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Academic Resources

School can be tough sometimes, so here are some resources that we found helpful throughout our time in BHSC :)

Video Tutorials

Find video tutorials on how to navigate Mosaic, the BHSc Website, MSAFs, Avenue2Learn, and Teams. To access the Google Drive, you must log in using your McMaster email. These videos are brought to you by previous Welcome Week Coordinator Benjamin Larocque!

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Courses and Career

McMaster Student Success Centre
An invaluable service for aiding students in academic and career development. Book appointments for career counselling, resume critique, interview preparation, and so much more!

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BHSc Student Navigator
Want support finding your way around BHSc and what McMaster has to offer? Or just a listening ear? Then you’re in the right place! Book an appointment with your BHSc Student Navigator via email bhscnav@mcmaster.ca.

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BHSc Website
Here is where you will find information on mandatory BHSc courses, popular BHSc electives, and the contact information of BHSc staff (including your trusty academic advisor)!

Research

HSL Databases
It’s always possible to access databases and eBooks by clicking on the “Get it at Mac” link on the far right. Librarians at HSL are also always enthusiastic to help you work on your research skills in person once the library opens back up!

 

PubMed
One of the best online databases for BHSc students. PubMed contains over 25 million articles that are well-established and respected. Think of it as a new and much more improved Wikipedia.

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OVID
A database with a fantastic search system. Consider using this database as a starting point for your research projects.

 

ERIC
This database has education-related research, which can be useful in upper year research projects in the Child Health Specialization.

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Zotero
A free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research. The magic wand tool is a quick and easy way to cite articles in any format you could ask for (MLA, APA, etc…).

Navigating Online Learning

Here are some tips and tricks to help you tackle the demands of online learning!

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Treat the course as if it was in-person!
Treating the course seriously is a sure way to unlock your full potential. If you have scheduled classes – go to them. If you have online labs – prepare for them with the same rigor. Tip: Turning on your camera can help keep you more engaged and less incline to become distracted.

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Block out any distractions.
It is so easy to get distracted in lecture, especially when you are in the comfort of your own home. Minimizing distractions will help enhance your focus on the present task, increase work efficiency, and, in turn, allow you to have more free time to do the things you love. Keep your phone out of site (out of mind) and turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode for all your devices. Site blockers (such as ColdTurkey) and productivity apps (such as Forest) are very helpful, as they catch you when you cave into social media or online shopping during lecture and/or study sessions.

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Set goals and hold yourself accountable.
Set realistic goals that you know that will not discourage you; baby steps are a great way to reach grand achievements. Write down your goals and map out how you want to achieve them. Perhaps, even place a timeline onto these steps to make sure that you stay on track. More importantly, be sure to hold yourself accountable and that you are following through on your own terms. Google calendar is one of the best applications for time-blocking to help keep you accountable, but good ol’ paper agendas work too!

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Create a regular routine and find your flow.
It is human nature to gravitate toward routines and habits. Whether we are training for a marathon, regulating our sleep schedule, or doing our work, we work best when our bodies can predict the incoming task (Pavlov anyone?). One way we can get into the flow is by roughly designating times for each activity everyday. Sometimes, starting the task is the hardest part. One tip to trick your brain is to tell yourself that “I will work for 5 minutes”, which reduces the friction away from starting. Often you’ll find yourself working for much longer than 5 minutes, as you enter a state of flow.

 

Trial and error.
Though these tips may seem straightforward, everyone has their own groove. Recognize that you may not find your ‘optimal approach’ to online learning on your first try and that’s okay! You will certainly come across obstacles, but we are confident that you will adapt and overcome all of them. It is about having a growth mentality, perseverance, and focusing on the journey – not the end goal.

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