We wish to continue to support your learning. However, we now want to make what you do more relevant to the next steps you will soon be taking. Please find below a selection of activities, viewing, reading etc, both subject based and generic, including some support for those of you who will soon be moving away from home for the first time. We have also provided you with a list of general interest reading that your tutors think you may enjoy.
General
- Looking ahead, many universities have subject reading lists on their websites. As an example, this is a link to recommended reading for the study of Biochemistry, provided by Oxford University. Get a head start!
- It is worth remembering that universities do not just teach undergraduates, but are also centres of research. University researchers are engaged in seeking solutions to the challenges which face us all, such as climate change, global health and renewable energy. Why not spend some time having a look at what your intended destination, or our local universities, are currently engaged in. Here are some links to start you off:
- https://www.derby.ac.uk/research/about-our-research/
- https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/research/features
- https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/research.aspx
- https://www.ncl.ac.uk/research/impact/
- https://warwick.ac.uk/research
- https://www.southampton.ac.uk/research/impact/research-by-subject
- https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/
- Recommended general reading for university students!
- Accessing free e-books and audiobooks through Derby Libraries
- Derby Libraries have put together a scheme which allows members to download e-books and audiobooks for free via the BorrowBox app (https://www.borrowbox.com/). This app can be downloaded on numerous mobile and tablet devices and it gives access to thousands of popular books for students to read.
We encourage all of our students to sign up for this scheme as it will give access to a huge wealth of resources to support their reading and curricular studies.
If you are a member of your local library then you should be able to sign in straight away. However, if you are not a member then you will need to sign up following the steps below.
- Derby Libraries have put together a scheme which allows members to download e-books and audiobooks for free via the BorrowBox app (https://www.borrowbox.com/). This app can be downloaded on numerous mobile and tablet devices and it gives access to thousands of popular books for students to read.
- Don’t forget about MOOCs! These online courses are run by nearly all universities. They are short FREE courses that you take part in. They are usually quite specialist, but aimed at the public, not the genius, so you can study a MOOC from subjects that you haven’t studies in Sixth Form! There are lots of websites that help you find a course, such as edX and Future learn.
- BBC iPlayer has a wide variety of programmes for your viewing. Categories include History, Arts and Science & Nature, as well as generic sections such as Documentaries and News.
- Free digital and numeracy courses to build your skills from the Department of Education
- There are 97 free online courses available with Harvard University, covering subjects including Art and Design, Business, Computer science, Data Science, Education and Teaching, Health and Medicine, Humanities, Mathematics, Programming, Science and Social Science.
https://online-learning.harvard.edu/catalog/free - If you are bored, why not use this time to learn some first aid? Useful for everyone, but particularly if you are considering a career in any kind of healthcare as a career!
Learn first aid - By the time you go to university you will not have formally studied for over 3 months, so get yourself ready for university study by completing some of these short on-line courses.
Critical thinking at university, Preparing for university, Improving study techniques, Learning and collaborating, Preparing to learn online at university, Searching and researching
Tutors’ Recommended General Reading
- ‘A short history of nearly everything’ - Bill Bryson
A popular science book that explains some areas of science using easily accessible language. - ‘Prisoners of Geography’ - Tim Marshall
A look at how historical and future world events are shaped by geography. - ‘Why we sleep – The new science of sleep and dreams’ - Matthew Walker
Written by a neuroscientist, an account of how sleep is thought to make us happier, healthier, cleverer and more attractive. - ‘Sapiens – A brief history of humankind’ - Yuval Noah Harari
The bestseller which tells how Homo sapiens are the only human species remaining on earth. - ‘What if?’ - Randall Munroe
SeriouAs scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions. - ‘How To?’ - Randall Munroe
A witty and entertaining self help guide to common tasks. - ‘Cherry: A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard’ - Sara Wheeler
The biography of one of the youngest members of Scott's final expedition to the Antarctic. - ‘A first rate tragedy. Captain Scott’s Antarctic expeditions’ - Diana Preston
A moving account of the reasons behind the tragedy of Scott’s final expedition. - ‘And God created Cricket – an irreverent history of the greatest game on Earth’ - Simon Hughes
Humorous and interesting, a must read for the cricket fan. - ‘The diary of a young girl’ - Anne Frank
The personal diary of a young Dutch girl hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam in WWII. - ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ - Viktor Frankl
A two part book reflecting on the experiences as a prisoner inNazi concentration camps and the associated psychotherapeutic method which identified a purpose in life to feel positive about. - 'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan. A great mixture of science, philosophy and history
- 'Civilisation' by Kenneth Clark. A thoroughly absorbing account of Art history.
- 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' and 'Cilka's Journey'.
Both by Heather Morris. Based on true stories of survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Ready to look after yourself?
- What to take/pack for university?
https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/what-take-university - 5 ways to stretch your budget
https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/5-ways-stretch-your-student-budget - Useful study skills guide from UCAS
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/student-life/study-skills-guides
Subject-Specific Activities
Biology
Reading
- Life at the extremes – The science of survival - Frances Ashcroft
An exploration of how our body’s remarkable adaptations allow us to respond to extreme conditions. - Medical Pharmacology at a glance - M J Neal
A series of double page spreads with diagrams that provides a synopsis of how drugs work within a range of therapeutic topics. Designed for the preclinical medical student. - The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
The fascinating account of the life, and afterlife, of a woman known to scientists as HeLa, who changed the world of medicine. - Journals - For example; Biology Science Review (quarterly), National Geographic, New Scientist, Nature.
- The spark of life: Electricity in the human body - F Ashcroft
- Reaching for the sun: How plants work - J King
- Why elephants have big ears - C Lavers
Viewing
- BBC iPlayer – Science & Nature. A wide variety of programmes, currently including programmes on The Sky at Night, The Hidden Life of the Cell and box sets on exploring the cosmos and various David Attenborough series.
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Website
- Dr. John Campbell - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF9IOB2TExg3QIBupFtBDxg
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/genres/factual/scienceandnature/all
- A link between evolution and cancer - https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/071001_cancer
Places of Interest
- National Marine Aquarium – Plymouth
- The Eden Project – St Austell, Cornwall
- Cambridge Science Centre – Cambridge
- Centre of the Cell – London
- Royal Botanic Gardens – Kew - London
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History – Oxford
Other
- BBC news app – ‘Science & Environment’ and ‘Health’ sections.
Business
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Other
TED Talks
- How symbols and brands shape our humanity – Debbie Hillman (Marketing)
- Cultural differences in business – Valarie Hoeks (International Business)
- Why it’s time for doughnut economics – Kate Raworth (Economics)
- How does the stock market work – Oliver Elfenbaum (Finance)
Chemistry
Reading
- The Chemistry of Plant Life at - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33394 This is an old book from 1921 but very detailed and interesting and available for free
- H2O: A biography of Water by Philip Ball Only £3.99 on Kindle
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Website
Computer Science
Websites
- The ALICE experiment: https://home.cern/science/experiments/alice
- Projects at CERN: https://home.cern/
- CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. Mathematics and Computer Science: https://www.derby.ac.uk/undergraduate/mathematics-courses/mathematics-and-computer-science-bsc-hons/
Reading
- The Art of Computer Programming, Volumes 1-4A Boxed Set -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Programming-Volumes-1-4A-Boxed/ - Mathematics for Computer Science -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-Computer-Science-Eric-Lehman/ - A programmer's introduction to Mathematics -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Programmers-Introduction-Mathematics-Dr-Jeremy/ - Essential Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Discrete-Mathematics-Computer-Science/ - Computer Network Security and Cyber Ethics -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Network-Security-Cyber-Ethics/ - The Principles of Cybersecurity And Hacking -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Cybersecurity-Hacking-Books-1-ebook/ - Hands-On Game Development Patterns with Unity 2019: Create engaging games by using industry-standard design patterns with C# -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hands-Development-Patterns-Unity-industry-standard/ - Book, Mathematics for 3D Game programming and computer Graphics -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-Game-Programming-Computer-Graphics/ - Computer Programming and Cyber Security -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Programming-Cyber-Security-Beginners/
Fictional Books
- The Dark Web: A gripping technothriller with a killer twist!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Web-gripping-conspiracy-thriller-ebook/ - Hacker:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hacker-Malorie-Blackman-ebook/ - Code Name: Hacker
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Code-Name-Hacker-Jameson-Security-ebook/
Viewing
Films:
- Hackers.
- War Games.
- The Matrix.
- Antitrust.
- Swordfish.
- The imitation Game
- Jumping Jack Flash
- Ghost in the Shell
- Office Space
- Iron Man
- Tron
- Transcendence
- Ex Machina
- Hackers
TV Series:
- Mr Robot
- Silicon Valley
- The IT Crowd
- Person of Interest
- Chuck
- Halt and Catch Fire
- CSI: Cyber
- Scorpion
- Betas
- Black Mirror
- Who am I
- Intelligence
- Almost Human
- Westworld
English
Reading
- The Adventure of English – The biography of a language - Melvyn Bragg
The story of the English language, encompassing power, religion, trade and of a people. - Rediscover Grammar - David Crystal
A lively, modern and entertaining approach to the teaching of English grammar. - The Art of Fiction - David Lodge
A selection of articles about particular narrative devices, which is written in a way that is accessible and useful. - https://www.oxfordscholastica.com/blog/english-degree-reading-list/
Universities will have English Literature undergraduate reading lists that are tailored to the courses they run across the duration of the degree. This is link to a more generic list, which provides a reading list regardless of which university you attend. -
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
-
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (graphic novel)
-
Search Party by George the Poet (poetry anthology)
-
In Cold Blood - Truman Capote. The greatest piece of reportage ever written.
-
I, Claudius and Claudius the God - Robert Graves. A masterclass of narrative prose fiction
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Website
- https://blogs.bl.uk/english-and-drama/discovering-literature/
- https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover/shakespeares-world/
- https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/articles/british-literary-guide/
- http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/ (this is a digital library with links to 1000s of fiction texts - may be particularly useful for older texts that you might want to read prior to going to university without having to purchase them)
- https://rsliterature.org/
Places of Interest
- British Library - London
https://www.bl.uk/ - Shakespeare's birthplace - Stratford Upon Avon
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/ - Bronte Parsonage Museum - Haworth, Yorkshire
https://www.bronte.org.uk/ - Jane Austen centre - Bath
https://www.janeausten.co.uk/
Other
- https://www.ted.com/talks/iseult_gillespie
Most English Literature degrees will include the works of Chaucer at some point. Watch this quick guide to the works of Literature to give yourself a head start on what this might involve! - https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie
Chimamanda Adichie has written many acclaimed novels, such as Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun. Here she explores the concept of feminism, and the idea that a feminist is a man or a woman who says, 'Yes, there's a problem with gender as it is today, and we must fix it. We must do better.'
Geography
Reading
- Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics. By Tim Marshall
- Geography: A Very Short Introduction. By John A. Matthews
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Other
Optional Bridging task:
The following task is the task I was given in my first lecture at Uni. I still remember walking into the huge lecture theatre feeling excited for my first real lecture only to be presented with the following. The lecturer walked in, he set up his screen and presented the question “mountains are a divide” Discuss. He then packed up his things and walked out, he said nothing. It was so powerful. We had to write a 2500 word essay with that as the title. At the time I thought it wasn’t going to be helpful, how wrong I was. I still think about that essay. So, over to you. Write an essay with the title “mountains are a divide”. You should consider how mountains influence social divides, political divides, environmental divides and any others you can find. Don’t forget to underpin your essay by considering the Social, Economic and Environmental elements. You could decide to present this in essay form and I’m happy to mark it or you may decide to do it in poster form. Enjoy.
Mr Goring.
History
Reading
Firstly, please note that the key thing is that you learn from what you read and to do this you need to read analytically.
- Can I summarise the argument the historian has made?
- What evidence does the historian offer to substantiate his/her argument? Historians are like barristers in court: they must convince people of their case. To do so they must use evidence judiciously and convincingly;
- Is this historian's argument similar to, or different from, others that I have read?
- Do I agree or disagree with the argument being made here?
- Why? Is it well supported by the evidence? Is it coherent? Does it contradict itself?
- Doing this will help you understand what you have read and remember it later.
Useful blog on how to continue to read analytically below:
Note:
Most Universities will have required modules on Medieval/Modern before choosing others.
British History
Medieval
- S Reynolds: Kingdoms and Communities
- J C Schmitt: The Holy Greyhound
- J Holt: Robin Hood
- F Barlow: The Feudal Kingdoms of England 1047-1216
- D Douglas: The Norman Achievement
- D Douglas: William the Conquerer:The Norman Impact on England
- R Hilton: Bondmen Made Free
- G Holmes: The Later Middle Ages 1272-1485
- J R Lander: Conflict and Stability in 15th Century England
- R W Southern: The Making of the Middle Ages
- A Gurevich: Categories of Popular Medieval Culture
- S Shahar: The Fourth Estate: Women in the Middle Ages
Early Modern
C Russell: The Causes of the English Civil War
- P Laslett: The World we have lost
- J H Plumb: The Growth of Political Stability in England
- J C D Clark: English Society 1688-1832
- K Wrightson: English Society
- J Brewer: The Sinews of Power
Modern
- E P Thompson: The Making of the English Working Class
- E J Hobsbawm: Industry and Empire
- P Clarke: The Keynesian Revolution in the Making
- P Clarke: Hope and Glory: Britain, 1900-1990
- M. Desai: Marx's Revenge
- J. Baten (ed.): A History of the Global Economy 1500 to the Present
- P.J. Cain and A. G. Hopkins: British Imperialism 1688-2000
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Maths
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Reading
- Fermat’s Last Theorem. By Simon Singh
- The Music of the Primes. By Marcus du Sautoy
- Humble Pi. By Matt Parker
Websites
- https://amsp.org.uk/resource/gcse-alevel-transition-resources - Useful for Engineers
Other
| Size: 62 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 1. Pythagorean triples | Size: 142 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 2. Perfect numbers | Size: 122 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 3. Choosing weights | Size: 174 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 4. 50p coin | Size: 149 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 5. Randomised Response comp ext | Size: 130 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 6. Trains comp ext | Size: 133 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 7. Shop comp ext | Size: 44 KB Tue, 28 Apr 2020 Comprehension advice
Physics
Reading
- The Fabric of Reality - David Deutsch
An exploration of time travel and quantum computers. - The Elegant Universe - Brian Greene
An introduction to string and superstring theory. - The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow
A popular science book which looks at the history of scientific knowledge about the universe. - Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil Degrasse Tyson
A popular science book answering basic questions about the universe.
Viewing
- https://www.gresham.ac.uk/schools (click the appropriate subject button)
Website
- http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-reading-and-resources - Select Physics dropdown
- https://blog.oup.com/2017/09/back-to-physics-reading-list/
Blogs:
Psychology
Reading
Introductory Psychology Textbooks
- Hewstone M., Fincham F. and Foster J. (2005). Psychology
- Gross, R.D. (2005). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour
- Hayes, N. (2000). Foundations of Psychology: An Introductory Text
Reading for Psychology
- Ramachandran, V.S. & Blakeslee S. (1999). Phantoms in the Brain: Human Nature and the Architecture of the Mind
- Sacks, O. (2011). The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat
- Bentall, R. & Beck. A.T. (2004). Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature
- Dennett, D.C. (1993). Consciousness Explained
- Greenfield, S. (2002). The Private Life of the Brain
- Ridley, M. (2004). Nature via Nurture: Genes, experience and what makes us human
- Pinker, S. (1995). The Language Instinct: The New Science of Language and Mind
- Goldacre, B. (2009). Bad Science
Reading for Statistics
- Huff, D. (1993). How to Lie with Statistics
- Graham, A. (2008). Teach yourself Statistics
- Rowntree, D. (2003). Statistics without tears: A primer for the non-mathematician
- Dancey, C.P. & Reidy J. (2004) Statistics Without Maths for Psychology
- Coolican, H. (2009). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
Journals
- British Journal of Psychology
- Journal of Experimental Psychology
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Psychological Review
- American Psychologist
- Nature, Science, Scientific American and the New Scientist are journals in which a number of articles on Psychology topics appear also.
Website
- A monthly publication of The British Psychological Society has back issues freely available on its archive at:
http://www.thepsychologist.org.uk
- Also see the BPS Research Digest at:
http://digest.bps.org.uk
Places of Interest
- Freud Museum – London
https://www.freud.org.uk/
- National Justice Museum – London, Nottingham
https://www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk/
- Museum of the Mind – Kent
https://museumofthemind.org.uk/
Other
Careers
- They even suggest specific career choices based on your degree and what kind of a psychologist you wish to become:
http://careers.bps.org.uk/yourstatus
MOOC’s
- Forensic Psychology
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/forensic-psychology/
- Understanding Depression and Anxiety
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/health/understanding-depression-and-anxiety/
- Exploring Sport Coaching and Psychology
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/exploring-sport-coaching-and-psychology/
TED Talks
- How we read each other's minds, Rebecca Saxe
According to Saxe, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, you don't need tarot cards or ESP to read people's minds. A functioning right temporo-parietal junction will do just fine. In her talk, Saxe explains how this brain region allows humans to be uncannily good at sensing other people's feelings, thoughts, and motivations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOCUH7TxHRI
- The riddle of experience vs. memory, Daniel Kahneman
If you're looking for highly credentialed TED speakers, Kahneman's résumé won't fail to impress. A Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and bestselling author, Kahneman uses his 20 minutes on the TED stage to explain that there are actually two flavours of happiness: the kind we experience in the moment and the kind we experience in our memories. Maximizing your own well-being in life means keeping both in mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgRlrBl-7Yg
- The power of vulnerability, Brené Brown
One of the top-five-most-popular TED Talks of all time, this moving account of Brown's own struggles with shame and control weaves together sometimes hilarious personal anecdotes with hard research to convince viewers that forging real connections requires the bravery to be vulnerable.