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- Activities A-Z
Skills finder
Activities A-Z
Being digital activities cover the skills we all need to be effective online. Activities are short and easy to follow.
You can choose relevant activities by:
- browsing through the A-Z list on this page
- browsing by theme (i.e. Creating, Finding, Using, Workplace skills)
- using the Skills finder to search for activities, if you have a clear idea of what you need
Activities will open in a new tab or window. When you have finished the activity, close the tab or window to return to this page.
The icon next to each activity helps you to identify the format used (e.g. video, activity, further reading). For more information please see the list of Icon keys.
Audio
Video
External
Further Reading
ActivityViewing all learning resources
This is an alphabetical list of all the activities available. You can browse this list or choose a pathway from the Pathways page in order to work through several activities on a similar topic.
A plagiarism carol (opens in a new window or tab)
Video by University of Bergen, outlining the consequences of plagiarism and the benefits of avoiding it. In Norwegian, with subtitles (captions). To turn these on/off, use the icon on the right hand side of the player control bar.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Video by University of Bergen, outlining the consequences of plagiarism and the benefits of avoiding it. In Norwegian, with subtitles (captions). To turn these on/off, use the icon on the right hand side of the player control bar.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Avoiding plagiarism (opens in a new window or tab)
Short introductory podcast explaining how you can avoid plagiarism by developing your skills.
This activity will take you: 4 minutes
Short introductory podcast explaining how you can avoid plagiarism by developing your skills.
This activity will take you: 4 minutes
Avoiding plagiarism video (opens in a new window or tab)
Bob discovers what plagiarism is and how he can avoid it. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
Bob discovers what plagiarism is and how he can avoid it. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
Choosing good keywords (opens in a new window or tab)
How to focus your search using targeted keywords.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
How to focus your search using targeted keywords.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Communicating online (opens in a new window or tab)
How to get the best out of the contact you have with others online and avoid misunderstandings.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
How to get the best out of the contact you have with others online and avoid misunderstandings.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Deciding what to trust online (opens in a new window or tab)
This activity will help you to know what questions to ask to judge the accuracy and reliability of information you find online.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
This activity will help you to know what questions to ask to judge the accuracy and reliability of information you find online.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Deciding who to trust online (opens in a new window or tab)
People are not always what they seem to be. In this activity we look at the questions to ask of people you meet online in order to judge whether they are trustworthy.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
People are not always what they seem to be. In this activity we look at the questions to ask of people you meet online in order to judge whether they are trustworthy.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Evaluation using PROMPT (opens in a new window or tab)
Introduces the PROMPT criteria which you can use to evaluate information from any source.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Introduces the PROMPT criteria which you can use to evaluate information from any source.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Explore library resources (opens in a new window or tab)
A collection of short videos introducing you to the rich variety of online resources provided by OU Library Services. Choose the subject you are interested in. Transcripts are available.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
A collection of short videos introducing you to the rich variety of online resources provided by OU Library Services. Choose the subject you are interested in. Transcripts are available.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Filtering information quickly (opens in a new window or tab)
Strategies for fast filtering of results when searching the web.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Strategies for fast filtering of results when searching the web.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Finding hidden information online (opens in a new window or tab)
Learn how to access online information that might not be listed by search engines.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Learn how to access online information that might not be listed by search engines.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Getting started with the online library (opens in a new window or tab)
Short introduction to the Open University online library and its resources. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
Short introduction to the Open University online library and its resources. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
Information universe (opens in a new window or tab)
Save time and get better results by learning how to focus on the category of information best suited to the purpose of your search.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Save time and get better results by learning how to focus on the category of information best suited to the purpose of your search.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Keeping up-to-date using blogs (opens in a new window or tab)
How to find reliable blogs that will help you to keep up-to-date with your specialist interests.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
How to find reliable blogs that will help you to keep up-to-date with your specialist interests.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Keeping up-to-date using online networking (opens in a new window or tab)
Learn how online networks can help you keep up-to-date and how to choose an appropriate network for your needs.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Learn how online networks can help you keep up-to-date and how to choose an appropriate network for your needs.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Keeping up-to-date using RSS (opens in a new window or tab)
RSS makes it easier and quicker to keep up-to-date with the latest news, articles and blogs.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
RSS makes it easier and quicker to keep up-to-date with the latest news, articles and blogs.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Making the most of Twitter (opens in a new window or tab)
How to make the most of Twitter for your purposes.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
How to make the most of Twitter for your purposes.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
My digital identity (opens in a new window or tab)
Be aware of who your audience is when posting in online spaces, and learn the basics of presenting yourself effectively.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Be aware of who your audience is when posting in online spaces, and learn the basics of presenting yourself effectively.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Podcasting in plain English (opens in a new window or tab)
Short video by Commoncraft providing a quick introduction to podcasting.
This activity will take you: 3 minutes
Short video by Commoncraft providing a quick introduction to podcasting.
This activity will take you: 3 minutes
Recognising plagiarism (opens in a new window or tab)
Short introduction to the forms plagiarism can take.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Short introduction to the forms plagiarism can take.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
RSS in plain English (opens in a new window or tab)
Short video by Commoncraft. Find out how you can use rss to save time by having information come to you.
This activity will take you: 3 minutes
Short video by Commoncraft. Find out how you can use rss to save time by having information come to you.
This activity will take you: 3 minutes
Scams and hoaxes (opens in a new window or tab)
This activity helps you to spot some of the signs of scams and hoaxes and avoid getting taken in.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
This activity helps you to spot some of the signs of scams and hoaxes and avoid getting taken in.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Scanning and skimming a web page (opens in a new window or tab)
Learn how to use techniques that will help you to find information quickly when you are dealing with large amounts of text.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Learn how to use techniques that will help you to find information quickly when you are dealing with large amounts of text.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Search slips and tips (opens in a new window or tab)
Avoid the pitfalls of searching for information online, and conduct more efficient searches.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Avoid the pitfalls of searching for information online, and conduct more efficient searches.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Selecting the right online tools (opens in a new window or tab)
Learn how to select the right online tool with confidence.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Learn how to select the right online tool with confidence.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Social networking: is it for me? (opens in a new window or tab)
Decide if social networking is for you, and select the most approriate networking site.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Decide if social networking is for you, and select the most approriate networking site.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Target your Google search (opens in a new window or tab)
Find relevant information quickly using Google's advanced search options.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Find relevant information quickly using Google's advanced search options.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Using Wikipedia (opens in a new window or tab)
Many of us use Wikipedia to find out information, but how far can you trust it? This activity provides some guidelines to help you approach it with discernment.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Many of us use Wikipedia to find out information, but how far can you trust it? This activity provides some guidelines to help you approach it with discernment.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
What is the online library? (opens in a new window or tab)
Bob discovers the Open University's online library, which gives you access to thousands of up-to-date online articles and books. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
Bob discovers the Open University's online library, which gives you access to thousands of up-to-date online articles and books. Transcript available.
This activity will take you: 2 minutes
What plagiarism feels like (opens in a new window or tab)
Introduction to the consequences of plagiarism in academic and working life.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Introduction to the consequences of plagiarism in academic and working life.
This activity will take you: 5 minutes
Writing a good tweet (opens in a new window or tab)
Learn how to write a good tweet and make a good impression on Twitter.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Learn how to write a good tweet and make a good impression on Twitter.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Writing online (opens in a new window or tab)
Introduction to the principles of effective writing online.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes
Introduction to the principles of effective writing online.
This activity will take you: 10 minutes