On Track workshops

The Higher Degree by Research On Track workshops run throughout the year and are open to all research candidates at RMIT University and aim to:

Be a forum for HDR candidates to meet and discuss common issues
Provide information and advice to help HDR candidates get the most out of their research degree experience
Guide HDR candidates through institutional policies and procedures, especially around milestones such as confirmation and examination
Build technical and professional skills to help HDR candidates improve their research practice and enhance their future careers

You can find a list of all 2013 workshops on the next tab. Check the page regularly as additional workshops may be offered during the year.

On Track past presentations

How to register

You will receive an invitation to register for each workshop approx. 10 days before the workshop is held. Workshops places are limited, so it is advisable to register quickly. If you are unable to attend after registering, please contact Helen Lennox so that other candidates can attend in your place.

The invitation to register will include an online registration form for you to complete.

Note: Some sessions have limited numbers and preference may be given to particular HDR candidates depending on the nature of the session.

Location

Sessions are held at various locations across the city and Bundoora campuses. Please check the location for each session you register to attend. Key locations are:

Research Lounge on the City campus (Please note the Research Lounge will be decommissioned on 30 June and no longer operational.)
Emily MacPherson Building - Building 13, Level 3, Room 7 (From 30 June to December this will be a main venue for On Track sessions.)
Swanston and Bundoora Libraries

Contact

For feedback and general enquirers contact Dr Jennifer Sinclair, School of Graduate Research. Suggestions regarding future topics are particularly welcome!
Information on bookings email Helen Lennox

All On Track workshops, with resources

» Researching

» Writing

» Presenting

» Library sessions

Researching

Topic
HDR candidate Welcome and Induction When you begin your research degree there is a lot of information to be aware of and many resources across the university designed to assist you. This session will include presentations from the School of Graduate Research, HDR candidate Services and Wellbeing and the Study Learning Centre. This session will help you navigate your way around the research degree experience and also be an opportunity to meet other new candidates who are beginning their research degrees. Highly recommended for all new research degree candidates Presentater: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and others Dates: 24 April, 2013 – City Campus and 4 September, 2013 – City Campus
Getting started with your research degree Just started your research degree and already feeling overwhelmed? This workshop is designed to help you get ready, get organised and get going with your research degree. Find out how the confirmation process is best approached, including writing and presenting the proposal. This workshop will also help you set up organisational structures that work and develop effective relationships with your supervisors. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 27 March, 2013 – City Campus and 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
Publishing and authorship – your responsibility to others All researchers working at or enrolled through an Australian university need to be aware of what 'research integrity' means in relation to authorship, whether they are writing up their thesis or writing up an article. Do you really know what plagiarism is in academic writing and publishing? It is definitely about attributing authorship by citing, or quoting other peoples' words, accurately and fully - but have you used a painting, photograph, table, figure, web content, web image ... anything that someone else created, in your work? This session will help you identify all the kinds of material you need to attribute in your thesis (and your publications). This session will be useful to all HDR candidates, no matter what discipline and no matter what stage of their thesis. Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan Dates: 9 September, 2013 – City Campus and 10 September, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
What is a thesis? In a traditional thesis the writer develops and communicates research questions answers some answers to his or her reader. A thesis can therefore be seen as an extended argument supported by evidence. However, as research is developed in disciplines where research has been uncommon until recently this definition is being challenged and revised. While the way this argument is made depends on the discipline within which the author is located, all thesis writers face the task of presenting an extended argument of some sort and maintaining reader engagement through it. In this session we briefly examine the history of research degrees in order to understand how the contemporary ideas of the thesis have developed and what they might mean in practice. We will then look at some common ways in which theses are structured and some alternative approaches you may want to consider. This session is recommended for HDR candidates who are beginning their degree. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Dates:10 April, 2013 – City Campus and 30 April, 2013- Bundoora Campus
Working with your supervisor Research degree study is unlike any other form of schooling you will ever have done. The intimacy of the relationship between HDR candidate and supervisor can make research degree study rewarding – or difficult – sometimes both! In this session we will explore the nature of research degree supervision, the codes of conduct under which it operates and how to make sure communication stays productive throughout your candidature. This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are beginning their degree – or those who are having trouble communicating with their supervisor. Some time will be left at the end to consult privately with the presenter. Presenters: Dr Robyn Barnacle Dates: 1 May, 2013 – City Campus and 25 September, 2013 - City Campus
Writing your literature review The first big challenge for most thesis writers is to get started on a review of the literature relevant to their field and begin the work of identifying what their own contribution will be. This can be daunting and lead to endless doubts about the appropriate length, what should be included and excluded, etc. Moreover, it is easy to get the mistaken impression that the literature review is something to get out of the way in order to get down to the ‘real’ work of doing the research and writing the thesis. This workshop will deal with the practical matter of structuring your literature review while maintaining flow and clarity. It will also treat the literature review as involving identity work, in that it raises issues to do with learning academic writing styles as well as questions concerning how to forge one’s own academic identity through writing. It will include hands on exercises, examples of what makes literature reviews work, and strategies for ensuring that engagement with the literature is not truncated from the overall argument of the thesis. This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those at the beginning and the end of their degree. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Dates: 17 April, 2013 – City Campus and 18 May – City Campus
Three minute thesis workshop RMIT is participating in the national 3 minute thesis competition fourth year running and lots of prize money is up for grabs! The RMIT Grand Final will be held on 4 September, 2013. Being able to give a concise pitch about your thesis is a key skill, one that will help you focus on what is most important about your research. Even if you don’t want to compete in the 3 minute thesis competition, this session will help you to refine your core ideas and prepare you for that next BBQ where someone asks “So what is your thesis about?” HDR candidates who want to compete must present a compelling three minute oration on their thesis topic and its significanceusing only one power points slide. Entrants must use language that can be understoodby an intelligent but non-specialist audience and will be judged on how well they communicate as well as their creativity. This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are at the start or in the middle of their degree. Presenters: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and Dr Robyn Barnacle Dates: 23 May, 2013 – City Campus and 4 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
How to find theses and learn from them In this hands-on session we will explore the large data bases of theses which are now available online. You will have an opportunity to develop your own search strategies and find out how to save your searches and receive notifications of new material. In the second half of the workshop we will discuss what use can be made of prior theses as models for future work. Given that a thesis could be described as the work of an amateur, which would probably be done differently if the author had a chance to do it again, what does this mean for us as authors? How can we critically make use of prior work in such a way as to ensure that our work is an improvement on what has gone before? Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 7 May, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 13 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 September, 2013 – Bundoora and 3 October - City Campus
Mid Candidature: Keeping it together Are you wondering if you’ll ever finish your research degree? Is your confidence flagging? It’s easy to lose motivation in the middle years of your research degree. This workshop discusses ways of staying focused, keeping sight of your goals and being in control. We’ll work on strategies to overcome common problems such as procrastination and time-wasting to enable you to complete on time. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 7 August, 2013 - City Campus
Preparing for submission: Editing, proofreading and other last minute things Congratulations! You’ve done the hard work and you’re now close to submitting. However, there’s one last hurdle: you need to polish your thesis or exegesis to perfection. This workshop identifies tips and techniques for making sure your document is in excellent shape for submission. We’ll discuss editing at the structural level (such as checking for logical argument, ambiguity and paragraphing) and proofreading technical elements (such as style, spelling and formatting consistency). Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 21 August, 2013 – City Campus
Searching Library databases As a research candidate, you need to find the highest quality and most relevant information resources – journal articles, books, conference papers, standards, working papers, industry reports, theses – to support your research topic. This session will explore when it is most appropriate to search Google, GoogleScholar and library databases. You will have the opportunity to locate and use specialised research databases in your discipline area and to explore some of the advanced features they offer. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 11 April, 2013 – City Campus, 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 27 August – Bundoora Campus and 29 August – City Campus
Citations: tracking the development and impact of research Citation databases enable you to find the most influential authors and papers in your research area and to track the development of research over time. We will focus on these features in the Scopus and Web of Science citation databases and identify additional subject databases that include citing and cited references. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 27 May, 2013 – City acmpus, 3 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 10 October, 2013 – City Campus

Topic

HDR candidate Welcome and Induction

When you begin your research degree there is a lot of information to be aware of and many resources across the university designed to assist you. This session will include presentations from the School of Graduate Research, HDR candidate Services and Wellbeing and the Study Learning Centre. This session will help you navigate your way around the research degree experience and also be an opportunity to meet other new candidates who are beginning their research degrees.

Highly recommended for all new research degree candidates

Presentater: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and others

Dates: 24 April, 2013 – City Campus and 4 September, 2013 – City Campus

Getting started with your research degree

Just started your research degree and already feeling overwhelmed? This workshop is designed to help you get ready, get organised and get going with your research degree. Find out how the confirmation process is best approached, including writing and presenting the proposal. This workshop will also help you set up organisational structures that work and develop effective relationships with your supervisors.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 27 March, 2013 – City Campus and 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

Publishing and authorship – your responsibility to others

All researchers working at or enrolled through an Australian university need to be aware of what 'research integrity' means in relation to authorship, whether they are writing up their thesis or writing up an article. Do you really know what plagiarism is in academic writing and publishing? It is definitely about attributing authorship by citing, or quoting other peoples' words, accurately and fully - but have you used a painting, photograph, table, figure, web content, web image ... anything that someone else created, in your work? This session will help you identify all the kinds of material you need to attribute in your thesis (and your publications).

This session will be useful to all HDR candidates, no matter what discipline and no matter what stage of their thesis.

Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan

Dates: 9 September, 2013 – City Campus and 10 September, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

What is a thesis?

In a traditional thesis the writer develops and communicates research questions answers some answers to his or her reader. A thesis can therefore be seen as an extended argument supported by evidence. However, as research is developed in disciplines where research has been uncommon until recently this definition is being challenged and revised. While the way this argument is made depends on the discipline within which the author is located, all thesis writers face the task of presenting an extended argument of some sort and maintaining reader engagement through it. In this session we briefly examine the history of research degrees in order to understand how the contemporary ideas of the thesis have developed and what they might mean in practice. We will then look at some common ways in which theses are structured and some alternative approaches you may want to consider.

This session is recommended for HDR candidates who are beginning their degree.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Dates:10 April, 2013 – City Campus and 30 April, 2013- Bundoora Campus

Working with your supervisor

Research degree study is unlike any other form of schooling you will ever have done. The intimacy of the relationship between HDR candidate and supervisor can make research degree study rewarding – or difficult – sometimes both! In this session we will explore the nature of research degree supervision, the codes of conduct under which it operates and how to make sure communication stays productive throughout your candidature.

This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are beginning their degree – or those who are having trouble communicating with their supervisor. Some time will be left at the end to consult privately with the presenter.

Presenters: Dr Robyn Barnacle

Dates: 1 May, 2013 – City Campus and 25 September, 2013 - City Campus

Writing your literature review

The first big challenge for most thesis writers is to get started on a review of the literature relevant to their field and begin the work of identifying what their own contribution will be. This can be daunting and lead to endless doubts about the appropriate length, what should be included and excluded, etc. Moreover, it is easy to get the mistaken impression that the literature review is something to get out of the way in order to get down to the ‘real’ work of doing the research and writing the thesis. This workshop will deal with the practical matter of structuring your literature review while maintaining flow and clarity. It will also treat the literature review as involving identity work, in that it raises issues to do with learning academic writing styles as well as questions concerning how to forge one’s own academic identity through writing. It will include hands on exercises, examples of what makes literature reviews work, and strategies for ensuring that engagement with the literature is not truncated from the overall argument of the thesis.

This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those at the beginning and the end of their degree.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Dates: 17 April, 2013 – City Campus and 18 May – City Campus

Three minute thesis workshop

RMIT is participating in the national 3 minute thesis competition fourth year running and lots of prize money is up for grabs! The RMIT Grand Final will be held on 4 September, 2013.

Being able to give a concise pitch about your thesis is a key skill, one that will help you focus on what is most important about your research. Even if you don’t want to compete in the 3 minute thesis competition, this session will help you to refine your core ideas and prepare you for that next BBQ where someone asks “So what is your thesis about?”

HDR candidates who want to compete must present a compelling three minute oration on their thesis topic and its significanceusing only one power points slide. Entrants must use language that can be understoodby an intelligent but non-specialist audience and will be judged on how well they communicate as well as their creativity.

This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are at the start or in the middle of their degree.

Presenters: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and Dr Robyn Barnacle

Dates: 23 May, 2013 – City Campus and 4 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

How to find theses and learn from them

In this hands-on session we will explore the large data bases of theses which are now available online. You will have an opportunity to develop your own search strategies and find out how to save your searches and receive notifications of new material. In the second half of the workshop we will discuss what use can be made of prior theses as models for future work. Given that a thesis could be described as the work of an amateur, which would probably be done differently if the author had a chance to do it again, what does this mean for us as authors? How can we critically make use of prior work in such a way as to ensure that our work is an improvement on what has gone before?

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 7 May, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 13 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 September, 2013 – Bundoora and 3 October - City Campus

Mid Candidature: Keeping it together

Are you wondering if you’ll ever finish your research degree? Is your confidence flagging? It’s easy to lose motivation in the middle years of your research degree. This workshop discusses ways of staying focused, keeping sight of your goals and being in control. We’ll work on strategies to overcome common problems such as procrastination and time-wasting to enable you to complete on time.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 7 August, 2013 - City Campus

Preparing for submission: Editing, proofreading and other last minute things

Congratulations! You’ve done the hard work and you’re now close to submitting. However, there’s one last hurdle: you need to polish your thesis or exegesis to perfection. This workshop identifies tips and techniques for making sure your document is in excellent shape for submission. We’ll discuss editing at the structural level (such as checking for logical argument, ambiguity and paragraphing) and proofreading technical elements (such as style, spelling and formatting consistency).

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 21 August, 2013 – City Campus

Searching Library databases

As a research candidate, you need to find the highest quality and most relevant information resources – journal articles, books, conference papers, standards, working papers, industry reports, theses – to support your research topic.

This session will explore when it is most appropriate to search Google, GoogleScholar and library databases.

You will have the opportunity to locate and use specialised research databases in your discipline area and to explore some of the advanced features they offer.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 11 April, 2013 – City Campus, 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 27 August – Bundoora Campus and 29 August – City Campus

Citations: tracking the development and impact of research

Citation databases enable you to find the most influential authors and papers in your research area and to track the development of research over time.

We will focus on these features in the Scopus and Web of Science citation databases and identify additional subject databases that include citing and cited references.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 27 May, 2013 – City acmpus, 3 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 10 October, 2013 – City Campus

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Writing

Topic
Writing for publication This session explores strategies for enhancing doctoral publication by showcasing a highly successful collaboration between HDR candidates and their supervisor. The experience of publishing during doctoral candidature will be presented from both the candidate and supervisor perspectives with the aim of identifying key enablers to successful doctoral publishing and the critical role of supervisors in fostering the publication productivity of HDR candidates. This session is also run as a Supervisor’s Colloquium event and is open to both Supervisors and HDR candidates. Presenters: Prof Kerry London, Ms Jessica Siva and Mr Peng Zhang. Facilitator: Dr Robyn Barnacle Date: 1 May, 2013 – City Campus
Writing a thesis when English is not your first language Research writing is a difficult and complex mix of sophisticated language use, development of an appropriate academic style and an emerging scholarly voice. This becomes a greater challenge for those who have English as an additional language. This workshop identifies advanced-level language features and the more common English language errors seen in research writing, as well as difficulties caused by cultural influences in language. This session is recommended for HDR candidates with English as an additional language. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 22 May, 2013 – City Campus
Writing: Facing the blank page New and even experienced research writers experience writing blocks, self-doubt, procrastination and anxiety. What do we do when we find ourselves facing the blank page? In this interactive workshop, we’ll share effective strategies and activities to fill that page with words. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 18 May, 2013 – City Campus and 5 June – City Campus
The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of setting up and running research writing group Research writing groups are groups where HDR candidates can: Develop academic literacy and extend awareness of text structures Learn techniques of peer review as well as reflection and editing skills Share writing resources, tips and tricks Meet other people with the same issues Build confidence, motivation and independence Maintain ongoing links if desired. This workshop aims to show you how to set up a writing group and show you the benefits by modelling a writing-group in action. Please email one page of your research writing to Judy Maxwell (judy.maxwell@rmit.edu.au) one day before the workshop. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 6 March, 2013 – City Campus
Alternative ways to structure your thesis or exegesis Your thesis should tell the story of your research in the best way possible. This may mean searching for an alternative structure to the ‘traditional’ thesis (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion). This is particularly true if you are writing an exegesis. In this workshop, we discuss some alternative structures for you to consider. Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell Date: 8 May 2013 – City Campus
Writing a journal article This session gives an overview of all the issues you need to think about it writing a journal article - from finding the most appropriate journals and writing the article, through to responding to peer-review reports and dealing with the final proofs. This session will of most use to HDR candidates who are mid-candidature, who have data and clear ideas about their research. Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan Dates: 12 August, 2013 – City Campus and 13 August, 2013 - Bundoora Campus

Topic

Writing for publication

This session explores strategies for enhancing doctoral publication by showcasing a highly successful collaboration between HDR candidates and their supervisor. The experience of publishing during doctoral candidature will be presented from both the candidate and supervisor perspectives with the aim of identifying key enablers to successful doctoral publishing and the critical role of supervisors in fostering the publication productivity of HDR candidates.

This session is also run as a Supervisor’s Colloquium event and is open to both Supervisors and HDR candidates.

Presenters: Prof Kerry London, Ms Jessica Siva and Mr Peng Zhang.

Facilitator: Dr Robyn Barnacle

Date: 1 May, 2013 – City Campus

Writing a thesis when English is not your first language

Research writing is a difficult and complex mix of sophisticated language use, development of an appropriate academic style and an emerging scholarly voice. This becomes a greater challenge for those who have English as an additional language. This workshop identifies advanced-level language features and the more common English language errors seen in research writing, as well as difficulties caused by cultural influences in language.

This session is recommended for HDR candidates with English as an additional language.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 22 May, 2013 – City Campus

Writing: Facing the blank page

New and even experienced research writers experience writing blocks, self-doubt, procrastination and anxiety. What do we do when we find ourselves facing the blank page?

In this interactive workshop, we’ll share effective strategies and activities to fill that page with words.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 18 May, 2013 – City Campus and 5 June – City Campus

The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of setting up and running research writing group

Research writing groups are groups where HDR candidates can:

Develop academic literacy and extend awareness of text structures
Learn techniques of peer review as well as reflection and editing skills
Share writing resources, tips and tricks
Meet other people with the same issues
Build confidence, motivation and independence
Maintain ongoing links if desired.

This workshop aims to show you how to set up a writing group and show you the benefits by modelling a writing-group in action. Please email one page of your research writing to Judy Maxwell (judy.maxwell@rmit.edu.au) one day before the workshop.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 6 March, 2013 – City Campus

Alternative ways to structure your thesis or exegesis

Your thesis should tell the story of your research in the best way possible. This may mean searching for an alternative structure to the ‘traditional’ thesis (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion). This is particularly true if you are writing an exegesis. In this workshop, we discuss some alternative structures for you to consider.

Presenter: Dr Judy Maxwell

Date: 8 May 2013 – City Campus

Writing a journal article

This session gives an overview of all the issues you need to think about it writing a journal article - from finding the most appropriate journals and writing the article, through to responding to peer-review reports and dealing with the final proofs.

This session will of most use to HDR candidates who are mid-candidature, who have data and clear ideas about their research.

Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan

Dates: 12 August, 2013 – City Campus and 13 August, 2013 - Bundoora Campus

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Presenting

Topic
Three minute thesis workshop RMIT is participating in the national 3 minute thesis competition fourth year running and lots of prize money is up for grabs! The RMIT Grand Final will be held on 4 September, 2013. Being able to give a concise pitch about your thesis is a key skill, one that will help you focus on what is most important about your research. Even if you don’t want to compete in the 3 minute thesis competition, this session will help you to refine your core ideas and prepare you for that next BBQ where someone asks “So what is your thesis about?” HDR candidates who want to compete must present a compelling three minute oration on their thesis topic and its significanceusing only one power points slide. Entrants must use language that can be understoodby an intelligent but non-specialist audience and will be judged on how well they communicate as well as their creativity. This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are at the start or in the middle of their degree. Presenters: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and Dr Robyn Barnacle Dates: 23 May, 2013 – City Campus and 4 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
Presenting at Conferences This session will help you with identifying the best conference for you to present your research to the world; how to respond to a 'call for papers'; how to approach writing your conference paper; how to make the most of attending a conference; and what to do with that paper once the conference is over. This session will be useful to all HDR candidates, no matter what discipline and no matter what stage of their thesis. Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan Date: 20 May, 2013 – City Campus

Topic

Three minute thesis workshop

RMIT is participating in the national 3 minute thesis competition fourth year running and lots of prize money is up for grabs! The RMIT Grand Final will be held on 4 September, 2013.

This session is recommended for all HDR candidates, but especially those who are at the start or in the middle of their degree.

Presenters: Dr Jennifer Sinclair and Dr Robyn Barnacle

Dates: 23 May, 2013 – City Campus and 4 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

Presenting at Conferences

This session will help you with identifying the best conference for you to present your research to the world; how to respond to a 'call for papers'; how to approach writing your conference paper; how to make the most of attending a conference; and what to do with that paper once the conference is over.

This session will be useful to all HDR candidates, no matter what discipline and no matter what stage of their thesis.

Presenter: Dr Kate Cregan

Date: 20 May, 2013 – City Campus

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Library

Topic
Endnote and Word – Cite while you write This session will focus on effectively managing a large EndNote library or multiple libraries and dealing with issues that can arise when you are inserting Endnote references into your document and creating your bibliography. By the end of the session you will be able to add and edit citations to your document, format and unformat your citations and bibliography, merge documents without losing citations you have already added, edit an output style, create an extended bibliography or stand-alone bibliography and change the formatting and appearance of your bibliography. This session is intended for HDR candidates who are starting to insert references into their documents. A prerequisite is previous attendance at a basic EndNote session. Please bring a memory stick with an EndNote library and your document on it to the session. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 19 February, 2013– Bundoora Campus, 26 February, 2013 – City Campus, 8 August, 2013 – City campus and 15 August, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
Introducing Library resources and services You will be introduced to a range of Library services and facilities, be able to identify some key information resources for your subject area and to develop a successful strategy for searching library databases and the internet. This is an introductory session intended for newly enrolled research candidates who have not previously studiedat RMIT or who have returned to study after an extended period. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 12 March, 2013 – City Campus, 13 March, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 25 July, 2013 – City Campus and 30 July, 2013 – Bundoora Campus
Searching Library databases As a research candidate, you need to find the highest quality and most relevant information resources – journal articles, books, conference papers, standards, working papers, industry reports, theses – to support your research topic. This session will explore when it is most appropriate to search Google, GoogleScholar and library databases. You will have the opportunity to locate and use specialised research databases in your discipline area and to explore some of the advanced features they offer. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 11 April, 2013 – City Campus, 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 27 August, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 29 August, 2013 – City Campus
Citations: tracking the development and impact of research Citation databases enable you to find the most influential authors and papers in your research area and to track the development of research over time. We will focus on these features in the Scopus and Web of Science citation databases and identify additional subject databases that include citing and cited references. Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 27 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 10 October, 2013 - City Campus
How to find theses and learn from them In this hands-on session we will explore the large data bases of theses which are now available online. You will have an opportunity to develop your own search strategies and find out how to save your searches and receive notifications of new material. In the second half of the workshop we will discuss what use can be made of prior theses as models for future work. Given that a thesis could be described as the work of an amateur, which would probably be done differently if the author had a chance to do it again, what does this mean for us as authors? How can we critically make use of prior work in such a way as to ensure that our work is an improvement on what has gone before? Presenter: Heather Ross Dates: 7 May, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 13 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 September, 2013 – Bundoora and 3 October - City Campus

Topic

Endnote and Word – Cite while you write

This session will focus on effectively managing a large EndNote library or multiple libraries and dealing with issues that can arise when you are inserting Endnote references into your document and creating your bibliography.

By the end of the session you will be able to add and edit citations to your document, format and unformat your citations and bibliography, merge documents without losing citations you have already added, edit an output style, create an extended bibliography or stand-alone bibliography and change the formatting and appearance of your bibliography.

This session is intended for HDR candidates who are starting to insert references into their documents. A prerequisite is previous attendance at a basic EndNote session.

Please bring a memory stick with an EndNote library and your document on it to the session.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 19 February, 2013– Bundoora Campus, 26 February, 2013 – City Campus, 8 August, 2013 – City campus and 15 August, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

Introducing Library resources and services

You will be introduced to a range of Library services and facilities, be able to identify some key information resources for your subject area and to develop a successful strategy for searching library databases and the internet.

This is an introductory session intended for newly enrolled research candidates who have not previously studiedat RMIT or who have returned to study after an extended period.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 12 March, 2013 – City Campus, 13 March, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 25 July, 2013 – City Campus and 30 July, 2013 – Bundoora Campus

Searching Library databases

This session will explore when it is most appropriate to search Google, GoogleScholar and library databases.

You will have the opportunity to locate and use specialised research databases in your discipline area and to explore some of the advanced features they offer.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 11 April, 2013 – City Campus, 23 April, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 27 August, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 29 August, 2013 – City Campus

Citations: tracking the development and impact of research

Citation databases enable you to find the most influential authors and papers in your research area and to track the development of research over time.

We will focus on these features in the Scopus and Web of Science citation databases and identify additional subject databases that include citing and cited references.

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 27 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 June, 2013 – Bundoora Campus and 10 October, 2013 - City Campus

How to find theses and learn from them

Presenter: Heather Ross

Dates: 7 May, 2013 – Bundoora Campus, 13 May, 2013 – City Campus, 3 September, 2013 – Bundoora and 3 October - City Campus

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