Body
Overview
It is recommended that students review the following before their first class every semester to help with a stress free experience
Useful Tips for Students
Memorize some key shortcuts when you are using a computer:
These shortcuts can make navigating the computer more efficient. Some helpful ones include:
• "crtl + f" to find words on web pages and documents.
• "crtl + a" to select all words on web pages or documents.
• "crtl + c" to copy selected words.
• "crtl + v" to paste from clipboard.
• "crtl + z" allows you to undo the previous action.
More shortcuts can be found here for Windows, and here for Mac.
Get familiar with your CBU email and it's password:
Your CBU email and password are sent to you by your advisor through email before the first semester. Since it is used for the majority of campus services, it can save you time and energy to memorize it.
Get familiar with your own devices:
Buy devices (such as computers, calculators, phones, etc.) that are appropriate for your work and you enjoy using. Being comfortable with your technology can help you be quicker and more efficient in your work, as well as solving problems.
You should know the name of the browser you are using and the operating system of your computer to help find solutions to potential future problems and help others assist you.
Update your computer/software/browser:
Some features only work on the most up to date versions of windows and your browser. Keeping these up to date may avoid future problems. Click here to find out how to update your devices and software.
Log into your Moodle and read your Syllabus before the first class:
The first thing most instructors put on their Moodle is their Syllabus. This will tell you the location of the class, any important notes, and the books/software required for the class. It can help you decide quickly if the class is a good fit for you and be prepared!
Review the Academic Calendar:
The Academic Calendar reviews the administration, services, and academic requirements for each program. It may be helpful for you to review the sections most interesting to you.
Learn how to professionally use search engines:
When looking for information on your research topics, do not use unreliable sources such as social media, blogs, or AI-generated information. You should use academic resources such as those found on the CBU library.
When using search engines, you can more accurately find your sources using quotation marks (“”), keywords (AND, OR, and NOT), and more.
More information and tips can be found on the CBU library website.
You can use this portal and CBU Service hub to find answers about many different questions you have:
While IT Service, Student Affairs, the Library, and the other people at CBU are always happy to help you, sometimes these services can get very busy. This guide and the CBU ServiceHub have been created to help answer your questions as fast as possible.
Discover software that will be useful for you:
Every student will have different challenges during university, fortunately, there is usually some type of software that can assist with this. Some helpful software include:
- Grammarly: is an extremely helpful writing support for those who struggle with spelling and grammar.
- Zotero: can help with citations and organizing articles and other sources.
- JASP: a free statistics software for research and mathematics.
- Canva: a free and PowerPoint alternative for making slide shows, research posters, and advertisements.
Know when it is acceptable to use generative AI:
CBU has very strict polices on when it is acceptable to use generative AI in an academic context. You can review these policies here.
Contact Us
If you are having difficulty, please reach us at it_services@cbu.ca or call 902-563-1123.
For More Preparation Tips
Etiquette and Manners
Tech Requirements
Student ID
First Class
Accessing WIFI