Other Online Resources - Learners

4Buying Computer Hardware

If you want to study online, you need the right equipment! Here are some non-commercial guides to choosing the right system for your needs.

EBuying Guides provides four steps on how to choose the right one.
How to Buy a Computer is a quick (but comprehensive) course on the basics.
Cyberwalker has an updated (2003) report on how to buy a computer and recent trends.
Target PC's 12-step programme on "How to Buy The Computer for You".

4Ergonomics

Being an online learner can often mean long hours in front of the computer. Here’s how to adjust your surroundings so that you are comfortable studying.

Office Ergonomics is the first place you should look for the official recommendations (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety).
Developed through the joint efforts of nearly a dozen leading ergonomists, physicians, and physical therapists, HealthyComputing.com is the premier source for office ergonomics.
Ergonomic Guidelines for arranging a Computer Workstation - 10 steps for users (Cornell University's Ergonomics Web).
Ergonomic Solutions contains examples of problems computer workstation users may encounter, and suggested solutions for addressing those problems. A checklist is also available to help people identify, analyze and control MSD hazards in computer workstation tasks (OSHA).
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides a website dealing with Work areas, desks, chairs, monitors, keyboard, mouse, lighting, work habits and laptop computer issues.

4Financial Aid and Student Loans

The Canada Student Loans Program promotes accessibility to post-secondary education by lowering financial barriers through the provision of loans and grants for Canadians with a demonstrated financial need. This site contains corporate information about the Canada Student Loans Program, including program history, policies, and statistics.
If you are attending or planning to attend a post-secondary education institution and need information about applying for, maintaining and repaying student loans, visit the National Student Loans Service Centre.

4Online Writing Labs (OWLs)

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in school, you might want to check out some of the following OWLs to spruce up your report writing skills.

Perdue's OWL is world renown, providing handouts, materials, and resources for students and teachers, including:
- general writing concerns (such the writing process and writing about specific topics)
- English as a Second Language (such as writing for an American audience and help with English conventions)
- grammar, spelling, and punctuation (such as commas and appositives)
- research and documenting sources (including MLA and APA styles)
- professional writing (such as resumes and cover letters)
- practice exercises that allow you to check your answers online
Be sure to check out the OWLs at Queen's University, University of Toronto and University of Ottawa as well.

4Student Support – General

Counselling, time management, study skills, financial planning – whether you are a traditional or online student, a good support system is always needed! Here are some online tips, brochures, booklets and pamphlets which deal with these issues, and much more.

McMaster University

Inter-Universities North

University of Chicago

Illinois Virtual Campus

University of St. Thomas

Chemeketa Community College

BigChalk

Tools for Coping from Coping.com

4What is Plagiarism and How do I avoid it?

It's like lip-synching to someone else's voice and accepting the applause and rewards for yourself (Purdue, 2002)

If you borrow ideas or exact language from any source – be it a book, an encyclopedia, a video, a radio program, a website or even a friend – without saying its source, that is plagiarism.
If you exchange essays on the internet, buy essays from essay mills, or have your friend cut and paste information from her essay into your paper, that is plagiarism.
If you copy parts or an entire website and change the introduction and the conclusion to make it personally yours, that is plagiarism.
If you paraphrase materials from a source without a) citing it immediately within the essay and b) adding it to your references, that is plagiarism.
If you use a French or other language encyclopaedia, translate the information and do not mention the original source, that is plagiarism. (from Patricia Presti, Lynn University, "Avoiding Web Plagiarism" Blackboard module).

Here are some sites to help educate yourself on the issue:

Student Guide to Avoid Plagiarism (McGill University)
How to Avoid Plagiarism (University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science)
Avoiding Plagiarism (University of California, Davis)
Plagiarism: What it is and How to Recognize Avoid it (Indiana University)
How to Avoid Plagiarism (Northwestern University)
Plagiarism - and Avoid to Avoid it! (Drew University)

Last Modified 2003-10-30
Learning and Teaching Services, Learning Resource Centre, Woodroffe Campus, Algonquin College
Copyright Algonquin College 2003 - 2000.