Biology
Library Research Guide
Tips and Tools
Planning your semester
- Use the Rubric - Instructors use rubrics to assess learning. If your assignment has a rubric, read it carefully and plan your work accordingly.
Use a Calendar - There are plenty of free scheduling apps online, but using your K-State account (Outlook email and calendar) makes it easy to book collaboration spaces in the library and schedule Zoom meetings and study dates.- Break down tasks - Turn your big assignments into smaller tasks, make yourself due dates for those, and put them on your calendar. Try out some of the tools below.
- Make an appointment with a tutor, librarian, or the Writing Center - We are trained to help you with your assignments, exam preparation, research, and writing. You don't have to know everything or anything about your assignment or research topic to make an appointment. Learn more about academic support in the next section.
- Academic Success ToolsThis page has tools for time management, communication, reading and note-taking, study and test-taking, motivation, and finals prep. There's a survey at the bottom of the page if you're not sure where to start.
Learning in general
- Learn about learning - We aren't usually taught to learn but the learning process is studied by educators, instructors, and researchers so there's a lot to learn about learning. Check out the Books on Learning box on this page to get started.
- Find and watch other lectures - If course content isn't clear, find a lecture or explanation on YouTube or look for a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Use the links in the Courses box on this page to get started.
Support for Biology Students
Academic support
The Writing Center and tutoring services at K-State focus on the success of learning and writing processes as a whole, not just the end result. So make an appointment if you don't understand your notes and when you get started on a project or as you're developing ideas, working through an assignment, or finishing a report.
- Academic Achievement CenterThe University's Academic Achievement Center has free tutoring service for all students at K-State.
- Other Tutoring at K-StateThe Academic Achievement Center maintains this list of other tutoring programs available at K-State.
- The Writing CenterThe Writing Center provides feedback at any stage of the writing process to enable students to gain awareness of writing strategies; improve writing assignments or non-academic writing; and increase their sense of competence, confidence, and ownership in writing.
Student clubs and organizations
Biology clubs and organizations are a great way to meet students with shared interests, as well as professional biologists in an informal setting, and also serve as an excellent way to find out about career opportunities and what it takes to make a career in your area of interest. They support your learning by connecting you with a community of undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in or have taken the courses you are taking.
- K-State Clubs and OrganizationsSign in to find ways to get involved, events, and news about student involvement at K-State.
- K-State Student Organizations Related to BiologyA list of biology clubs and organizations at K-State.
- Alpha Epsilon DeltaA national honor society for students interested in careers in health care professions, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, and others. The Kansas Alpha chapter of AED at K-State is for students who are interested in health careers, and an honor society for students who have met certain criteria. Members participate in meetings twice a month, perform community service, and learn from guest speakers. For more information, email aed@k-state.edu or call (785) 532-6900.
