App-tastic ways to study

Technology is all around us, #theresnodoubtaboutit. These days, social media and smart phones (or tablets computers) are a normal part of our day-to-day lives. Despite many using this technology to share funny videos, photos and status updates; used in the right way, technology can be beneficial to uni students in their studies.

I count myself lucky to be able to study in a time where laptop computers and mobile devices make it possible to study on-the-go, no matter where I go. USQ make all study materials accessible online, which allows students the flexibility to view course content, listen to recorded lectures and take notes without the need to carry a pen and paper.

Just like in minority report where Tom Cruise switches between the images on the large computer interface with the slide of a hand, on my iPad I am able to easily switch through my apps. Since buying my iPad mid last year, it has become an essential part of the things I bring to uni for study. Since I’m in avid apple user (owning two iPods, an iPhone and an iPad), I’ll share with you some of the fantastic apps I use to help organise myself and assist with study; some of these apps include:

• Calendar – this app comes built-in with current iPhones and iPads and is a good replacement for a diary/weekly planner. Using calendar, I am able to organise my study time around my lectures, work and social outings. As I use both my iPhone and iPad to organise my calendar, Apple’s iCloud syncs any updates made on one device and shows changes on the other – no matter which one I’m using, it’ll be exactly the same!
• Reminders – similar to the calendar app, reminders serves as a ‘to-do list’ which can synchronize between devices. Alarms and the level of importance can be set for each item listed – handy for prioritising study and assessments.
• iBooks – free for download on the Appstore, iBooks allows PDF files to be opened and read like an ebook. Through iBooks, I am able to store electronic copies of course materials (saved as PDF) and work through modules on-the-go on the iPad.
• Pages – Paralleling the windows program Microsoft Word, this app allows documents to be created and edited with a wide range of format, font and layout options. This app has helped me greatly for taking lecture notes and when editing assignments away from computer access.
• Dropbox (and Evernote) – Dropbox allows internet storage of files which are accessible across devices (iPhone, iPad and computers). This app has been a life-saver where I’ve forgotten to bring a USB stick and have no place to save journal articles or assignment research; once saved to Dropbox all my academic journal articles were accessible from my home computer and iPad.

Additionally, social media can provide motivation to study (as pictured above). Facebook can be used for study through forming ‘groups’ with people you study with – allowing you to share ideas, talk about course content and post up study notes for the group to share. On the other hand, too much social media can become a distraction from study so remember to limit time on social media and use it as a reward for your hard work.

Overall, the use of technology and study go hand-in-hand; however, discipline is required to make sure you don’t get distracted – no matter how tempting it might be to beat a high score in Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds!

Do you use any apps that have helped you with study or work? Comment and share your app-tastic stories

Scholarship Gold at the End of the Rainbow

It’s no myth or legend that there are numerous costs associated with going to university. Whilst course fees, textbooks and other expenses are encountered by students along their academic adventure, you don’t need a lucky horse-shoe or four-leaf clover to make these costs disappear. Besides working a part-time job whilst studying, this year I was able to cover the cost of textbooks and course fees thanks to receiving a scholarship – my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

The fable

For many students, both those yet to commence university study and those continuing their academic journey, scholarships are often thought of something mystical, elusive and often out of reach. Unfortunately, this perception could not be further from the truth because scholarships are not as out-of-reach as some may think.

All the colours of the rainbow

Just as there are many colours of the rainbow, there are many different kinds of scholarships available to both students commencing and those continuing university study. Some of these scholarships include:

• Academic – arguably the most traditional form of scholarship, academic scholarships are awarded to a student who has met a certain level of academic achievement based on specific requirements and criteria.
• Community involvement – Whilst most scholarships are awarded on some form of academic achievement, scholarships can also be awarded to reward outstanding community involvement (and can range from a leadership position in high school to being involved in local sporting clubs or even participating in community events).
• Equity – Equity scholarships are awarded to assist students in accessing the necessaries one needs to successfully undertake university study (USQ offers textbook bursaries, relocation assistance and rural scholarships). Commonwealth scholarships might also be available to students who receive welfare support.
• Special – This category embraces the remaining scholarships on offer including sporting scholarships, scholarships for students of genders in non-traditional areas of study, and much more.

Reaching the pot of gold

So now that you know about the kinds of scholarships on offer, the next question is how do we get one? USQ accepts scholarship applications throughout the year until the application closing date usually around mid-October. Applications are not difficult to put together and are a worthwhile investment in your time (considering the fantastic financial reward you may receive).

This year I was awarded the City of Ipswich Scholarship which is donated by the Ipswich City Council to reward a continuing student with a consistent level of academic achievement in addition to community involvement within the city of Ipswich. Not only did this provide financial support for myself, I was able to attend the council meeting and was introduced to the local councillors and the Mayor of Ipswich. Another benefit of receiving this scholarship was being able to attend an awards ceremony where I was able to meet some of the other talented scholarship recipients.

Overall, I strongly encourage all students currently in university or considering university study to apply for scholarships. Hopefully this post has shown the financial benefits of scholarships, quashed the myths surrounding scholarships and demonstrated the array of scholarships available to students for a variety of achievements – scholarships aren’t just for the A+ students anymore.

What scholarships are you eligible for? To find out what scholarships USQ have available, check out www.usq.edu.au/scholarships.

USQ Springfield Phoenix Carnival – Campus meets community

After conquering the first week of lectures in this new semester (and the mountain of reading of readings pictured above), what better way to relax than share in the celebrations at the Phoenix Carnival.

USQ ran a Phoenix Carnival at each of its campuses to share and celebrate its success with the local community. I was lucky enough to attend the Springfield Phoenix Carnival on March 2nd and it was a great experience for myself, and many other students, to share our #USQPride with the Greater Springfield region.

The day was a hive of activity – the Springfield Markets from Robelle Domain set up their unique stalls, USQ staff ran various activities and various student groups put their hard work on display (including an Aiki Jutsu demonstration and some amazing short films made by the applied media students). Despite the amount of cloud-cover and rainfall, all those who attended the Phoenix Carnival had a fantastic time.

With 2013 marking USQ Springfield Campus’ seventh year since establishment, Phoenix Carnival was the perfect showcase of the vital role the university has played in bringing together local community.

During the day I was able to meet several of the wonderful people at Phoenix Carnival including USQ staff, students and members from the Robelle markets. Inspired by many of the prominent YouTube V-logers (Video-Bloggers) currently trending on the internet, I have put together a V-log of my time at USQ Springfield’s Phoenix Carnival – help me get this one viral!

My Summer Job

“The only source of knowledge is experience”

Albert Einstein

With the completion of semester two marking and three full years of university study completed, I was now well over half-way through my double-degree program. As the end of my studies was drawing increasingly closer, I have been searching for opportunities to gain practical experience to support the topics and theories discussed in my courses from semesters past.

Unfortunately, the hard part about trying to find a job/intern position in particular industries, is the fact that most employers desire an employee with industry experience. As a student, we are often faced with the age-old dilemma (as pictured below) to get a job we need experience, but to gain experience, we need a job.

To find a resolution to this dilemma, I contacted a Career Learning Consultant on-campus to see if there were any industry experience or volunteer opportunities available during the summer break. From there I was told of a wonderful opportunity to attain practical experience for my marketing studies, through the business component of my program through enrolling in a work integrated learning course.

Work integrated learning is an opportunity to experience applied aspects of working in a particular industry related to a student’s area of study – enhancing learning through the application of concepts, theories and graduate skills to their set workplace activities. Additionally, the benefit of taking this course lies in the fact that the industry experience imparted through this program will also enhance employment opportunities beyond graduation.

So why should students take up work integrated learning during their university studies? Here are the top five reasons why:

1.  Industry contacts

Networking is a great way to help attain a graduate position after completing university studies. Through undertaking work integrated learning, students work in collaboration with real-world businesses and organisations – granting students regular contact with industry leaders and individuals, with a wealth of experience in their particular field. Through establishing positive contacts with these individuals, there is potential for future employment opportunities with the industry leaders or their organisation for students in their graduate years.

2. Your experience looks good on your resume

Ultimately, employers looking to hire university graduates often look toward the student’s experiences beyond their university study in finding a suitable employee. For this reason, a first-hand experience in the industry has the potential to give a student the upper hand in applying for graduate positions in competing for positions with other university graduates state-wide (and sometimes even nation-wide!).

3.Apply your academic knowledge to industry skills

This is the essence of work integrated learning. By providing an opportunity for students to collaborate with real-world organisations to showcase and apply their acquired knowledge, students are able to experience and practice first-hand the relevance of their studies within their prospective industry.

4. The experience will allow you to narrow down your list of potential career.

Work integrated learning allows students to have a taste of the kind of work, duties and responsibilities required of an individual in a particular industry. Through this, students will have a greater understanding of the industry they are placed in and will therefore be better able to make a judgement on whether they would enjoy a career in their particular industry.

5. Unforgettable life experience

In light of the quote by Albert Einstein above, every experience is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and is therefore another reason why work integrated learning is valuable to the student’s learning.

I am now five weeks into my marketing placement where I am working alongside an advertising agency, putting my knowledge into practice in assisting to deliver particular branding materials to specific organisations – including making taglines, creating content for websites and presenting the agencies vision on how promotions should be targeted and coordinated.

I am very appreciative for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what further experiences it may offer.

Build Your Networks

Networking is an essential part of building wealth – Armstrong Williams

Humans are social creatures. It is in our nature to seek a sense of belonging or identity within a particular group or groups brought about through social means. So what is networking? Through my studies of business, networking refers to the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with other business people and potential clients and/or customers. As my university studies extended beyond the 3 year mark, it was now the perfect time to commence building my professional networks for my graduate years.

As mentioned in my previous blog, my travels to Melbourne in July proved an excellent opportunity to extend my networks interstate and nation-wide. This occasion was a chance to represent the university alongside the USQ Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) group, at the SIFE national conference. Along with the chance to network with fellow university students Australia-wide, several industry experts and organisation representatives attended the conference, forming the judging panel for the competition.

On the flight back from Melbourne, I decided to put further into practice my newly acquired networking tips, through confirming my student membership with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. After attending several networking evenings and breakfast events, I had met a vast variety of the Chamber’s members, with their backgrounds inclusive of IT, finance, accounting and real-estate. These events gave me the opportunity to gain perspectives of real-world practice in a number of disciplines – with some members even sharing tips on their days at university.

With 2012 marking significant growth for the Chamber of Commerce, I was also able to meet several key figures relevant to the Greater Springfield region. The University of Southern Queesland’s Springfield campus was home to a networking event by which Vice-Chancellor Jan Thomas shared her vision for the campus and its role within the rapidly developing Greater Springfield region.

 More recently, I attended an event with the Chamber for the official book-launch of Maha Sinnathamby – the inspirational innovator who founded the Greater Springfield area. At this event Maha detailed several triumphs and hardships throughout his life – spanning from his early days in Malaysia, through to his travels and settlement in Australia. The central theme of his speech was consistent with the title of his book – Stop Not Till The Goal is Reached.

One message in particular I took from Maha’s speech was that the darkest night brings the brightest dawn. He spoke of this in relation to the sleepless nights he faced throughout the turbulent times past, and how overcoming the most impossible obstacles bestow the greatest reward.

This goes to show, no matter what you study or where you are in your journey through life, networking is an essential part of building wealth. Whether such wealth takes the form of money, knowledge, education or inspiration, every opportunity is a good opportunity to network.

My time

Hi, my name is Clare. I am studying a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Accounting at the University of Southern Queensland, Springfield campus. As this is my first blog, I thought I’d start by giving you an insight into my week as a Mum, a student, an employee and a volunteer. So you can see just how much you really can achieve, I think you may be quite surprised!

My days start off with the early morning school rush. If I am organised enough, I am up first to get some washing out and housework done, and maybe even fit in a cuppa before the kids start harassing me to do their hair or yell ‘Mum, where are my shoes?’ If I’m really lucky I may even get a morning shower, ha-ha!  Most mornings I do flying solo, as my awesome hubby [Luke] is a registered nurse and he is in and out with shift work.  But my girls know what they need to do, it is the same everyday! Get dressed, brekkie, teeth, hair, shoes and socks, pack their bags, make beds, and get in the car. Below is photo of my 3 beautiful girls [Jennifer, Chloe and Hannah] on our way to school, and judging by the fact their hair is tied up, and their smiles, this would appear to be a successful morning of getting ready for school on time

Once the 2 oldest girls are dropped at school, Hannah either goes to kindy, travels with me to uni, or hangs with Dad. Hannah is so flexible, and has been coming to uni with me, on occasion, since she was just one week old. The University of Southern Queensland has been great with the need I have to bring her, I just needed to fill out a form and arrange permission with each of my lecturers, easy!

During my day I either attend lectures, study, do assignments or housework, and when I can get it, free time for me!!! Each week I put one whole day aside for housework, you know the boring stuff. I also allocate the day after an assignment is due to do something special for me. There are of course other things that pop up, but the key is to be flexible. Sometimes it’s just a case of day swapping. Like if my girlfriends want to catch up on a study day, but I have a free day tomorrow, I swap them around. Below is picture of a typical day studying at home.

Notice the snacks?! I can’t get by without them

At 2pm, I am back in the car picking up kids from school, we get home anytime between 4pm – 6pm depending on which after school activity it is that day, sometimes I think my kids have more of a social life than I do!  Once home we start the homework/bring in the washing/dinner/bath/bed routine, which keeps me busy until 7:30pm. This is probably the busiest time in our household, everyone home together trying to get a million things done.  When Luke [my hubby] is home this time of night is much easier for me.

Once the kids are in bed, and I have had some time hanging out with Luke, if he is home, I catch up on the day’s events via the News or Facebook. At this stage I am usually pretty tired. I find that, for me, this is NOT a great time for me to attempt to study or do readings, having said that, my nights are also really busy. Mondays and Wednesdays I try to go for a run when I can. Thursdays I play netball for the USQ Firebirds in the Springfield Lakes comp., and Fridays I volunteer at Shiloh Rangers [like scouts] where I run the high school girls group.  However, every night, whether I go out or not I aim to print tomorrow’s lectures, make the school lunches for the next day, plan tomorrow night’s dinner and check my calendar for any upcoming assignments or bookings I have to make sure I am still on track with everything.  Here is a picture of the calendar in my kitchen. In a place where I can always see it. For some reason it fills up very fast!!!

This all makes me sound VERY organised, but really, when you add in the odd shift at work, a sick child and weekend get together. Life becomes VERY busy indeed. I feel that as long as I keep grounded and take each day at a time, trying to stick to my schedule, I can get it all done and done well. I’d like to finish by giving you some practical tips of ways you can organise yourself better to get the most out of your day.

1. Get a calendar and use it. No use getting one, and it just looking pretty on the wall!
2. Plan ahead of time, look at doing a couple of things the day before, like put the washing on at night ready to hang out in the morning, or make school lunches the night before, or planning tomorrow’s dinner.
3. Get your kids [if you have some!] into a routine, and then you won’t be wasting your time reminding them what they need to be doing. They will feel a sense of accomplishment when they do it all.
4. Allocate days to study, shop, do housework etc.
5. Make sure you know that family comes first. If you support them, they will support you [especially when that assignment is due and you have been ignoring them for the last 24hours!]
6. Don’t talk about getting organised, DO IT!!! You’ll find you have more free time than it looks on paper, and you’ll LOVE IT!

I hope this gives you some motivation to re-organise your busy schedule to make sure you are excelling in ALL areas of your life, whether that be studies, family, work or whatever it is that makes you, you!

If I can do it, you can. Take Care.

Welcome to Springfield

Welcome to Springfield campus! My name is Jordan and today I’ll be taking you on a tour of all the amazing things which happen at USQ Springfield.

Before we embark on today’s tour, I’ll begin with a little about myself. I have been a student of Springfield campus since first commencing my double-degree program (Bachelor of Business & Bachelor of Laws) in March 2010 – a keen 17 year old straight out of high school and excited for the experiences of university. Fast forward to today, I am currently in my third year of study and have had the marvellous opportunity of being involved in and experiencing the on-campus life at Springfield.

As a student of Springfield campus, I am one of approximately 1700 individuals studying hard toward completing tertiary studies. Whilst I have studied by external mode for a few of my business courses, I find the on-campus mode of study essential to the university experience – encompassing a study/social balance of the time spent at university. As a resident of the Greater Springfield region, USQ is my local university. This makes transport to the campus stress-free – only 5 minutes’ drive from home to the campus (no excuses to be late for class). In addition to the fantastic facilities available at Springfield campus, the things I love most about being a student of USQ include the abundance of student support services available and all the extra-curricular activities and events on offer to students.

Wednesdays at Springfield are always full of activity and excitement. Common hour happens every Wednesday between 12-2pm is a chance for hard working students (like me) to take a break and enjoy the fun social activities run by the campus.  Key highlights for this year include the Sumo and Sushi event, the multi-cultural celebration ‘Harmony day’ and (my personal favourite) on-going Interfaculty challenges. Much like the competition between the four houses of Hogwarts in Harry Potter, interfaculty challenges see students grouped together based on their area of study and face-off in competitions against their rival faculties. These interfaculty challenges can get quite intense (as pictured below).

In addition to the abundance of events and activities, Springfield campus offers a number of clubs, societies and sporting groups for students to join. In the late half of 2010, I signed up to the university’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) group. SIFE is an extra-curricular association in many universities worldwide, bearing the motto a head for business, a heart for the world. The group’s focus is to apply concepts and theories learned through our studies by instituting and implementing community based projects, all with the intention on giving back to the community. In 2010 and 2012 I was given the opportunity to travel to Melbourne to represent the USQ SIFE team at the national conference, competing against 24 other universities Australia-wide.

One saying I carried throughout my high school days, into my studies at university is, ‘when opportunity knocks, answer the door.’ With this in mind I encourage all students to get involved and take on all the wondrous opportunities on offer to them throughout their studies.

With all this extra-curricular fun, it is important to also find balance between studies and social life.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is study to be done.

More adventures to be continued…..