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Sometimes it's hard to know where to start on an assignment, how to study for exams, or the best way to develop your writing or other academic skills. The Student Learning Development team have produced some excellent online resources to help you with a wide range of common tasks and also recommends web-based resources developed by our team and other services at the University of Otago. Browse through our list of online resources below:

Achieve the result you want. A Guide to Student Learning Development services (PDF)

Study skills

Booklets

Tip sheets

Other useful links

Check out the University Library Services. Find out how the Library can help with your study and assignments.

The Distance Library Service. If you are a University of Otago Distance student check out this guide to the library services and support available to you.

Writing and language

Booklets

Tip sheets

Other useful links

Referencing/Citation Styles. This University of Otago Library web page will provide you with information on citing/referencing and information on which citation style to use for your essay or assignment.

  • Ethical use of information
  • Information Technology Services student training on such programs as Endnote, Word, PowerPoint, R and SPSS. Offered by Information Technology Services. There is usually a charge to attend.
  • A Guide to Email Etiquette An instructional video from McGill University on how to write appropriate emails to academic staff.
  • GrammarSmart is an interactive self-study grammar module from the University of Auckland that highlights some common trouble-spots experienced by students.
  • The Writer's Diet Test This test identifies some of the sentence-level grammatical features that most frequently weigh down academic prose. It is not designed to judge the overall quality of your writing.
  • Writing a legal opinion An interactive resources on writing legal opinions developed by the University of Waikato.
  • Write online an interactive resource on writing case studies, lab reports, literature reviews and reflective writing developed by the Universities of Guelph, Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier
  • Resources primarily in Te Reo Māori for students writing in Te Reo
    Book chapter: This article discusses academic writing in Te Reo, focusing on kīhono (joining words and phrases) that enhance the flow and clarity of written work.
    • Title: Kīhono: Whakamaua ki tō reo wānanga
    • Pages: 115–136
    • In: Kawea te Wairua o te Kupu (2012), edited by Agnes McFarlane, NZCER Press
  • Paekupu This platform houses all dictionaries that support Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and provides detailed explanations of the language used within each learning area.

Stats and maths

How2statsbook (PDF)
Gignac, G. E. (2019). How2statsbook (Online Edition 1). Perth, Australia: Author.

Other useful links

Mathematics and Statistics subject guides. Use this University of Otago Library guide for information on all aspects of maths and stats.

Khan Academy Maths and Stats A range of mastery-style interactive programs for all levels of ability and covering topics in probability, statistics, arithmetic, algebra, calculus, geometry and trigonometry.

Research and thesis

Booklets

Tip sheets

Other useful links

Check out the University of Otago Library services for postgraduate students

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