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What will I learn on this module?
In this module, you will learn and develop the key intellectual skills and personal attributes required for effective study and future graduate employment. Teaching, learning and assessment activities are tailored towards your own degree programme, linking to substantive core modules, thus providing an appropriate subject context for your studies. The module aims to consolidate the process of induction onto your degree programme, thus supporting your transition from further to higher education. As part of this shift in academic culture, you will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for your own learning and through the development of reflective practice, develop ways of monitoring your own academic performance and progress. Topics and issues covered include:
? Independent study and time management.
? Effective literature searching.
? Reading and summarising academic literature.
? Referencing, citations and plagiarism.
? Marking schemes and expectations.
? Essay writing skills.
? Exam preparation.
? Oral presentation and debating skills.
? Dissecting a peer-reviewed journal article.
? Effective group work.
? Skills evaluation and reflection.
? CV preparation and employability skills.
How will I learn on this module?
In this module, you will learn through an introductory lecture, field visit and tutorials. You will also have access to a range of learning resources, including electronic reading lists, made available via the module eLP site.
The introductory lecture will set the scene for the module delivery, assessment and its integration with your wider study programme. As part of the induction process, you will participate in a half-day ‘orientation’ field visit where you will meet with your guidance tutor and be introduced to some local geographical and environmental issues. You will also work with your tutor group (around 10 students in total from your degree programme) on an introductory project linked to a 2-day field trip. During weekly tutorials, you will interact with your tutor group and your designated guidance tutor who will also teach primarily within your subject area. Discussions will explore key aspects of the process of transition from further to higher education including academic expectations, and ideas around criticality. You will be expected to read, watch, listen and critically engage with materials in preparation for the weekly tutorials. Formative feedback will be provided, along with how best to feed this forward into future assessments in this and other modules. You will also have an opportunity at least once per semester to meet individually with your guidance tutor to reflect on your academic progress, performance and future plans. Your guidance tutor will also be your first line of support should you experience any personal difficulties, which may impact on your studies.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
As part of the induction process in the Department, you will be assigned to a dedicated guidance tutor who will offer academic and pastoral support throughout your programme of study. Your tutor will teach primarily within your subject area and so will be familiar with the issues and challenges that you may face. Your tutor will lead the group and individual tutorial sessions, guiding you through the subject content, overseeing the assessment and feedback process and monitoring and supporting your performance and progress. They will support your transition from a largely teacher-centred, passive approach to learning in a further education context, to a more active and reflective student-centred approach to learning in a higher education context.
Your class materials will be further supported by on-line resources available via the module eLP site, including an interactive reading list, and aligned with your weekly tutorial programme. You will also have access to University-wide resources available via the University website’s ‘study’ link and the ‘Skills +’ section of the University Library link. Your guidance tutors have an open door policy during normal working hours and are responsive to communication via e-mail to support your learning.
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:
• MLO 1: Discuss and apply key academic issues of relevance to your subject discipline in order to address complex problems, recognising that these may transcend the boundaries of individual modules.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 2: Develop and apply a range of skills and practices that enable you to cope effectively with the demands of academic study at HE level.
• MLO 3: Communicate effectively to academic audiences, recognising the need to justify your own opinions and to challenge your own thinking and the thinking of others.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 4: Develop and apply principles of reflective practice to monitor your academic performance and progress and use these in relation to personal development planning, self-improvement and in support of your future employability and long term career prospects.
• MLO 5: Value curiosity, collaboration and analysis as keystones in the creation of new knowledge and practice and establish good working relationships with staff and fellow students.
How will I be assessed?
The summative assessments on this module are: two essays and one tutorial participation and engagement assessment. These assessments address different aspects of all five MLOs.
The essays are unequally weighted (35% of the module marks for the first essay, and 50% for the second). The increase in marks weighting reinforces the aim of using formative feedback to feed forward into future assignments. It also means that you gain greater credit as your experience grows.
In addition to the summative essays, you will be expected to prepare for the weekly tutorials by reading/listening/watching the materials and preparing responses to the questions set. This component is worth 15% of the module mark and will be assessed as a pass or fail based on your participation in a minimum of 9 tutorials and your engagement with readings. Verbal feedback on tasks completed throughout the year is supplied immediately, or soon after, the tutorial in which the work is undertaken.
Written feedback is provided on the submitted essays normally within 20 working days of submission.
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
In this module, you will develop the key intellectual skills and personal attributes required for effective study. This will be largely achieved through engagement with your dedicated guidance tutor who will provide academic and pastoral support throughout your programme of study. Your tutor will lead group and individual tutorial sessions, guiding you through the subject content, overseeing the assessment and feedback process and monitoring and supporting your performance and progress.
Teaching and learning activities are tailored towards your own degree programme, linking to substantive core modules, thus providing an appropriate subject context for your studies. The module will be delivered through an introductory lecture, a series of induction activities, a field visit and tutorials. You will also have access to a range of learning resources, including electronic reading lists, made available via the module eLP site. The module will be assessed by two essays (85%) and through active participation in tutorials and engagement with the readings (15%).
Course info
UCAS Code L700
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Geography and Environmental Sciences
Location City 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.
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