Orientation Week Workshops
Welcome to Trent!
We know the transition to university isn't easy, so we're here to help.
Listen to some Trent students share their advice for their first-year self.
Orientation Week Workshops
Meet an Instructor in your College
Monday, Sept 6: Colleges Day
Meet the Academic Skills instructor from your college in an introductory session. Learn about strategies for critical reading, active learning, and organization that you can add to your skill set for a successful first year at Trent.
Looking for more information to get ready for class? Check out these short videos:
- Start off Right: Introduction to the Syllabus, Planning, Lectures, Reading, and Study Strategies
- Critical Reading Strategies
- Good Notes for Academic Success
- How to Create a Block Schedule
- Protecting your Academic Integrity
- Using Sources Effectively
Academic Skills Activity: Decoding your Syllabus
Monday, Sept 6: Colleges Day (see your College schedule)
The syllabus is a key to your academic success, so learn how to use it effectively! Work in small groups with your orientation leader and learn to identify key information in your syllabus to achieve higher order thinking and develop a study plan for your course. Download the Blackboard app to your device in advance of this session and bring a pen to jot some notes. Printed handouts will be available. Download the handout.
Cheating, Plagiarism, and Other Offences: Learn How to Protect Your Academic Integrity
Tuesday, Sept 7, 2pm-3pm, Otonabee College 203 or Zoom (register with your Trent email)
Academic Integrity is a cornerstone of university scholarship, but this concept might be new or unfamiliar to you. Academic Skills instructors (and upper year students) will answer common questions about how you can protect your academic integrity and why academic honesty should matter to you. Learn how good study habits and time management skills are essential protections.
Intro to Undergrad
Wednesday, Sept 8, 1-3pm
This event is a great chance to hear from faculty in your academic division and learn more about ways of thinking for your program, options for your degree pathway, and experiential learning opportunities and programs to support your career readiness. Offered in-person and remotely.
- Sciences session: Wenjack Theatre (OC W101)/Zoom webinar - Sciences
- Social Sciences session: Gzowski College 114/Zoom webinar - Social Sciences
- Humanities session: Stohn Hall (TSC)
How Do I Take Good Notes?
Thursday, Sept 9, 1pm-2pm, Gzowski College 114 or Zoom (register with your Trent email)
Good notetaking is an essential skill for academic success, yet many people struggle to take notes they find to be useful. Learn how to identify the important details to note and discover the importance of your own questions and short summaries in notetaking. In this session, an Academic Skills instructor will introduce a variety of approaches to taking notes that are appropriately detailed, well organized, and useful for writing papers or studying for exam. Find a new strategy to try and make it your own!
Essential Writing Tips for New Students
Friday, Sept 10, 10am-11am, Gzowski College 115 or Zoom (register with your Trent email)
Whether it takes the form of an English essay or a Biology lab, academic writing differs from other kinds of writing in important ways. Academic writing is analytical and focussed; it is informed by scholarly evidence, developed in a clear structure, and communicated in clear paragraphs and sentences. This workshop examines the challenges of university-level writing and presents six strategies to help students meet these challenges.
Online Guide to University Transition
Survive and Thrive is a short guide that helps incoming Trent students learn how to be successful through their first term at university.