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EPQ Support: Information for Teachers

Meeting your students' needs

Our range of EPQ workshops are outlined below.

These workshops can be mixed and matched to meet your students' needs depending on where they are in the EPQ process.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss your specific needs (we can be flexible with workshop content) email educationliaison@mdx.ac.uk.

You can also register your interest here.

Workshop 1: Thinking about Resources (30 minutes)

This workshop is suitable for students who have either identified a potential topic, or have submitted a 'Record of initial planning' or 'Project Proposal'.

The workshop aims to introduce students to the range of information sources and how theses can enhance their EPQ. 

In this workshop students will:

  • Explore the range of resources available
  • Consider the value of different information sources
  • Become aware of free, open access and public library resources that they can access
  • Identify potential sources of information for their topic.

Workshop 2: Finding information (30 minutes)

This workshop aims to help students develop effective searching skills.

During the workshop students will:

  • Explore the importance of communication when searching for information
  • Devise a set of usable keywords/search terms for their topic
  • Learn how to use resources to further develop their keywords
  • Discover how search tips can help refine search results.

Workshop 3: Becoming a critical searcher (45 minutes)

This workshop aims to develop the critical searching skills of your students.

In this workshop students will:.

  • Learn how to identify reliable information sources
  • Develop the skills needed to evaluate information for authority, relevance and quality
  • Be able to select quality information to use in their EPQ.

Workshop 4: Searching and recording (flexible)

This workshop is suitable for students who have an approved project proposal and are ready to start in-depth research.

In this workshop students will:

  • Discover the importance of recording their search results
  • Why they need to reference the information sources that they use
  • Search our resources for the information that they need*
  • Learn how to streamline their search to make it more effective and focussed
  • Discover other places to look for information such as open access resources and public libraries

*Students will have the opportunity to search for information using Middlesex University's resources including:

  • Library Search - our resource discovery tool
  • Journal databases
  • Subject Library Guides
  • Other specialist resources as appropriate
  • Print books and journals

It would be useful if teachers can provide the following information in advance of the workshop:

  • Details of topics that your students are researching
  • An overview of what support your school currently offers its EPQ students.

Workshop 5: Academic reading and writing (1 hour)

These are the sort of topics that we can cover:

  • Skimming and scanning/active reading
  • Note taking
  • Presentation skills
  • How to structure academic writing
  • Avoiding plagiarism including quoting and paraphrasing
  • Time management
  • Reflective writing
  • Annotated bibliographies.

Please contact us to discuss your specific needs: educationliaison@mdx.ac.uk

In order for us to tailor this workshop to meet the specific needs of your students, it would be useful if you can provide the following information in advance of the workshop:

  • Details or examples of what you consider to be a good EPQ. If actual examples, then please anonymise
  • Details of topics that your students are researching
  • An overview of what support your school currently offers its EPQ students.