CRIT MSG 2014-2015 v1 PDF

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LW3FD07E - Module Study Guide Academic Year 2014-2015

Critical Approaches to Research and Study in Higher Education

Provided by the Claude Littner Business School

Version No 1

© 2015

Module Study Guide Contents Module Leader and Teaching Team Details

Page No. 3

Facts and figures

3

Section A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Overview and Content Welcome and Introduction to the Module Administrative and Technical Support Timetable/Venue/Rooms Student Support and Guidance Content of the Module Aims of the Module Learning Outcomes Learning Resources

4 4 4 4 8 8 8 9

Section B 9 10 11 12 13 14

Assessment and Feedback Assessment: General Information Details of Assessment Assessment Criteria Statement on Plagiarism Evaluation of the Module Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

10 10 11 13 14 14

Section C 16 17

Module Programme Guide to Learning Sessions Guide to Seminar Sessions

15 22

Section D

Bibliography and Appendices

18

Bibliography

Module Study Guide – January 2015

23

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Module Leader and Teaching Team Details

Module Leader and Course Tutor

Maryvonne Lumley BA (Hons), MA, MSc

Field and School

Business Studies The Claude Littner Business School, University of West London

Email

[email protected]

Phone Location NB

Email is the only way of contacting me as I do not have an office at UWL. I will however, endeavour to respond to all emails within 24 hours.

Facts and Figures Module Code

LW3FD07E

Level

3

Credits

20

Total Guided Learning Hours

200

Consisting of: Teaching Contact Hours 42 Independent Study Hours 158 Placement Hours 0 Assessment: Percentage of final marks assessed by: Coursework 100%

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A

Section

Overview and Content 1

Welcome and Introduction to the Module

Welcome to this Level 3 module: Critical Approaches to Research and Study in HE. This module looks at the Study and Research Skills that are the foundation of study in HE. Developing critical thinking is usually seen as the essential ingredient for successful HE study, and this module provides a flexible framework for you to develop these skills in the context of your chosen specialist area of study. The module addresses working individually and with others in order to achieve defined learning goals, and to develop essential employability skills. The module encourages you to take ownership of your own learning by encouraging individual research.

2

Administrative and Technical Support

The administrative officer for the module is Kim Hyland Email address: [email protected] Tel: 0208-231-2505 Room No: TC375

3

Timetable/Venue/Rooms

Seminar A: Thursday 09.00 - 12.00 - TC222 Seminar B: Thursday 13.00 - 16.00 - TC320

4

Student Support and Guidance

West London Online (Blackboard) All the key information you require to complete this module will be made available through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard. More information about Blackboard can be found at: http://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/current-students/blackboard

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Log on to Blackboard at http://online.uwl.ac.uk using your normal UWL username and password. NOTE Blackboard for this module is more than simply a repository for information. It is our main, in fact only, method of liaising with you. Blackboard is also used as a dynamic learning forum and the weekly tutor led discussions support your independent study activities. There are also dedicated interactive learning materials that have been designed to support key areas of development in this module and using them is part of your guided independent study. Updates or changes will be communicated to you via Blackboard announcements and/or email – so you must check your student email account daily. One way you can do this is to forward your student emails to your personal account as follows: Setup for forwarding e-mails from UWL E-Mail accounts From the E-Mail Inbox click on Options and then "Create an Inbox Rule..." From the Inbox Rules tab click on "New..." In the dropdown box "When the message arrives, and:" select [Apply to all messages] In the dropdown box "Do the following:" select "Redirect the message to ..." In the Address book page that opens enter the target e-mail address in the To -> box Click on OK and then Save. The system will then ask, "Do you want this rule to apply to all future messages?" Click on Yes. The new rule will now appear in the list of rules and can be turned on or off by using the tick box. Resetting your Password As soon as you are given your login information, register your security questions at https://mysecurity.uwl.ac.uk You can do this from any internet enabled PC, laptop, smart phone or tablet. Then if you ever need to reset your password go to: https://mypassword.uwl.ac.uk Technical support There are Help Pages at http://uwl.ac.uk/westlondononline - these provide guidance for all students in making use of the University's online learning platforms. All technical issues with Blackboard, Turnitin and PebblePad should be reported to the IT

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Service Desk. You can do so by: • Talking to staff in any IT Suite or Library • Calling 0300 111 4895 (internal phone extension 2222) • Emailing [email protected] Learning Support Learning Support is free and available to all UWL students. Your first point of contact for any enquiry about support available for writing, maths, structuring essays, revision techniques, or any other support you require with academic skills is [email protected]. You will also find online self-help and self-tests on academic writing, plagiarism, grammar and punctuation and time management. This is available at Study Support Online. Look for the link to Study Support Online when you log on to West London Online (Blackboard) http://online.uwl.ac.uk. The University also offers you the opportunity to test and improve your own academic skills at leisure, in your own time. This test is free and available for the duration of the course. It can be found on the Study Support Online community inside West London Online (Blackboard). Look for the link to Study Support Online when you log on at http://online.uwl.ac.uk

One-Stop-Shop

Students can benefit from a variety of support services during their studies. The OneStop-Shop offers professional services which are free, impartial and confidential. They offer information, advice and guidance to students in a variety of ways e.g. face-to-face, telephone, email, Skype. They aim to answer all your questions, or direct you to someone who you can talk to. They are located in The Street at St Mary’s Road St. Mary’s Road, Ealing with satellite services at Paragon and Reading, including drop-in sessions (these are advertised on each site). Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday Friday

9.00 to 5.00pm 10.00 to 5.00pm

For further information on each area go to: http://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/Support_for_students.jsp Email: [email protected] Telephone: 020 8231 2573 / 2991 / 2739

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The University Library

The University Library provides a wide range of services, resources, advice and help to support teaching, learning and research across the institution. There are two physical libraries:   

The main campus Library at Villiers House (W5 2NU) near Ealing Broadway station. The Health Library on the second floor of Paragon House – though this library also carries a limited stock of business books There is also a virtual library at the Berkshire Hub providing access to all our eresources and which is fully supported with professional Library and IT help and advice.

All students are automatically members of the Library. The Unique card is also the Library card, and borrowing rights are automatically set according to course and status. Self-service machines are available at all Libraries, allowing for independent borrowing when service desks are not staffed. The Academic Support Librarians provide help and support throughout the learner journey, running training sessions on a regular basis on topics such as RefWorks and referencing, or database search strategies, and offering one-to-one advice on finding detailed resources for assignments by appointment. Further information including opening hours and contact details is available at: http://library.uwl.ac.uk/use/sites/opening_hours.html SCONUL

As a student you are also eligible to use resources at other libraries in the London area. The following provides a link through which you can apply to use the facility. http://www.uwl.ac.uk/library/finding-and-using-information/using-other-libraries/sconulaccess Centre for Employability and Employer Engagement

The Centre for Employability and Employer Engagement brings together the careers service, the employment service, work placements and volunteering to provide information and support for the employability and employment of all students. We offer a welcoming and supportive environment in which you can discuss your career options, identify your skills and abilities and make informed decisions about your future. You can register with the Centre and get access to: part time work both on and off campus; careers advice; placements; volunteering activities; graduate opportunities and much more, all of which will help you to enhance and develop your employability skills. To register: www.uwl.ac.uk/work Our Careers Service offers you

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  

advice and guidance on a wide range of careers issues, including CVs, job hunting, assessment and selection procedures careers workshops on topics like preparing your CV, interviews and job searches a careers resource area with careers information, employer literature, a range of useful software packages, and intranet and internet search facilities

Our Employment Service offers you   

5

020 8231 2700

[email protected]

@ UWLCareers

University of West London Careers and Employment Service

Content of the Module     

6

direct notification of the latest part-time and graduate vacancies, tailored to your interests and subject areas employment advice employer presentations on campus

Learning and its context Effective Research Skills Critical analysis and writing academic assignments Becoming an independent learner Identifying and building graduate employability assets Aims of the Module

This module aims to provide a vehicle for developing your learning skills, and refining your approach to critical appraisal of ideas, arguments and proposals. Through profiling and structured learning exercises, you will develop your confidence and skills as an independent learner. In working with others to develop shared learning you will develop the skill of working with others in a constructively critical manner. The module provides a framework for refining your research and study skills, and gathering evidence of this through directed activities and reflective learning. 7

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module you will be able to: 1. Identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in study and research skills that will underpin critical thinking development activities. 2. Reflect on your own learning and set priorities for improvement within the context of critical thinking development

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3. Apply your knowledge of how groups work, and recognise your own learning preferences and preferred styles for working individually and in groups 4. Use a structured approach to analysing academic writing and critically appraise your own work and that of others. 5. Effectively deploy appropriate academic language, and accepted conventions for referencing and citation in a critical thinking context. 6. Explore and effectively use a range of research sources available in the Library and elsewhere to critically select, record and evaluate theorists and case-study material within your selected subject area. 7. Build up a picture of the graduate assets employers are looking for in potential employees. 8. Be aware of and record the employability assets you have gained during the module.

8

Learning Resources

Materials to be provided This Module Study Guide and Weekly material will be provided via Blackboard. Links to further material will also be provided as appropriate. Essential texts: Cottrell, S. (2013), The Study Skills Handbook (4th Ed). London: Palgrave Lumley, M. and Wilkinson, J. (2014) Developing Employability for Business. Oxford: OUP Other Learning Resources (journals, databases, Websites) http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/ [Accessed January, 2015] http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise [Accessed January, 2015] http://www.criticalthinking.org [Accessed January, 2015] http://www.uefap.com [Accessed January, 2015]

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Section

Module Study Guide – January 2015

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B

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Module Study Guide – January 2015

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Assessment and Feedback 9

Assessment: General Information

This framework supports linked formative activities for Assignment 1 (50%). These formative activities in total count toward the Assessment 1 grade. To ensure students participate on a weekly basis the assessment is structures so that final submission of assessment 1 is dependent upon successful completion of 10 tasks. These tasks will be peer reviewed, and the role of the tutor is to simply confirm that the student has successfully completed each activity. This simple qualifying mechanism for submission ensures that even if a session is missed, the student still has to complete the activity in order to be ‘allowed’ to submit their Assessment 1. 10

Details of Assessment

Assessment One: Portfolio developed through weekly formative assessments. Presentation of completed Portfolio and reflection on learning which has taken place. Assessment Two: Final essay Turnitin All assessments are to be submitted via Turnitin. You will find a link to the Turnitin Assignment from the Assessments area of the Blackboard course menu. You will need to ensure that your assessment is uploaded as a single document, and in the correct format (e.g. a Word document or PDF – the acceptable file formats are displayed on screen when you come to submit via Turnitin). When submitting, please enter your name and student ID number in the “submission title” box. The document itself should contain your name and student ID number in a header or footer. Turnitin generates an Originality Report, and you are encouraged to make use of this facility as a support tool to help you ensure the source material in your assignment is appropriately paraphrased and correctly referenced before final submission. You will be able to submit revised drafts of your work up until the assignment due date. Only the final version will be marked by your tutor. At the due time for your final essay, no further submissions or changes are possible. Whatever is in the Turnitin inbox at this time will be regarded as your final submission. 11

Assessment Criteria

Formative Assessment Criteria (Assignment 1 – weekly tasks):

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Assessment one will be by a portfolio of work comprising 10 tasks, built up over the course of the module. The precise contents of the portfolio will be specified at the start of the module, and formative assessment feedback points will be offered at the end of the first and second months. Final submission of the portfolio is required in week 12. Your portfolio tasks require you to demonstrate that you are able to:  Identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in study and research skills that will underpin critical thinking development activities.  Reflect on your own learning and set priorities for improvement within the context of critical thinking development.  Apply your knowledge of how groups work, and recognise your own learning preferences and preferred styles for working individually and in groups.  Use a structured approach to analysing academic writing and critically appraise your own work and that of others.  Effectively deploy appropriate academic language, and accepted conventions for referencing and citation in a critical thinking context.  Effectively use a range of research sources available in the LRC and elsewhere to critically select and evaluate theorists and case-study material within your selected subject area. Summative Assessment Criteria (Assignment 2 - Final Essay) A 1,500 word essay which puts into practice all the skills developed through the formative assessment and builds upon material gathered Final submission due:

Week 14

For your submission to be accepted your written work must conform to the following criteria. It should be:     

in Ariel, font size 12, double-spaced. The title should be bold, font size 14 in your own words (other than quotes), and not taken from other sources without being properly attributed properly referenced using the Harvard Referencing System (RefWorks selecting the UWL option) use academically credible sources be carefully proofread for spelling and grammatical errors

Failure to conform to any of the above criteria will result in loss of marks This marking scheme reflects the importance of the various features covered in the module.

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Introduction – 15% Possible    

Explains your interpretation of the question Defines any terms which may be interpreted in different ways States plan of action – what will be achieved Ideally states your position on the question

Argument Development - 45% Possible       

Each paragraph has a purpose, made explicit at the beginning and end of the paragraph Paragraphs of appropriate length to cover a point Presents arguments and counter arguments All arguments backed up with citations Use of transitioning, positioning and argument development words Tells a story - leads reader through Standard of expression does not hinder understanding

Conclusion - 20% Possible    

Relates back to the introduction – have you achieved what you set out Pulls together the arguments from the main body No new material Definitive statement of closing position on topic

Bibliography and citations - 20% Possible    

Demonstrates comprehensive research with appropriate number of current sources Good range of sources – eg not just web references Bibliography complies fully with Harvard standard Citations comply fully with Harvard

Word count within 10% tolerance – 5% penalty may be applied 

Between 1,350 - 1,650

Other Possible Penalties 

Use of ‘I’, ‘my...