Module FOUD0237: Entry Preparation for Higher Education

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0237: Entry Preparation for Higher Education

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide students with a grounding in study skills and their supporting technology.
• To provide students with a background to British academic conventions and expectations.
• To prepare students for future undergraduate study at a British university.
• To develop students’ personal writing and reflective skills.

Content

• Use of standard Microsoft packages including MS Word.
• Use of DUO and associated tools.
• Consolidation of how to use online library catalogue and search tools.
• Study of time management techniques.
• Study of co-operative learning and team participation.
• Study of autobiographic writing.
• Support for UCAS application preparation.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• have a basic understanding of the concept of plagiarism and how to avoid it (SK1).
• have a basic understanding of time management techniques (SK2).

• By the end of the module the student will:
• be able to communicate effectively in seminars and small group activities (SS1).
• be able to produce written work in different genres appropriate to different tasks (SS2).
• Be able to use appropriate skills and strategies to avoid plagiarism (SS3)
• be able to use online information resources (SS4).

• By the end of the module the student will:
• be able to demonstrate basic IT skills (KS1).
• be able to communicate effectively in writing (KS2).
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills (KS3).
• have improved their own learning and performance (KS4).

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

• Theory, initial concepts and research techniques will be introduced during seminars.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured IT practicals, group work, discussions and library assignments during teaching sessions and students' own time.
• Learning outcomes for key skills will be assessed throughout the teaching block in the learning log and the creation of a personal statement appropriate for a UCAS application.
• Assignment 1 (Diary completion) will assess: SK1, SK2, SS2, KS3, KS4,
• Assignment 2 (Reflective Essay) will assess: SK1, SK2, SS1, SS2, SS3, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4.
• Assignment 3 (Personal statement) will assess: SS2, SS3, SS4, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

None.