What will I learn on this module?
This module aims to provide you with formal academic induction across your whole first year of study, introducing you to the academic literacy practices required to perform successfully in higher education. The module will equip you to become effective, active, independent learners throughout the rest of your degree. It will enable you to recognise appropriate approaches to study in higher education and begin to develop the academic skills, qualities and competencies expected of students on the programme. The module has been designed to support you to recognise and debate key concepts of your degree by encouraging you to actively engage in discussion and debate to enable you to make-sense of the subject-curricula and discourse communities of childhood and early years and to develop your own standpoint. You will also begin to reflect upon your academic and career motivations, be introduced to the Careers and Employment Service and supported to engage in volunteering and other extra-curricular activities to enable you to begin develop key employability skills and attributes.
The module will illuminate how to use, at various points throughout the programme, the expertise and resources on offer in a range of formats via, for instance, the Northumbria Skills framework including Skills Plus.
How will I learn on this module?
You will be able to learn on a wide variety of ways on this module. You will have a structured programme of lectures and seminars (delivery by, for instance library and careers staff as well as academic staff), directed and independent learning. Seminars will provide you with an opportunity to discuss and develop your thinking; group discussions will help you to consider how others view the key ideas and concepts of this module and other areas of study. You will also work with your module tutors to complete specific learning activities for your module workbook, as well as working closely with your peers in to develop your ideas, working towards the assessments.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Tutors will support your learning through a variety of ways on this module. They will provide a programme of lectures which relate to the learning outcomes for the module; these lectures support you to recognise and debate the key skills, approaches and attributes expected of students on the programme. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work in smaller groups on specific activities which will support you to generate material, debate ideas and discuss your developing views of key concepts. Material generated during these activities will be made available via the Electronic Learning Portal (eLP), and in some cases will form the basis for later discussions. Additionally, Module Tutors will meet regularly with you to support the development and completion of the assessed learning activities in your Module Workbook and to support you in reflecting upon your developing academic and career interests.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
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.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Be able to articulate and begin to integrate various perspectives and representations of childhood/youth , starting to locate their own position within the field
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Have started to develop the particular academic skills, qualities and competencies expected of students on the programme, including effective approaches to assessment, academic and information literacy and reflection on values, attitudes and assumptions
3. Know how to use appropriate resources and expertise on offer within and beyond the programme to support their learning
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Have developed an understanding of effective approaches to learning, teaching and assessment on the programme, including approaches to assessment, self-direction, employability.
How will I be assessed?
For the Summative assessment for this module you will submit two pieces of work. A Module Workbook will be submitted in semester one and a Study Guide will be submitted in semester two. Each piece of work will consist of 1,000 words. (MLO1,2,3,4)
1. Module Workbook (50%) (Approx 1,000 words- which will include activities completed in the seminars with your Module Tutors)
2. Study Guide for students studying on the Childhood and Early Years Studies Programme (50%). (Approx 1,000 words) – you will include a reflective account of your developing understanding of effective approaches to study in higher education with a particular focus on make-sense of your subject-curricula.
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
N/A
Course info
UCAS Code W3P9
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time
Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Useful Links
Find out about our distinctive approach at
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms
Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees
Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy
Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints
