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Introducing online literacy and online privacy for first year university students.

  • s217295697
  • Jun 19, 2023
  • 1 min read

Beginning a University degree can be a overwhelming concept to consider. As learning become more prevalent in the digital realm, many students fear for their online safety. However after learning some additional information about university as well as some insider tips from this website, your transition from “dreamer” to “student“ will be seamless.



Tips for 1st time university students.



Practice self-care.


Students old and new will tell you tell you that university will be the most exciting yet challenging time of your life. It is critical for your own health and well-being to prioritise self-care.


Establish yourself in a routine that works for you. Your routine should include being physically active, and allow you to make strong social connections with faculty and students. Balancing study, being physically active and relationships in a way that suits you is the crucial first step in transitioning to university.



Be informed on verification.


It is important to sharpen critical evaluation skills when consuming online information. Verify the credibility and reliability of sources, fact-check claims, and be aware of the potential for misinformation or fake news. Neglecting to reference or the fabrication of someone else’s work could land you in hot water.



Immerse yourself in the experience (Practice makes perfect).


By engaging yourself with your university and all it has to offer, you will notice a number of positive experiences that will help you along your educational journey. Increased student engagement will greatly improve your university experience by promoting academic excellence, grow personally, expand your social network, embrace diversity, and enjoy a well-rounded education. Take advantage of all that university has to offer and make the most of this transformative time in your life.


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Online Privacy tips.

Privacy plays a vital role in the digital literacy of university students. It safeguards personal data, upholds academic integrity, preserves online reputation, fosters cybersecurity awareness, promotes personal well-being, and encourages ethical considerations. Prioritising privacy empowers students to navigate the digital world responsibly and confidently and promote further engagement with other students, staff and resources their educational institution has to offer.


General tips include:

  1. Utilising strong, unique passwords for each online account.

  2. Be educated about who you are sharing personal information with online.

  3. Understand and adjust privacy settings on platforms and social media.

  4. Keep software and devices updated with the latest security patches.

  5. Stay vigilant against scamming attempts and suspicious links.

  6. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities or use a VPN.

  7. Read and understand privacy policies of websites and online services.

Preparing for Year 1.

Once you have enrolled at university, you may be thinking to yourself “what now?”, “where to next?”. Well, here are four tips to follow to ensure you are prepared for that first year of study.


Research your subjects


Before the date you commence your studies look at your subjects to get a basic idea of what you will be learning about. Check your assessments and what format that they may be in. And, finally check any unit requirements that you should be aware of.


Organise yourself


If you want the best chance to succeed in your studies then you want to be organised. Balance your study with life equally, by engaging with positive time management skills you can manage the stresses of deadlines more easily. Attain the materials and equipment you need ahead of time. Finally, ensure to plan ahead to bolster your chances of adapting your studies should they be interfered with.


Familiarise yourself with your learning space


Whether you are studying online or in the classroom, it is important to know your learning space. If you are on-campus, it would be beneficial to visit the campus in person, and familiarising yourself with university resources and facilities, as well as visiting your class locations. If you are online, ensure you are familiar with the online learning tools that are applicable to you and your studies.


4. Seek support


If you ever feel overwhelmed, nervous or worried about any aspect of university life, please ensure you seek support. Universities offer support services for a wide variety of different reasons. Please seek out these services if you need any help financially, emotionally, mentally or just need a chat.



Rationale.

I chose this topic because as I have increased my research into this field I have realised the importance of being digitally literate whilst remaining safe. Being safe online is critical for student to engage in their studies with confidence, and can further encourage students to engage with their studies more fruitfully.


For me, the best way to introduce this topic to first year uni students was to create an online blog. Using the website creation tool ‘wix’, I was able to create my own blog for students who needed advice for starting university and how to do it safely.


This topic is important to me as everyone has the right to feel safe when learning, and learning online is no exception.



References.



 
 
 

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