SP4000 - Academic and Professional Skills

The taught content will be delivered and provided in a variety of formats, and you will be able to access materials on the eLP Blackboard Ultra Module site. There will be the opportunity to work in smaller groups with discipline specific members of staff who will facilitate context driven discussion and learning. You will also be set independent tasks informed by key literature to complete outside of class time to further develop your understanding of the taught content. Throughout the module you will add to your portfolio of work which you will submit for your assessment.

As a core module shared across undergraduate sport and physiotherapy programmes, it offers you the opportunity to work with and learn from peers from other disciplines. Some elements of the taught content, and the direction of the assessment task, will be specific to your core discipline to ensure that you develop the most appropriate and relevant skills and knowledge.

There will be a fieldwork element in this module which can be cohort or discipline specific. These may be in the form of off-site or on-site activities to encourage student interaction, promote staff-student engagement, develop skills (e.g., in lab, community, sport or clinical settings). Throughout the module you will engage in a variety of activities including academic skills, practical skills, organisation and management skills which will culminate in the production of a portfolio which will be structured in a way to help students understand how their academic studies will contribute to their professional development. The portfolio will provide opportunity for the students to develop subject-specific knowledge of contemporary issues within their chosen discipline, improve academic writing skills (literature search and referencing), identify roles and skills applicable to their chosen profession, and engage in self-reflection of their strengths and weaknesses in relation to their academic and professional development.

Module information, assessment requirements and expectations, and important module announcements will be made through the eLP module site. Material to support your learning will be uploaded in advance of sessions. You will be provided with content verbally and guided through tasks during timetabled sessions. A dedicated assessment session will afford you the opportunity to ask assessment related questions in class. The Module Leader is there to support you with any queries that you may have about the module content, and all staff members provide tutorial time outside of class time. Module tutors will provide you with the necessary information on how to arrange a tutorial. You will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on your development during the module, and you will receive feedback on summative work to help you identify areas of strength and areas for development. There will be the opportunity to discuss your feedback with a member of staff during a tutorial. There are also further academic skills support available from the University Library services where you can gain access to study skills / academic writing and support materials, as well as links to booking both on and off campus study skills sessions.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):
1. To understand academic skills which will be used throughout your degree programme, including writing, communication, and referencing styles
2. To understand how to describe the key points of literature relating to sport, exercise and rehabilitation topics

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):
3. To review your own strengths and areas for development through self-reflection

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. To develop effective study habits, e.g. organisation and time management skills and the ability to engage in independent learning

Portfolio (Individual submission, 100%)
You will produce a 2,000-word portfolio which demonstrates your skills developed on the module. There will be a focus on academic writing and communication skills, including literature searching, critical analysis, and referencing and paraphrasing (Learning outcomes: KU1, KU2); and on self-reflection on your personal development, in relation to study skills such as organisation and time management, and professional skills (Learning outcomes: IPSA3, PVA4).

Formative Feedback
Across the semester you will complete activities during your taught sessions and independent learning time which will develop your academic and personal knowledge and skills. These will include topics based around academic writing, teamwork and professional development planning. You will receive both tutor and peer feedback on the tasks, supporting your development in these areas.

Summative Feedback
You will receive written or audio feedback on your summative assessment to help you identify areas of strength and areas for development. There will be the opportunity to discuss your feedback with a member of staff during a tutorial.

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The Academic and Professional Skills module will help you make the transition to university study and develop the skills you need to succeed within your chosen discipline. You will get to know other students and staff in our friendly, relaxed introductory sessions designed to help you settle into Northumbria and learn what to expect from your time on your degree programme. By studying this module, you will develop not just your academic skills such as critical writing, but your personal and professional skills including effective communication and self-reflection, which are relevant to a vast range of graduate careers. Throughout the module you will produce a portfolio demonstrating the skills you have acquired, and completing this assessment and receiving feedback on your work will help you in modules across your whole programme. With module content being linked to important topics in sport, exercise and rehabilitation, we will guide you in considering potential career paths in these different areas of sport.