What do you do when you can’t figure out how a new gadget works? You would look up tutorials on YouTube or just ask your peers. There’s no hesitation on your part. If you want to learn more about something, isn’t it just natural to review all the resources that can help you out?
Yet, when it comes to students seeking help with assignments, things aren’t as simple. You won’t find students approaching an assignment helper as freely as they would approach a tech expert for advice on the latest gadgets. Why is that so? Well, for starters, students are hesitant about services they’re not familiar with. While academic guidance websites are all the rage right now, there are quite a few students who haven’t tried out the services
So, most students prefer to opt for other academic resources. For example, a plagiarism checker PPT is usually the go-to option when students have to check their presentation. Want some other helpful resources? Then continue reading!
1. Open-Access Educational Databases
Open-access resources are going to be your best friend. Now, as a student, you can’t expect to buy research papers every time you have to complete an assignment. You’ve got your budget to worry about. Fortunately, there are plenty of journals from where you can access peer-reviewed papers for free –
- FEMS Microbiology Ecology
- National Journal of Medical Research
- Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research
- Education Policy Analysis Archives
You can find research materials on the latest events in your field easily from any open-access resource. Besides, the number of citations for any work should give you a better clue of which works are seminal in their respective fields.
2. Online Student Forums
Student discussion forums are the perfect place where you can connect to your peers, seniors, and other scholars to have your queries addressed. Even Stanford University has created dedicated student forums to provide a platform for all students looking for assistance.
Here’s how these forums can help you –
- Connect to students and researchers from various fields by responding to their queries.
- Feel free to ask questions (even if you think they’re dumb!) after you’ve ensured that the topic hasn’t been discussed before.
- Probe the respondent’s brain if you can’t understand the answer that they’ve provided.
- Ask for academic resources that you can use to work on your assignment.
While student forums might not be the perfect place if you’re looking for quick solutions, and there are several opportunities for improvement, they are undoubtedly excellent resources from where you can get academic help.
3. University/Public Libraries
Whether you’re at your university’s library or a public one, you can access books that are not available online easily. Sometimes, libraries even contain books that have been out of print for decades.
There’s only one problem.
Nowadays, most students rely on AI tools like ChatGPT to conduct research on a topic. Well, I’ve just got one thing to say in this case. Don’t underestimate the value of the resources you can find in libraries. They’re significantly more reliable than whatever ChatGPT can whip up.
4. YouTube Videos/Podcasts
It’s not surprising to find students who have completed their PhD opening YouTube channels to share their experience and knowledge with others. Take the instance of PhD candidate Gwenaëlle Thomas. When Thomas opened her YouTube channel, she knew exactly the audience that she wanted to target.
Throughout her career, Thomas struggled to be a Black student in STEM. She claims that there were various cultural references in seminars and lectures that she was unfamiliar with, which led to various struggles. Thomas now shares videos ranging from genealogy testing to electric vehicles. She highlights works of other marginalized researchers, and makes informative content that can help you with your assignments.
If you prefer podcasts, then you can look into the following –
- Academic Career Guide Podcast – Learn all about how to deal with reviewer comments and apply for research funding.
- Academic Writing Amplified – Learn all about how to deal with academic writing without ignoring other responsibilities.
If you’re more of an audio-visual learner, then these might be the best resources for you.
5. Academic Programs or Workshops
Now, academic workshops or programs aren’t as frequent or easily accessible, but they’re nonetheless excellent resources. You can build strong connections with experts in your field, ask questions regarding your specialisation, and get the latest information from top researchers.
If you’re going to attend a lecture or workshop, here’s what you should do –
- Conduct basic background research on the topic to be discussed
- Have a list of questions prepared to ask at the end of the session
The more programs and workshops you attend, the more chances you have at getting hands-on learning experience.
In Conclusion,
There are plenty of resources that you can use whenever you’re stuck with an assignment. Keep hiring academic writing services as the last resort. Hopefully, you won’t need to rely on experts, but even if you do, there are plenty of ways to get help without compromising your academic integrity.
