Author Archives: sobiaali

From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York

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Welcome to York. It’s the first week of school and some of you must be freaking out. Do not worry, this week is going to be the most memorable one down the road. I have done all my shopping for school, mapped my classes and am still getting over frosh week. But there is still one thing that I need for my first week: energy! Why? Because there is still a lot to do!

g together in the CollaboratoryThe first few weeks of school usually offers so many opportunities to ask for help and support or to meet new friends/classmates – which really makes a difference. After my first day back I have: found a partner to study with, asked for help with some confusing course material, grabbed a coffee during the break, and most importantly, found someone I know  in my class!

I never miss a class in the first few weeks. I try to get to know my professors and if I don’t like that class, I change it right away. Just like Cynthia said in her last blog, I have never regretted changing classes.

I also tend to make a list of things I need to do every school year, or things that I didn’t do last year. Time management is at  the top of my “goals” list this year. I work part-time and study at the same time. It is sometimes hard to finish school work by their due dates because I get caught up with all sorts of other things. But that’s what the university experience is all about. I need to set goals, get focused and get done with it. School work is always a priority.

appleMost importantly I make sure I am getting enough sleep and I am eating well. It simply allows me to seize opportunities and do everything on time.

Saying good-bye to the summer

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Am I ready for another school year? Not yet. I feel that we did not get enough of summer this year. Do you agree with me? Maybe it feels that way because I have been busy doing other things than basking in the sun! As the summer comes to an end, I feel I still have more to do.

My brother gave me a book last week. It’s called “LEAN IN” by Sheryl Sandberg, currently the chief operating officer at Facebook. The book is about women, work and the will to lead. I have just finished the first chapter and I am so inspired. I can’t say I woke up the next day a totally different person but surely this book will change the way I see things. I feel every powerful book does that to me. Have you been reading a lot this summer?

I haven’t been able to get back to my book for a few days, though, because I went to Canada’s Wonderland this weekend for the first time. Such an awesome experience! I went on most of the rides including the Extreme Sky Flyer which apparently is Canada’s largest free-fall swing. I felt my heart was swinging more than myself. To add to that, I woke up having no voice the next morning.

Sobia's paintingDespite all the fun, the two most exciting things to the end my summer with are: 1) that I successfully finished another shadow painting and it’s ready to go on the wall! Most people don’t know that I am an artist. I like to paint for fun. I have shared the picture and would love your feedback on it. 2) I am going to a cottage this long weekend in Bruce Peninsula. I haven’t been to a cottage before.

Do you have any suggestions on how to make the most of the end to summer? Do you have any plans before another busy year?

A sneak peek at SPARK

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Last Thursday, I attended a very interesting focus group. Do you think it was about getting a spark from the library? It actually was not. It was about the upcoming Virtual Learning Commons project known as SPARK, which stands for “Student Papers and Academic Research Kit.” SPARK is, quite simply, a 24/7 eLearning resource for students that need help with any aspect of completing an assignment.

Basic concerns such as how to start an assignment and where to look for the right materials for an assignment are all addressed by the SPARK modules. Most students including myself don’t know where to start. I am usually bombarded by ideas and I don’t know which one to use! SPARK addresses all these issues.

screenshot of SPARK onlines modulesIts 3 major categories  of “Getting Started”, “Exploring” and “Pulling It Together” are broken down into 13 excellent modules. Many of these modules contain short videos to demonstrate the needs. Can you believe there is an “essay editing” module under the “Pulling It Together” tab? Wouldn’t you love that? Most importantly, SPARK can be accessed from anywhere and anytime from multiple devices.

There were other students who attended the focus group to share their ideas and how they see SPARK making a difference in their academic career. In their words, they saw SPARK as: intuitive, helpful, a time-manager, guide, like Google but more efficient, not overwhelming, easy to navigate, etc. The modules are not just limited to writing papers, but any kind of assignment. They encourage you to ask different questions to yourself to find out what you actually need to complete the assignment as well as how to manage time between assignments.

To share with you, I am quite excited to use this service. Are you as excited as me? What do you think about this service? Do you think students would rely on SPARK when they are on the verge of breaking down due to overwhelming assignments?

 

Looking for a seat?

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By Sobia Ali

I am sure this discussion has been touched on by many others. My topic today is about the current status of seating in the library. Summer is almost over! As usual, libraries are less busy in terms of students during this time but those starting school in September will be looking for places to study.

students sitting on the floor in Scott LibraryWhile there are 4 other libraries on campus, students still aren’t able to find a seat in the library. I know that is a unique problem in its own and at the same time it’s a campus wide issue. What is the library doing to help students find a seat? I struggle to find a seat during regular hours but I don’t try and find one when I have to study for exams or work on my own laptop. Those are the only times when I don’t care about a seat. I would simply sit on the floor and work on things. But I find students doing this most of the time. Why do you think they do that?

I do it because I like studying in the library and any other space on campus doesn’t have the feel of a library. Libraries are a motivation in itself. Secondly, because that is how I study at home. I get lots of space to spread out my material and stretch my legs as opposed to dangling from the chair if I was sitting.

students studying in the SalonFortunately, I have been able to make a studying plan for the upcoming year. I am going to plan ahead where and when I am going to study. At the same time I will explore what times the library isn’t greatly busy so I can drop by to for a print resources or go through materials when I have a break between classes. I have also decided to diversify and explore spaces in other libraries. Do you think this plan will work? What are your suggestions for students looking for a space? What would you have done?

 

Need help with your studies? Come to the Library!

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By Sobia Ali

Not sure where to start? Baffled by what to do? Don’t worry!

I always require help outside classrooms and tutorials. If you’re struggling with homework and projects, need help with any kind of research and learning materials, where do you go? 

pods Scott Library brings you “The Learning Commons” – a great addition to the library services to support your learning in school. Currently providing 3 kinds of services, I have been able to use just 1 of them.

First of all and my most favored one is the Research service. I have used the research help desk in my first year for a marketing project. I had to research an existing public company, its values and cultures and introduce a new product that the company currently didn’t produce. The expert helped me plan my research, develop research questions, find resources and sort through ideas. I was also taught how to take quality notes, cite sources correctly, and share my findings effectively.

Next is the Learning Skills hub which integrates programs to enable faster learning approaches and balance school and school work. For example, time management skills, classroom and note taking skills as well as strategies to study for exams are few of them. You won’t believe how many students in university have difficulties managing time and I am certainly one of them. And that’s one reason I have never been able to use this service. Have you used a similar service or know of anyone who has? If yes, then is this service in the library or outside? How was your experience?

The Learning Commons pods I am usually confused about where to begin an assignment or where to go when in such a situation. I hope I am not the only one feeling this way. But sometimes the internet doesn’t provide much help. The Writing skills area helps you produce a wide variety of documents including dissertations, theses, organizing essays as well as improving your analytical skills.

These are excellent services that I recommend to anyone who needs. Did you know that these services were free of cost for all students? Most students I meet are not aware of this. Below is a video of the Learning Commons at Scott Library!