Academic support
As a student at Massey University, you have access to a wide range of study support services and resources that are designed to help you enhance your academic skills at all levels of study.
These can be sourced from:
- One-to-one support - An appointment with a Learning Consultant
- Electronic resources - Learning resources you can view online
- Stream – located on Massey’s virtual learning environment, you can ask short questions or submit an assignment for review of its academic tone and focus
- Printed resources – Information that you can download for free, or alternatively, visit a campus to pick up resources
- Workshops and seminars –Sessions to help you develop your academic skills. Available to internal and distance students
- Study groups (formerly PASS) – Join a study group facilitated by a senior student (first year papers)
One-to-one support
In order to help you study more effectively and develop key academic skills that enable you to write well written assignments, you can book an appointment to talk with a Learning Consultant. This is an opportunity for you to explore your approach to your assignment and discover ways of meeting your writing goals.
Do any of the following apply to you?
- Wondering if you have provided a logically developed argument in your assignment.
- You want to know how to interpret an assignment question.
- Feeling a little confused as to why you get marked down for the analysis of your assignments.
- Feeling overwhelmed with study, work, family and social commitments.
- Rushing to get assignments done.
- Wanting to know how you can study more efficiently for examinations.
- Struggling to integrate ideas in to your literature review.
- Wanting to express ‘your voice’ more clearly in your assignment.
If you answered yes to any of the above, please contact your nearest Centre for Teaching and Learning to book an appointment (see below or right-hand side menu).
Back to topElectronic resources
We have a wealth of academic support resources available online which all Massey University students are welcome to utilise. Materials have been developed by experts and are designed to enhance your academic skills. You can also learn of useful strategies to help you with your time management, note taking and memory skills.
OWLL (Online Writing and Learning Link)
OWLL contains detailed information, interactive content, and online workshops on essay and report writing, referencing, study techniques, computer skills, and more. Some key features include APA Interactive, which makes APA referencing easy, and the Assignment Planning Calculator which creates a custom timeline for planning, researching and writing an assignment.
Maths First
The Maths First website is designed to promote individual learning in mathematics and is committed to helping you achieve success in your studies. You’ll find resources, exercises and quizzes on several topics including arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry and calculus. If you’re studying maths, you’ll also find a number of other resources to assist you in making course choices.
Video resources
A range of video resources are available to you in the Student Learning Centre section of Massey University’s YouTube channel (http://www.tinyurl.com/slcvideos).
Stream
Simply log in to Stream and locate the course– Academic Writing and Learning Support. You will find two useful services here:
Academic Q and A
You can ask questions in this forum for academic issues relating to study and assignment writing skills.
Pre-Reading Service
This is a service which all distance students and first year internal students can access. Students can submit a draft assignment and a Learning Consultant will look over the work to ensure that the appropriate academic guidelines have been followed by providing feedback on structure and focus, style and presentation, and sources and referencing.
Printed resources
A range of pamphlets, the Academic Writing book, and information sheets are available from the Centre for Teaching and Learning. You will find most of this information in Online Writing and Learning Link web pages and can be downloaded for free. Alternatively you can come to Campus and pick up a hard copy. There is a $5.00 cost for the Academic Writing booklet; all other resources are free.
Workshops and seminars
Throughout the year, each Centre for Teaching and Learning hold various workshops and seminars providing useful strategies on topics such as essay writing, referencing and advanced writing. View the workshop and seminars web page for information on topics, dates, and venues. If you missed a session, some workshops are viewable through the OWLL.
Study groups (formerly PASS)
Student facilitated study groups is a study group programme that supports many first year papers. Run by successful senior students, the sessions reinforce the content of the course by involving students in active discussion, and problem-solving in small groups. Study leaders also discuss relevant test preparation strategies and can give tips on succeeding in their subject. For more information, including a list of available papers, view the study group web pages.
