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STUDENT FEEDBACK
Testimonials
Take a look at the great student feedback we’ve received for the pilot course, “How to Write a Scientific Literature Review’ which took place in April 2017. The full course with additional material is now ready for release.
Sign up now to join the course and receive professional e-training to support your degree studies!
Your future depends on how well you can transfer what you learn as a student, into the workplace. Remember – it’s all about the skills!
BSc (Hons) student, University of Pretoria, SA
I felt that the course was very practical. It gave relevant tips targeted to us as students and everything that was said was of value to what is currently required of us. It helped to understand exactly what the point is of a literature review and the requirements to practically apply this. I better understand how to approach the research and what I should be looking for. This course was very valuable to me and I see that it will be of great benefit to my studies.
Ph.D. student, University of North Carolina, US
I like that the course was presented in a format that was user friendly. I also appreciate that the content was rich in valuable information, but presented straight forward and succinctly, without having to take a lot of time away from other studies and lab work to complete. Key take-aways included the importance of a thorough knowledge of the research reviewed, the importance of clarity in presenting information, the importance of accuracy in citing other’s work and properly documenting, and most of all, the importance of good writing to reach the appropriate audience. I also appreciate that the instructor has a pleasant speaking voice and is easy to understand.
MSc student, University of Pretoria, US
I liked how the literature was broken down into each section (Introduction, Body, etc.) and then discussed and the videos were easy to follow. I know now to make sure that there are more primary articles in my literature review and bibliography than review articles or websites.
MSc student, University of Pretoria, SA
I liked the fact that you explained in detail how to go about planning to write a review, the components that should be included and how to word certain information from other sources. I am going to take away knowing how to begin and write my literature review as well as focus on primary research. I have also learnt to read other reviews to get an idea of the content to include in mine.
Ph.D. student, University of Pretoria, SA
I enjoyed the fact that the videos were made in smaller sections, it was easier to follow and retain the information learnt.
BSc (Hons) student, University of Pretoria, SA
I enjoyed the fact that the videos were made in smaller sections, it was easier to follow and retain the information learnt. Thank you for this course, it made aspects of the lit review easier to do and understand why things are done and needed in a particular way.
MSc student, University of Pretoria, SA
The course provided a brief, yet relevant overview on how to write a review article. It was easy to understand and follow and is a great “tool” to refer back to before starting to write as it is necessary to refresh your mind from time to time.
MSc student, University of Pretoria, SA
This course opened my mind to questions that I had not thought of regarding my literature review and how to approach it. Thank you for the course.
BSc (Hons) student, University of Pretoria, SA
Key points for me were the time frame section, defining cutting edge and seminal work, and differentiating the two. This course has given me a basis for my literature review.
Ph.D. student, University of Pretoria, SA
I would have loved this course when I was starting out in honours, it explains the process very well and provides a place to start which is often the most daunting part. As a PhD student, it was still beneficial and helped remind me of some major points. Thank you, it’s a great course, and I loved that it was online so I could do it in my own time and it didn’t get in the way of my lab work.
MSc student, University of Pretoria, SA
I liked that the information was very well organized and logical, also the exercises helped me realize some mistakes I have been making. I understand now that it is important to have different sources, a review must help to find the relevant information and it is not just a compilation. Also that the fact that a review has to be objective doesn’t prevent it from being critical. The quality of my writing will influence my career since it is the channel to show my work. I really enjoyed this class. The information is very clear and I will take your advice for my future writing. Thank you!
Ph.D. student, University of North Caroline, US
I liked that the course is concise yet informative. Approaching a lit review can be a daunting task, thus having more guidance certainly help a lot. I feel like I learned to structure my article better and to make sure I have better sources. Key points for me were to make sure your references are relevant to the topic and that your language is appropriate for the audience you are writing for. Make sure the information is presented chronologically and preferably from primary sources (unless seminal work). Make sure your structure is correct and that you adhere to the rules of the journal you are writing for. Back up all of your statements. I really liked the course and would recommend it to any beginner review writer. 🙂
Ph.D. student, University of North Caroline, US
I liked the clear and concise presentation style. The 7 step guide you provided gives an excellent framework to follow and gives you something to follow when given the daunting task of writing a review.
Other comments from Ph.D. students, University of North Carolina, US
Student 1: I liked the flow of the topics and the examples of what to do and what not to do. Student 2: It encouraged thinking topics that I hadn’t considered, which in hindsight were missing from my work. I’m more aware now of database searching skills, and the identification of relevance in literature. Student 3: I’ve learnt how to structure and plan for a literature review.
It's all about the skills!
About
Welcome to our e-learning community for university science students
ScienceSkills.net evolved from the success of a set of professional skills workshops, primarily in scientific writing, delivered over a 5-year period to science students at a high-ranking UK institution.
During 2016 I talked with students to see if they would prefer the workshops as online courses. The response to this concept was very encouraging, and I also think this is an excellent idea.
Moving forward with professional skills training for science students, ScienceSkills.net was born, and I delivered the first online pilot course in January 2017 quickly followed up with a second one in March 2017.
A range of online courses is planned to help students develop their writing skills for academic and professional work. Participation in these courses will not only assist students in developing academic writing skills but will also enable them to produce a portfolio of evidence for future employers—critical to finding an entry-level position in the scientific/medical writing or publishing fields or to highlight your writing skills to a PI.
With our success, we moved to a new website address (https:www.scientific-writers.com) in 2020 along with a new Moodle platform to host our courses. This provides a seamless and interactive option for universities and I hope that you will join our ever-growing family of e-learning young scientists.
It’s all about the skills!
Dr Allison Kirsop, MRSC