- Abstract
-
A brief summary of an article’s key points and findings.
- Academic Burnout
-
A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged academic stress and overwork.
- Academic Conventions
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Accepted practices and standards in academic work, including referencing, citations, expected structure, and formal language.
- Academic integrity
- Academic Integrity
-
Acting in accordance with values such as honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in academic contexts (Exemplary Academic Integrity Project, 2013).
- Academic Reading
-
A focused and critical approach to reading texts, aimed at understanding, evaluating, and engaging with the material for academic purposes.
- Academic Writing
-
A formal style of writing used in academic settings that prioritises clarity, evidence-based arguments, and the use of referencing.
- Accidental Plagiarism
-
Unintentional failure to properly attribute sources due to a lack of understanding or oversight.
- Age
-
(with reference to culture) The range of ages within a population, particularly noting the different perspectives and life experiences brought by older individuals in educational or professional settings.
- Aggressor
-
A group member who is overly critical and assigns blame, causing discomfort among others.
- Analytical Skills
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The ability to assess, interpret, and draw conclusions from data or information to solve problems or make decisions.
- Anxiety Disorder
-
A mental health condition characterised by excessive and persistent worry, fear, or stress that interferes with daily life.
- Assessments
-
Tasks or activities designed to evaluate a student’s knowledge, skills, and understanding of a subject.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
-
A neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can affect daily functioning.
- Attribute/Attribution
- Autonomy
- Bibliography
- Blocker
-
A person who opposes ideas and hinders group progress.
- Body Paragraph
-
A section of an essay that develops a single idea or argument, supported by evidence and analysis.
- Boolean Operators
-
Words like AND, OR, and NOT used in search queries to refine and combine search terms for more precise results.
- Case study
- Chairperson
-
The leader of a team or meeting, responsible for maintaining focus, fairness, and task delegation.
- Citations
-
References to sources used in academic work to acknowledge the ideas of others.
- Close Reading
-
A careful and detailed examination of a text to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and connections. It involves active engagement with the content rather than passive reading.
- Collaborative Task
-
A project or activity requiring input and cooperation from all group members.
- Collusion
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Unauthorised collaboration on an assignment that is then presented as original individual work (Crook & Nixon, 2018).
- Compassion Fatigue
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Emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged compassion, leading to a reduced ability to empathise.
- Compliment Sandwich
-
A feedback technique consisting of positive comments, constructive criticism, and additional positive remarks to encourage acceptance and improvement.
- Conciliator
-
A person who mediates conflicts and promotes fair resolutions.
- Conclusion
-
The closing section of an assessment or article that summarises the main points and reinforces the thesis statement.
- Conclusive
- Conflict resolution
-
The process of addressing and resolving disagreements, particularly those that may arise from cultural misunderstandings or differences.
- Conflict Resolution
-
The process of addressing and resolving disagreements constructively to reach an agreement or understanding.
- Constructive Feedback
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Feedback that offers specific suggestions for improvement while maintaining a supportive tone.
- Content Words
-
Key terms in an assessment that specify the topic or focus areas to be researched or discussed.
- Cornell Note-Taking Method
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A structured system for organising notes into three sections: cues (questions or keywords), notes (main content), and summary (condensed understanding of the topic).
- Course
-
A structured program of study offered at a university or educational institution.
- Criteria
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The specific standards or guidelines set by university lecturers or tutors to evaluate the quality, structure, and content of academic work.
- Critical Thinking
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Involves analysing, examining, and evaluating situations, texts, and beliefs. It challenges you to think deeply about the world and your role within it.
- Cross-Marking
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The practice of having a second assessor review and evaluate a graded response, typically in cases of failure.
- Cultural background
-
The shared characteristics, beliefs, language, behaviours, and identity of a group. This includes dominant culture and subcultures within a society.
- Cultural Competence
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The ability to understand, respect, and interact effectively with people from diverse cultures and belief systems.
- Cultural competency
-
The ability to recognise, adapt to, and appreciate cultural differences and similarities. Cultural competency involves self-awareness, understanding others’ cultural perspectives, and effective communication across cultural boundaries.
- Cultural sensitivity
-
The awareness that language, slang, and body language can be interpreted differently in diverse cultural contexts. Cultural sensitivity encourages careful and respectful communication.
- Dean
- Deficit discourses
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Refer to the framing of under-represented students as lacking essential academic and social skills.
- Detailed Reading
-
A thorough examination of a text to extract detailed information, typically performed after determining its relevance.
- Discipline
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An academic field or branch of knowledge studied at university, such as science, teaching, or nursing.
- Discrimination
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Unfair treatment of individuals based on perceived differences, often tied to stereotypes or prejudice.
- Discussion
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A section in research articles where the main points and implications of the findings are explored and interpreted.
- Diversity
-
The variety of human characteristics and differences that enrich humanity. These differences may be cultural, biological, or personal and significantly affect people’s perceptions of others.
- DOI
- Dominant culture
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The larger societal culture with widespread influence, often perceived as the norm within a given society.
- Dominator
-
A group member who attempts to control the group and decision-making processes.
- Eat That Frog
-
A productivity strategy that encourages prioritising and the completion of the most challenging or important task first.
- Eisenhower Matrix
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A prioritisation tool dividing tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Used to prioritise tasks.
- Emotional Intelligence
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The ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and relationships effectively.
- Emotional Regulation
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The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy and constructive way.
- Emotionality
-
The capacity to understand and express emotions to strengthen relationships (Copper & Petrides, 2010).
- Enabling Education
-
Educational programs designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for success in higher education.
- Energy Management
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The strategic regulation of energy to optimise productivity and enhance time management.
- Equality
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The principle that all group members contribute equally, though it may not always be practical.
- Equity
-
A principle that considers individual differences, skills, and preferences to ensure fairness and effective contribution.
- Ethnicity
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A cultural distinction based on shared identity, cultural heritage, language, traditions, and behaviours. It often pertains to minority groups within a larger society.
- Exposure to Challenges
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Facing and engaging with difficult tasks to build skills and resilience.
- Feedback
-
Constructive information provided by university lecturers, tutors, or peers on academic work to help students identify strengths, areas for improvement, and ways to develop their skills and understanding.
- Feedback Literacy
-
The ability to understand, interpret, and use feedback to improve learning and performance.
- Findings
-
The key insights or conclusions derived from analysing the research results.
- First-in-family
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A student who is the first in their immediate family to attend university or higher education.
- Fixed Mindset
-
A belief that intelligence and abilities are static and unchangeable. This mindset often leads to avoiding challenges, taking criticism harshly , and attributing failures to external factors.
- Formative
- Gender identity
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An individual’s internal experience and sense of their gender, which may align with or differ from their birth-assigned sex.
- Gender roles
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The evolving societal roles of men and women, including shifts in professional, social, and caregiving responsibilities.
- General Practitioner
-
A medical doctor who provides primary healthcare, including diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care.
- Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate Thinking Routine
-
An advanced mind-mapping technique developed by Ron Ritchhart that involves generating ideas, sorting them into categories, connecting related ideas, and elaborating on their meanings.
- Generative AI
-
Or "GenAI". Technology capable of producing text, code, music, video, and images based on user prompts.
- Geography
-
(with reference to culture) Differences in ideas, attitudes, and behaviours influenced by the physical location of individuals or groups.
- Gold Standard
- Grading System
-
The method used to evaluate and record student performance, typically expressed as grades or marks.
- GRIT
-
A combination of passion and sustained effort towards achieving long-term goals (Duckworth, 2016).
- Growth Mindset
-
A belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, perseverance, and learning from mistakes. This mindset encourages embracing challenges, welcoming feedback, and striving for improvement.
- Help-Seeking Behaviours
-
Actions taken to seek support or resources when facing challenges or uncertainties.
- Higher Education
-
Another term for university education, referring to post-secondary learning that results in academic degrees, diplomas, or certificates.
- Hypothesis
- Imposter Syndrome
-
The feeling that one’s success is undeserved and a fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of competence.
- In-text
- Inclusive Language
-
Communication that avoids bias, slang terms or jardon while respecting diversity in terms of gender, culture, and other identities.
- Increased Participation
-
Refers to the growing number of individuals, from diverse backgrounds, enrolling in university.
- Independent Learning
-
A self-directed approach to education where students take responsibility for their learning. Holec (1991) defines it as “the ability to take charge of one’s learning”.
- Introduction
-
The opening section of an article or assessment that sets the context, provides background, and introduces the topic.
- Issue
- Journal/Journal articles
- Keywords
-
Specific words or phrases that represent the main topics or ideas in a text or assessment question, often used in research or searching.
- Lecturer
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Academic staff responsible for delivering lectures, guiding learning, and assessing students in a university setting.
- Likert
- Limiting Words
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Words that narrow the scope of a topic, such as specific time periods, locations, or groups, or indicate restrictions like word limits or citation requirements.
- Literature Review
-
A section of an article that summarises and discusses existing research relevant to the topic being explored.
- Mac
-
A brand of computers and related products developed by Apple Inc., short for Macintosh.
- Meditation
-
A practice of focused attention or mindfulness to achieve mental clarity and relaxation.
- Melatonin
-
A hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
- Methodology
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The part of an article that explains how the research was conducted, including research design, ethics approval, research questions, data collection, and reasoning.
- Mind Maps
-
Visual diagrams that link concepts or ideas, helping to organise information and enhance understanding.
- Mind maps
- Mindfulness
-
A mental practice of focusing on the present moment with acceptance and without judgment.
- Modelling
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Observing others, particularly their successes or struggles, to influence your own perceptions and behaviour.
- Multitasking
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Attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, often at the cost of efficiency and focus.
- Neurodiverse
-
Refers to individuals whose neurological development and functioning differ from the typical, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
- Neurodiversity
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A concept that recognises and celebrates the natural variations in the ways people’s brains function, encompassing autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
- Note-taking
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The practice of recording key information from lectures, readings, or discussions for study and future reference.
- Paraphrasing
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Rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning and providing a citation.
- Parentheses
-
Symbols used in search queries or writing to group terms and clarify relationships between them.
- Pedagogy
-
The method and practice of teaching, including instructional strategies and approaches to learning.
- Peer/Peers
- Perfectionism
-
A tendency to strive for flawlessness as a way to control perceptions and avoid feelings of inadequacy. Vulnerability and open discussion can counteract perfectionism.
- Perseverance
-
The ability to persist and remain determined in achieving goals despite difficulties.
- Pickle Jar Theory
-
A prioritisation strategy that categorises tasks as important, less important, or trivial, encouraging a focus on the most critical items first.
- Plagiarism
-
The use of someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, whether intentionally or accidentally.
- Pomodoro Technique
-
A time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo, using timed work sessions (typically 25 minutes) followed by short breaks to maintain focus and combat procrastination.
- Pomodoro technique
- Positive Reframing
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The process of viewing a situation or feedback in a more positive light, often to empower or motivate growth.
- Predicting
-
In terms of writing, the ability to anticipate content or outcomes in a text based on context clues and prior knowledge.
- Prejudice
-
Negative attitudes or behaviours toward an individual based on stereotypical views of their group.
- Previewing
-
The process of examining headings, subheadings, images, and the structure of a text before reading to predict its content.
- Productive Struggle
-
The process of grappling with challenges and difficulties in learning, fostering deeper understanding and resilience.
- Project Manager
-
Oversees project completion, defines roles, manages timelines, and ensures goals are met in a group setting.
- Race
-
Biological differences often defined by perceptions of skin colour, with significant social implications.
- Rapport
-
A positive and trusting relationship between individuals, often between teachers and students, enhancing communication and learning.
- Reader Voice
-
An inner dialogue that interacts with the text, reflecting on and questioning its content.
- Rebel
-
A group member who refuses to cooperate and behaves against group expectations.
- Recommendations
-
A section where the author(s) highlight research limitations and suggest future research directions or applications.
- Record Keeper
-
Keeps detailed records of meetings, tasks, and communications, compiles work, and manages document access for a group.
- Reference
- Reflection
-
A metacognitive skill of thinking deeply about past experiences, identity, and the reasons behind them. It can be personal and often reveals unexpected insights.
- Reflection Diary
-
A personal record used to document thoughts, experiences, and learning processes for self-reflection.
- Register
- Relationship Management
-
Building and maintaining positive relationships through leadership, conflict resolution, and connection (Goleman et al., 2002).
- Research
-
The process of systematically investigating academic sources, questions, or topics to establish facts, generate new knowledge, or support arguments in university assessment and studies.
- Research database
- Resilience
-
The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to challenges, and continue working towards goals despite adversity.
- Results
-
The section of a research paper that presents the data or outcomes from the study without interpretation.
- Rubric
-
A tool that outlines the expectations and criteria for assessing tasks, often including detailed descriptions for different performance levels.
- Scanning
-
Searching a text for specific information, such as a keyword or specific detail.
- Sceptic
-
A member who asks critical questions to clarify and refine ideas.
- Scholarships
-
Financial awards provided to students based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria to support their education.
- Search String
-
A combination of keywords, Boolean operators, and other symbols used to perform targeted searches in databases or search engines.
- Self-Awareness
-
Understanding your own emotional state, including strengths, weaknesses, and self-confidence (Goleman et al., 2002).
- Self-Care
-
Practices aimed at maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
- Self-Control
-
The ability to regulate desires and impulses (Copper & Petrides, 2010).
- Self-efficacy
- Self-esteem
-
How you feel about yourself, including your sense of self-worth and confidence.
- Self-Management
-
Exercising self-control and adapting to emotional challenges with integrity and flexibility (Goleman et al., 2002).
- Self-Plagiarism
-
Reusing one's own previously submitted work, also called "recycling."
- Self-Seeker
-
A group member focused on their own needs or attention rather than group success.
- Self-talk
-
The internal dialogue or thoughts you have with yourself, often while learning or problem-solving.
- Seminar
- Sexual orientation
-
A personal characteristic that encompasses the spectrum of human sexuality, including (but not limited to) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual identities.
- Skimming
-
Quickly glancing through a text to identify its main themes and general ideas.
- Sleep hygiene
- Sleep Hygiene
-
Habits and practices that promote consistent and quality sleep.
- Sociability
-
The ability to develop and sustain relationships, focusing on social connections (Copper & Petrides, 2010).
- Social Awareness
-
Recognising and empathising with others' emotions and the emotional dynamics in social contexts (Goleman et al., 2002).
- Social Loafer
-
A group member who contributes little or nothing to group efforts.
- Socioeconomic background
-
The economic and social conditions in which a person grows up, shaping their identity, ideas, and attitudes.
- Soft Skills
-
Personal and interpersonal abilities, such as communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, that complement technical knowledge or "hard skills" to enhance academic and professional effectiveness.
- Soft skills
- Source material
- Stereotype
-
A fixed, simplistic view of a group that often leads to prejudice and discriminatory behaviour.
- Stream of Consciousness
-
A narrative style or writing technique that attempts to capture the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings in the writer's mind.
- Synonyms
-
Words with similar meanings used to vary expression or enhance understanding.
- Syntax
- Task Batching Technique
-
A productivity method that involves grouping similar tasks and completing them in one dedicated session.
- Task Words
-
Verbs in assessment instructions that indicate actions students need to perform, such as "analyse," "compare," or "describe."
- Thesis Statement
-
A concise statement in the introduction of an essay or article that summarises the main argument or focus.
- Third Place
-
A space distinct from home (first place) and work/study (second place) where individuals can relax and connect with others, such as cafes, gyms, or community groups.
- Timekeeper
-
A group member who schedules meetings, tracks deadlines, and ensures tasks are completed on time.
- Truncation
-
A searching technique using a shortened version of a word with a symbol (e.g., *) to find all variations of that word.
- Tutor
-
A university staff member or advanced student who provides small-group or individual instruction.
- Two-Way Learning
-
A learning approach where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people share and learn from each other's perspectives (Johnston & Forrest, 2020).
- Unit
-
A specific subject or module within a course that focuses on a particular area of study.
- University
-
An institution of higher education and research that awards academic degrees.
- Volume
- Waffling
- Well-Being
-
A state of happiness and fulfilment, encompassing a positive outlook on the past, present, and future (Copper & Petrides, 2010).
- Word Count
-
The total number of words in a written academic assessment, often with an acceptable range of 10% above or below the specified limit unless otherwise stated.
- Workshop
- Writer's Block
-
A psychological condition where a writer is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative block.
- Yarning
-
A conversational storytelling method that fosters connection, understanding, and knowledge sharing through verbal and non-verbal cues (Terare & Rawsthorne, 2019; Bessarab & Ngandu, 2010).