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The University of Bolton Library

Mechanical Engineering: Study skills, LEAP Online and Referencing

Information literacy & digital literacy

To be information literate is to be able to identify when and why you need information, understand how it is presented, critically evaluate it both in terms of its appropriateness of content as well as the quality of the information, and use and share that information. Digital Literacy is similar but with a focus on online information, such as the use of social media and virtual learning environments. 

LEAP Online has extensive information on how to be information and digitally literate. Click on the LEAP Online image in the centre of this guide to find out more. Pay particular attention to My Academic Development and My Digital Literacy.

Further study skills resources

A number of guides are available may be of use as you develop study skills. They are available from this page and are available in PDF format so they can be downloaded.

Turnitin

Turtitin is the plagiarism detection software you will most likely use to submit your assignments. 

Turnitin is accessed via Moodle, and the following help guides may be of use:

LEAP Online

LEAP Online offers support with your academic and personal development. Online tutorials cover a variety of topics such as referencing, time management, essay writing, finding appropriate information for assignments and many more. Each section contains information, videos and activities. You can earn digital badges by completing section assessments. 

Click on the image above to access LEAP Online and take a look at the Quick Start Guide below:

LEAP workshops

As well as LEAP Online, there is a range of face-to-face workshops that you can book onto using the StudentHub. Log in with your network username and password to make a booking.

Study skills books in the Library

A number of books on study skills are available in the Library; below are just some examples. More can be found by searching either Discover@Bolton or the Library catalogue.

Referencing

You must reference all of the information that you use to complete your assignments. LEAP Online explains what referencing is, why you must do it and when and how to do it. 

Click here for the LEAP Online referencing section

You may also find the plagiarism section useful. 

Courses at the University of Bolton will use either the Harvard, APA, Numeric or OSCOLA style of referencing. Your tutors will tell you which referencing system to use.  Follow this link for more information on each style: 

RefWorks

ProQuest RefWorks logo

RefWorks enables you to organise, store and share your references, as well as format them in a range of styles and export them as reference lists and bibliographies.

Visit our RefWorks guide to find out how to get started.