Activities A-Z - Being Digital

How to identify the different elements which make up a journal and a journal article, and understand the role of peer review.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Anatomy of a Journal

Anatomy of a Journal (pdf)

Anatomy of a Journal (word)

A podcast explaining what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it by developing skills in referencing and managing information efficiently.

This activity will take you: 4 minutes

Start Avoiding plagiarism

Screen reader users are advised to use the alternative Word or PDF version

Avoiding plagiarism (pdf)

Avoiding plagiarism (word)

Bob discovers what plagiarism is and how he can avoid it. Transcript available.

This activity will take you: 2 minutes

Start Avoiding plagiarism video

How to find the information you need by choosing the most appropriate keywords for your purposes.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Choosing good keywords

Choosing good keywords (pdf)

Choosing good keywords (word)

Understanding the basics of effective online communication, or netiquette.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Communicating online

Communicating online (pdf)

Communicating online (word)

This activity will help you to develop some criteria for judging the accuracy and reliability of information you find online.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Deciding what to trust online

Deciding what to trust online (pdf)

Deciding what to trust online (word)

This activity explains what a digital footprint is, and provides guidance on how to check on and improve your own digital footprint.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Developing a good digital footprint

Developing a good digital footprint (pdf)

Developing a good digital footprint (word)

Introduces the framework PROMPT, a set of criteria which can be used to evaluate information found online.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Evaluation using PROMPT

Evaluation using PROMPT (pdf)

Evaluation using PROMPT (word)

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

Start Explore library resources

Strategies for fast filtering of results when using search engines to find information online.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Filtering information quickly

Filtering information quickly (pdf)

Filtering information quickly (word)

How to access online information that might not be available to search engines.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Finding hidden information online

Finding hidden information online (pdf)

Finding hidden information online (word)

A video introducing the resources and services available through the Open University online library.

This activity will take you: 2 minutes

Start Getting started with the online library

Learn how to write an effective tweet and engage an audience on Twitter.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start How to write an effective tweet

How to write an effective tweet (pdf)

How to write an effective tweet (word)

Planning a search based on the type of information needed and its purpose.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Information universe

Information universe (pdf)

Information universe (word)

An introduction to what referencing is, why it's important and what elements are included in a typical reference.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Introduction to referencing

Introduction to referencing (pdf)

Introduction to referencing (word)

Learn 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

Start Keeping up-to-date using blogs

Keeping up-to-date using blogs (pdf)

Keeping up-to-date using blogs (word)

Learn how online networks can help you keep up-to-date and be able to select an appropriate network for your needs.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Keeping up-to-date using online networking

Keeping up-to-date using online networking (pdf)

Keeping up-to-date using online networking (word)

How RSS feeds can be an useful way to keep up-to-date with the latest news, articles and blogs.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Keeping up-to-date using RSS

Keeping up-to-date using RSS (pdf)

Keeping up-to-date using RSS (word)

How to make the most of Twitter for your purposes.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Making the most of Twitter

Making the most of Twitter (pdf)

Making the most of Twitter (word)

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: 10 minutes

Start My digital identity

My digital identity (pdf)

My digital identity (word)

An introduction to plagiarism and some of the forms it can take.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Recognising plagiarism

Recognising plagiarism (pdf)

Recognising plagiarism (word)

Find out how to reference books in your writing and in your reference list.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Referencing books

Referencing books (pdf)

Referencing books (word)

Find out how to reference ejournals in your writing and in your reference list.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Referencing ejournals

Referencing ejournals (pdf)

Referencing ejournals (word)

Find out how to reference websites in your writing and in your reference list.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Referencing websites

Referencing websites (pdf)

Referencing websites (word)

Learn how to spot some of the signs of email scams.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Scams and hoaxes

Scams and hoaxes (pdf)

Scams and hoaxes (word)

Learn how to use techniques to help you to read online information more efficiently and quickly.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Scanning and skimming a web page

Scanning and skimming a web page (pdf)

Scanning and skimming a web page (word)

How to avoid the common pitfalls of searching for information online and plan an efficient search.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Search slips and tips

Search slips and tips (pdf)

Search slips and tips (word)

An exploration of the features of online reference management tools, with tips on how to choose the right one.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Selecting a reference management tool

Selecting a reference management tool (pdf)

Selecting a reference management tool (word)

An introduction to some of the online tools available with questions to ask when choosing the right one.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Selecting the right online tools

Selecting the right online tools (pdf)

Selecting the right online tools (word)

A questionnaire to help your skills in creating information online, including writing for different audiences and sharing documents.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Self-assessment: Creating information

Self-assessment: Creating information (pdf)

Self-assessment: Creating information (word)

A questionnaire to help you assess your skills in finding information online.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Self-assessment: Finding information

Self-assessment: Finding information (pdf)

Self-assessment: Finding information (word)

A questionnaire to help you assess how familiar and confident you are with digital tools and online environments.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Self-assessment: Understanding digital practices

Self-assessment: Understanding digital practices (pdf)

Self-assessment: Understanding digital practices (word)

A self assessment questionnaire to evaluate how confident you are in using information online, including evaluating what you find, acknowledging the work of others, and keeping track of your sources.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Self-assessment: Using information

Self-assessment: Using information (pdf)

Self-assessment: Using information (word)

An introduction to the different types of social networking sites, including how to stay safe and secure when using them.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Social networking: is it for me?

Social networking: is it for me? (pdf)

Social networking: is it for me? (word)

How to use the advanced features of Google to target your search and find relevant information quickly.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Target your Google search

Target your Google search (pdf)

Target your Google search (word)

Some guidelines for judging the trustworthiness of information you find in Wikipedia.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start Using Wikipedia

Using Wikipedia (pdf)

Using Wikipedia (word)

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

Start What is the online library?

A reflection on the consequences of plagiarism in academic and working life.

This activity will take you: 5 minutes

Start What plagiarism feels like

What plagiarism feels like (pdf)

What plagiarism feels like (word)

Tips on communicating effectively when writing online.

This activity will take you: 10 minutes

Start Writing online

Writing online (pdf)

Writing online (word)