2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ELU0035 Academic Study Skills for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

40 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Natasha Rust
Email: N.Rust@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2020/21

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

ELU0033	Academic Study Skills
ELU0034	Academic Study Skills for Dentistry, Medicine and Healthcare

Module replaces

ELU0027

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 needed to be successful on a STEM undergraduate programme.

Objectives

This module is designed to prepare students with the necessary English language and academic study skills required for undergraduate study in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related degree programmes. 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 provides students with awareness of the conventions, register and vocabulary of academic English (both generic and subject-specific) and techniques for independent language learning.

The module introduces students to Academic Integrity and to the university’s standards and expectations regarding this. Students will take the Academic Integrity Test and adhere to these standards throughout their studies on this module (and transfer these skills to all their modules) which will be assessed via the extended writing assessment.

Learning outcomes
It is expected that by the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Select, evaluate, navigate, annotate, summarize and use authentic written and spoken (STEM) content from a range of sources in line with university standards regarding academic integrity
2. Think critically and demonstrate effective evaluation skills.
3. Develop, organize, present and support a coherent and concise argument in specific academic writing and speaking tasks
4. Respond effectively/appropriately to questions from others in an academic context
5. Refer appropriately to sources in-text and compile a reference list according to referencing conventions of their progression department.
6. Reflect on learning experiences.
7. Communicate ideas in an appropriate academic style with minimal interference from grammatical, pronunciation or lexical errors.

Syllabus

Students will be taught academic study skills through the following topics:
• What is STEM? Why to do it and how: content, language, teaching and assessment methods
• STEM Innovations and impact (historical).
• STEM responses to Global issues (current and future impacts)

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	22	6.00	132.00
Tutorial	4	0.25	1.00
Independent online learning hours			55.00
Private study hours			212.00
Total Contact hours			133.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

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 knowledge of content relating to the overall topic of 'Contemporary Global Issues', which is divided into a series of short projects.
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
Report	A lab report of up to 1,000 words	30.00
Presentation	Individual oral presentation (10 mins) + accompanying abstract of up to 250 words	30.00
Assignment	Annotated Bibliography of up to 1,000 words	20.00
Group Discussion	Student-led seminar discussion of 15/20 minutes	20.00
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: 29/07/2021

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