2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ELU0027 Academic Study Skills for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

50 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Jenny Hirst
Email: J.A.Hirst@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

A minimum English language proficiency of 5.5 IELTS (UKVI) with at least 5.0 in each skill.

This module is mutually exclusive with

ELU0025	Academic Study Skills
ELU0026	Academic Study Skills for Dentistry and Medicine

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is designed as part of an international foundation year programme, the successful completion of which permits progression onto STEM undergraduate programmes. The main emphasis of the module is the development of academic skills necessary to be successful on a STEM undergraduate programme.

Objectives

This module is designed to develop English language and academic study skills required for undergraduate study in science, technology, engineering and maths. It provides training in how to produce written academic coursework; how to give oral presentations and participate effectively in seminars and tutorials appropriately in English; how to conduct short research exercises and think critically about sources; and how to access and use relevant University services. It also develops knowledge of the conventions and vocabulary of academic English (both generic and subject-specific) and techniques for independent language learning and familiarises them with their departments.

Learning outcomes
It is expected that by the end of this module students should:
• Have developed skills to enable them to select, navigate, summarize and use authentic written and spoken undergraduate level STEM content from a range of sources.
• Have developed critical thinking skills and the ability to follow and implement academic conventions.
• Be able to develop, organize and support a coherent argument in an extended piece of written work.
• Be able to structure a shorter piece which communicates aims of a presentation (abstract).
• Be able to effectively deliver a spoken presentation.
• Be able to develop a rational line of argument and respond effectively to those of others in a seminar discussion.
• Be able to refer appropriately to sources in-text and compile a reference list correctly.
• Be able to reflect on learning experiences.
• Be able to communicate ideas with minimal interference from grammatical, pronunciation or lexical errors and implement the conventions of academic style.

Syllabus

Students will be taught academic study skills through the following topics:
• What is STEM? Familiarisation with Degree subject and Department
• Intercultural competency – an introduction
• STEM Innovations and research at the University of Leeds
• STEM Innovations and impact (historical)
• Global STEM issues (current)
• Communication in STEM
• Researching and presenting a specific issue in STEM

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	22	8.00	176.00
Tutorial	4	0.25	1.00
Independent online learning hours			55.00
Private study hours			268.00
Total Contact hours			177.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			500.00

Private study

Private study tasks relate to the content of the course and the preparation of the assessed pieces of coursework. Students are expected to develop their academic skills through short discipline-related projects and this will require regular private study.

Independent learning tasks are designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop their skills as independent learners and to develop their English language skills and academic study skills. Tutors can provide guidance when needed.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students' progress is monitored on a continuous basis by each tutor through their participation in class activities and through the grading of assessed pieces of work. Students are provided with detailed feedback about each piece of work and are provided with an opportunity to attend regular 1:1 consultations with their tutors. For the written assignments, students are required to submit a draft version. The tutor provides feedback to the student about the draft. For the oral assessments, students will participate in a group presentation and practice seminar, for which they will receive formative feedback in preparation for their assessed individual presentation and seminar discussion.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	A report of approx. 1,800 words	30.00
Presentation	Individual oral presentation of up to 15 minutes	20.00
Assignment	Annotated bibliography of up to 1,200 words	20.00
Group Discussion	Student-led seminar discussion 20-25 mins	20.00
Assignment	Abstract of 150-200 words	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 20/06/2017

Disclaimer

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• Undergraduate module catalogue
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