Most students use technology as part of their everyday lives which creates a better opportunity for learning to be more effective. With the many available online resources, the quality of education opens a door of opportunities.
These opportunities range from advanced research, quality information, increased knowledge and discovering new ways to improve educational outcomes.
What online sources are available to matrics:
1. Previous exam papers - These academic past papers can be found on the Department of Education’s website. These past exam question papers are available to all matriculants to work through and prepare themselves for the final year end exams.
The benefits of using past exam question papers:
- Indicates typical questions that may appear is tests/ exams
- Identifying how much time each question will take
- What type/style of exam questions to expect (multiple choice, short/ long questions or essay questions)
- Helps identify any subject area that requires more focus
- The past papers will be a guide and help improve your marks
2. Google scholar -This is a platform which enables students to access any academic literature. This too allows students to search across a broad spectrum from articles, academic books, abstracts, university sites and many more.
Benefits:
- Easily accessible
- Provides information from reliable websites
- Access to a wide range of online sources
- Ability to save and read articles at a later stage
3. Harvard referencing - This is one of the most important tools that can be used when writing an essay. The purpose of referencing is to indicate that you have not directly copied work that is not your own. Referencing allows you to acknowledge authors for their work which is used in your writing. The Harvard reference style consists of the in-text citation and a reference list. Once your essay is completed, the citation will be generated into a reference list or bibliography and appear at the end of your assignment/ essay.
4. Blog posts - A blog is more than just a website, it is an online platform that allows you to express, create and keep track of your thoughts. Students that have access to educational blog posts can enhance and have a sense of control over their learning by motivating them to become better readers and writers.
5. Google Classroom - This online platform encourages student engagement and collaboration which can be a great help to matriculants when preparing for tests and exams. Teachers can utilize this platform by doing revision, setting up mock question papers and uploading any relevant documents that will be useful to students. Another resource from Google is the Google Scholar website.
There are many other tools and online resources that are available to students. Having access to these resources can enhance student's academic outcomes and achieve their desired results.
