not sure what you need to fix. This interactive session, led by colleagues in the Oxford Brookes Library, will focus on the content, formatting and punctuation of referencing, so you know what to include and how. The session will be one hour, followed by an optional 30 minutes for you to ask questions and discuss those tricky sources you’re not sure about. It’s perfect if you’re new to Harvard referencing, or just want to build your confidence.

• Thursday 17 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in weeks 6 and 9. 

What exactly is analysis? Why is it so important in academic writing? How can I include more in my writing? Join us for this session where we will take the mystery out of analysis. We’ll also practice distinguishing between analysis and description and learn the types of questions you need to ask yourself when analysing a topic.

• Tuesday 22 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in weeks 6 and 8.

Students are often told that their writing should be more critical, but how do you do this? This workshop explores the value of questions in moving from being descriptive to more critical, and where your own ideas fit in the research process.

• Wednesday 23 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in week 7.

Come to the library platfom today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development and the Library for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Whether you have an assignment to write but don't know how to get started, wondering what practical steps you can take to be more critical, struggling to find useful sources or trying to understand the logic of referencing, one-to-one help is available this afternoon, and you don't need to book an appointment.

• Wednesday 23 October, 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.

 Struggling to find the right sources for your assignments? Want to speed up your research process and uncover hidden gems in academic literature? Join us for an exciting hands-on workshop where you'll discover the power of AI tools like Research Rabbit, SciSpace, and Keenious. Learn how these cutting-edge platforms can help you find, organise, and expand your research, in combination with traditional library databases. You'll get to explore how AI can make your research smarter, more efficient, and even fun! Whether you're working on essays, projects, or dissertations, this session will give you the skills to supercharge your academic work and stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss out on this chance to level up your research game!  

• Thursday 24 October, 5-6.30 p.m.
• This session is repeated in week 7.

Essay tasks come in many different forms, and it may be hard to decide what to include and how to structure your work. Making a plan based on your instructions will help you to get started, stay on task, and feel more confident that your finished assignment is clear and focussed. This session is suitable for undergraduates and any student lacking confidence in their essay planning. It will show you both how to make a plan, and how to use it! The workshop will be one hour, followed by a chance for you to ask questions and start planning your own assignment.

• Thursday 24 October, 4.00-5.30 p.m.

Using sources in your writing is an important part of academic study. This workshop will introduce and practice the most common ways of incorporating references in your writing and will highlight good habits that will help you avoid plagiarism. 

• Friday 25 October, 4.00-5.30 p.m.

It seems logical to write the introduction to an essay first, but in fact it can be easier to perfect this part later on, once you know what the essay is really trying to say. Whenever the time comes, it is useful to know the typical features of introductions and conclusions, so you can write them with confidence and efficiency. This session will outline the most common “moves” that these key sections include, and the language to make them clear and effective. 

• Monday 28 October,  12.00-1.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in week 9.

What exactly is analysis? Why is it so important in academic writing? How can I include more in my writing?  Join us for this session where we will take the mystery out of analysis. We’ll also practice distinguishing between analysis and description and learn the types of questions you need to ask yourself when analysing a topic.  

• Tuesday 29 October,  12.00-1.30 p.m.

Are you struggling to get your Harvard referencing conventions right? Perhaps you’ve had feedback about your referencing and you’re not sure what you need to fix. This interactive session, led by colleagues in the Oxford Brookes Library, will focus on the content, formatting and punctuation of referencing, so you know what to include and how. The session will be one hour, followed by an optional 30 minutes for you to ask questions and discuss those tricky sources you’re not sure about. It’s perfect if you’re new to Harvard referencing, or just want to build your confidence.

• Tuesday 29 October, 4.00-5.30 p.m
• This workshop is repeated in week 9.

Come to the library platfom today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development and the Library for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Whether you have an assignment to write but don't know how to get started, wondering what practical steps you can take to be more critical, struggling to find useful sources or trying to understand the logic of referencing, one-to-one help is available this afternoon, and you don't need to book an appointment.

• Wednesday 30 October, 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.

How do you choose a dissertation topic? How can you know whether your idea is any good? This session explores the challenging early stages of the dissertation process, including topic choice, choice of methods and time management.

• Thursday 31 October, 12.00-1.30 p.m.

Designed for students at any level - beginners welcome, this interactive session will introduce you to the essential tools and techniques to navigate and utilise Excel for your studies. We will review how to create and format spreadsheets, use basic formulae and functions, and analyse data effectively. We will work through practical exercises together and by the end of the session, have built your confidence in using Excel, working with data and finding further resources to keep building your skills.

• Friday 1 November, 12.30-2.00 p.m.

Have you been given an assignment that you’re not sure how to approach? Perhaps you’ve struggled in the past to understand exactly what you need to write? This session will show you how to use your task instructions and other resources to get a clearer idea of what your lecturers are hoping to see. Perfect for undergraduates or anyone who wants more confidence in this area, this session will last one hour and be followed by a chance for you to ask questions and discuss your specific assignments. 

• Wednesday 27 November 12.00-1.30 p.m.

Come to the library platform today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development and the Library for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Whether you have an assignment to write but don't know how to get started, wondering what practical steps you can take to be more critical, struggling to find useful sources or trying to understand the logic of referencing, one-to-one help is available this afternoon, and you don't need to book an appointment.

• Wednesday 27 November, 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.

When you’re focusing on what you want to say, it can be easy to forget that your reader needs to easily follow and understand your ideas. This one-hour session will show you some simple ways to keep your reader engaged and clear about the points you want to make, allowing your good ideas to stand out and be noticed. 

• Thursday 28 November, 12.00-1.30 p.m.

Come to the library platform today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development and the Library for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Whether you have an assignment to write but don't know how to get started, wondering what practical steps you can take to be more critical, struggling to find useful sources or trying to understand the logic of referencing, one-to-one help is available this afternoon, and you don't need to book an appointment.

• Wednesday 4 December 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.

Come to the library platform today and meet colleagues from the Centre for Academic Development and the Library for informal one-to-one advice on any aspect of your study process. Whether you have an assignment to write but don't know how to get started, wondering what practical steps you can take to be more critical, struggling to find useful sources or trying to understand the logic of referencing, one-to-one help is available this afternoon, and you don't need to book an appointment.

• Wednesday 11 December 12.30-3.00 p.m
• No need to book - just turn up.