Module FOUN0371: KEY SKILLS AND LANGUAGE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Department: Foundation Year [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

FOUN0371: KEY SKILLS AND LANGUAGE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To develop a toolkit of key skills for study.
• To provide holistic support for students' current studies.
• To prepare students for future studies in Higher Education.
• To develop reflective practice.
• To develop critical analysis.
• To make students confident, competent and comfortable in using information technology in the context of academic environments.

Content

• This module will provide the opportunity for students to develop their key skills in IT, communication, use of number, working with others, reflective practice, problem solving and critical thinking, through structured activities and diagnostic exercises. Many of the activities will be linked to study of current issues to enable students to apply subject knowledge in different contexts.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion the student will be able to:
• Understand and make productive use of:
• -File management software.
• -Library databases.
• -Word processing software.
• -Spreadsheet software.

• On successful completion the student will be able to:
• Use practical skills in the creation of:
• -Word processed documents.
• -Spreadsheets.

• By the end of this module students will:
• Be able to communicate effectively orally, visually and in writing.
• Be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data.
• Improved their own learning and performance through reflective practice.
• Be able to demonstrate problem solving skills.
• Be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Be able to use IT confidently and competently.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students will develop their key skills through a range of structured individual, group and whole class activities. Many of these activities will be linked to material on current issues, giving students the opportunity to practice applying their subject knowledge and to develop skills in critical analysis.
• Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own learning; identify strengths and weaknesses; and structure some of their own future learning through diagnostic exercises and completion of a personal learning portfolio. This process will be supported and formatively assessed through individual tutorial interviews.
• The assessments for the module will comprise a project and an exam. This will encourage students to use their skills holistically and recognise how they can be combined to support further study.
• IT is skills based learning requiring step by step explanation and instruction. This approach is adopted in lab sessions embedded through the module with the use of detailed booklets and practical demonstrations.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Self-diagnostic tests, exercises or formative activities will be set on a weekly basis.