BA30032E – Academic Performance Level: 3 Credits: 20 Academic Partner: UKCBC Academic Year 2020–2021 Module Study Guide Table of contents 1 Module overview 3 1.1Introduction, aims and summary of content 3 1.2Learning outcomes to be assessed 3 1.3Scheduled contact hours 3 2 Assessment and feedback 3 2.1Summative assessment grid 3 2.2Assessment brief including criteria mapped to learning outcomes 3 2.3Learning materials 3 3 Things you need to know 3 3.1Attendance 3 3.2If things don’t go to plan 3 3.3Getting support for your studies 3 3.4Student support 3 3.5Module evaluation – have your say! 3 4 Appendix — Research ethics and integrity 3 4.1Research ethics guidance for students 3 4.1.1 What is research ethics? Why it matters 3 4.1.2 Surely some types of research raise more ethical issues than others? 3 4.1.3 How will UWL help me understand and apply research ethics? 3 4.1.4 Further guidance 3 4.2Easy steps to ethical approval 3 4.2.1 How it works 3 Key team contact details Module CoordinatorGirinandini KhittoEmailgkhittoo@ukcbc.ac.uk Director of Quality, Enhancement & DevelopmentNaga Sai DinavahiEmailnagasai@ukcbc.ac.ukPhone+44 20 8518 4994 Academic Support ManagerSobhi D’CruzEmailsobhi@ukcbc.ac.ukPhone+44 20 8518 4994 Course CoordinatorMariet GeldenhuysEmailmgeldenhuys@ukcbc.ac.uk LibrarianLucy BirchEmaillibrary@ukcbc.ac.ukPhone+44 20 8518 4994 The Course Coordinator overseeing this module is Mariet Geldenhuys and can be contacted at mgeldenhuys@ukcbc.ac.uk The Module Coordinator overseeing this module on is Girinandini Khitto and can be contacted at gkhittoo@ukcbc.ac.uk The External Examiner responsible for this module is TBC. Module overviewIntroduction, aims and summary of content Welcome to the Academic Performance module. This foundation year module has been developed and enhanced with the benefit of feedback from students in previous years and aims to provide students with opportunities to further develop a range of academic and transferable skills required to move on to undergraduate studies in business and accounting. The module aims to enable students to develop critical thinking and reading skills, to develop and present an academic argument and to distinguish between the quality and suitability of materials for academic study as well as further developing academic writing skills. The module consists of a series of three-hour lectures and workshops which will use creative and engaging materials for classroom and independent study and for formative and summative assessments. The material covered in this module will help to develop skills in writing essays and reports, critical thinking and argument development, evaluating alternative scenarios using academic sources, using academic vocabulary, referencing, speaking and teamwork skills. Students will also be expected to discuss their academic skills development and how they aim to further develop these skills. Students can expect the following from module tutors: Weekly drop-in Personal Support sessions during office hours published on ULearn / BlackboardConstructive formative feedback on one assignment draft during weeks 12-14Lecture slides and handouts will be made available on Blackboard prior to lectureSeminar activities and solutions will be made available on Blackboard after the last seminar in the weekAssessment marks and summative feedback will be provided within 15 workings days Module tutors expect the following from students: Attend all classes and arrive punctuallyDo the required preparatory reading or researchMaintain professionalism in classesActive participation and engagement in class activitiesNo use of smart phones without tutor’s permissionInform tutor via email in the event of absence or latenessProfessional communication with tutorsAttempt all assessments by submission deadlineCommunicate any concerns to module/personal tutors Students will have opportunities to obtain feedback on their development through in-class activities as well as formative assignments; these will provide assistance with the formal summative assessments. Please note that this module will additionally support the other modules you do during the semester. Teaching will be timetabled to support assessments with other modules being undertaken. As with any other module on a degree programme, the amount of benefit gained from the module is dependent on the amount of effort put in. This includes active participation in class discussions and group activities, contact with peers, contact sessions and regular visits to the Blackboard site for this module. Full attendance is expected on this module. Latecomers, with a good reason, will be admitted up to one hour after the start of the seminar. Students who need to miss a class must email their tutor prior to the class. Use of mobile phones will not be permitted during seminars. This Study Guide provides important information about the structure, content, reading and assessment in this module. Please read it carefully and refer back to it throughout the semester. We hope that you find this module not only beneficial but also enjoyable. Learning outcomes to be assessed By the end of the module students will be able: LO1: To construct an argument in an academic context LO2: To position yourself within an argument LO3: To apply a range of academic skills and techniques to a real case scenario Scheduled contact hours Teaching Contact Hours48 hoursIndependent Study Hours152 hoursTotal Learning200 hours Assessment and feedbackSummative assessment grid Type of AssessmentWord Count or equivalentThreshold (if Professional Body-PSRB applies)WeightingPass MarkSubmission due-date & timeMethod of Submission & Date of FeedbackCoursework Portfolio1500 (approx.)N/A100%40%Week 14submitted on Turnitin, feedback with 15 working days of due date Assessment brief including criteria mapped to learning outcomes There is one summative assessment comprising two parts: • Part A – Academic Skills Reflection (30%) •Part B – Case Study Individual Report (70%) 12.05.21 deadline (case study CHILD LABOUR ) The assessment will take place over weeks 6, 9/10 and week 14 of the module Students will formatively submit the reflection in week 6 (Part A) and there will be an opportunity to obtain feedback on this before final submission in week 14. Part B of the assignment is an individual report based on the case study to be submitted in week 14. In week 14 you will have to submit via Blackboard all parts of the assignment as one portfolio: Reflection – Part A Individual Report – Part B You must achieve a minimum mark of 40% to pass the module and achieve 20 academic credits at Level 3. Your module mark is obtained by aggregating the individual marks for the three parts of the assessment taking into account the weighting for each element. For guidance on online submission of assignments, including how to submit and how to access online feedback, please refer to the UWL Blackboard student-help pages at: uwl.ac.uk/blackboardhelp, or the UKCBC Blackboard Submission guides at: https://ulearn.ukcbc.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=83 Assessment 1 Part A – Reflective Summary You will be asked to formatively submit a written reflective summary of 500 words on the development of your academic skills and what you understand is required to be an effective university student. You should also consider what is required for you to improve the development of academic skills in the form of SMART goals. This reflection should consider semester one as well as the sessions up to week 6. Opportunities to discuss this and obtain feedback from tutors will be provided in seminars. Weighting: 30% Learning Outcomes Assessed: LO3: To apply a range of academic skills and techniques to a real case scenario Date/time/method of submission: Formative submission in Week 6 via Blackboard. The exact date will be confirmed on Blackboard. Timing and methods of feedback: within 15 working days via Blackboard Word count or equivalent: 500 Assessment criteria: Assessment criteriaMaximum marksAppropriate introduction to text5%Understanding of academic study skills20%Reflection on personal development of study skills20%Assessment of what is required for successful undergraduate studies15%Ability to provide focus for self-improvement15%Ability to organise and structure text10%Ability to use style appropriate language10%Ideas are appropriately concluded5%Total100% Assessment 1 Part B – Case Study Individual Report This assessment will take place in week 14 of the module. You will submit a 1000-word report on the case study you worked on from assessment part B. The report is to be completed individually; you will use the research and feedback from assessment part B and build on that with further research for this part of the assessment. The text must be organised in a report format and all sources used in your report must be correctly cited and referenced using Harvard Referencing conventions; a minimum of 5 sources are required. There will be opportunities to obtain feedback on draft reports before submission in week 14. The report title will be uploaded to Blackboard in week 14. The report should contain: Cover page with name, title of the report, student ID and word count Contents page Main body of text with appropriate headings and subheadings Recommendations References Appendices (optional) Weighting: 70% Learning Outcomes assessed: • LO1: To construct an argument in an academic context • LO2: To position yourself within an argument • LO3: To apply a range of academic skills and techniques to a real case scenario Date/time/method of submission: Submission via Blackboard at the end of week 14. The exact date will be confirmed on Blackboard. Word count or equivalent: 1500 words (plus or minus 10%) Timing and method of feedback: 15 working days after submission on Blackboard Assessment criteria: Assessment criteriaMaximum marksIntroduction10%Discussion of context20%Critical analysis/evaluation of research30%Organisation of text15%Use of academic writing style / vocabulary and tone of text15%Conclusion / Recommendations10%Total100% The marking scheme for this is assignment will use the following criteria to determine grades: Marking scheme: 100-80%79-70%69-60%59-50%49-40%39-30%29-0%The work produced is exceptional in most/all aspects, substantially exceeding expectations for this level.The work produced is of excellent quality, exceeding expectations for this level in many aspects.The work produced meets all of the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in several of themThe work produced meets all of the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in some of them.The work produced meets all of the intended learning outcomes at, but rarely exceeding the threshold expectations for this level.The work produced fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is marginally inadequate for this levelThe work produced fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is inadequate for this level. Assessment Support Sessions AssessmentTeaching Weeks in which Assessment Support Takes PlaceOutline of Type and Form of Assessment Support to be providedStudent Preparation Required Prior to or After the Support SessionHow will the support session be deliveredPart A Reflective Academic Writing 500 wordsWeek 3: Review 1st draftFormative feed to be provided on draft Part 1 MS WordStudents to submit their Part 1 draft (MS Word) on Turnitin submission link, and to make necessary adjustment based on any given feedbackFormative feedback given via TurnItIn.Part B: Write a report comparing arguments for and against the use of Child Labour in Supply Chains? (1000 words)Week 5: Advice on how to Practice Group DiscussionStudents explore arguments for/against the use of child labour. Students form 3–4-person debate groupsStudents upload coversheet. Formative feedback provided via email to each debating groupOnline Support SessionWeek 8: Support session on how to structure a reportStudents compare two or three sample reports on a related (but different) topic to their assignment. Assessment Rubric for Part B assignment used to comment on quality structure and coherence of arguments used in the report.Student review Fit To Submit CriteriaOnline Support SessionWeek 12: Review 1st draft Child Labour reportFormative Feedback provided on draft Report (Assessment Part B)Students to submit first draft (MS Word) on Turnitin submission link, and to make necessary adjustment based on any given feedbackSupport offered by via email or TEAMS call based on feedback. Reading List Essential Reading Cameron, Sheila. The Business Student’s Handbook : Skills for Study and Employment. Sixth ed. 2016. Print. Cottrell, Stella. Critical Thinking Skills : Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection. Third ed. 2017. Print. Palgrave Study Skills. Recommended McMillan, Kathleen McMillan, Weyers, and Weyers, Jonathan D. B. How to Cite, Reference & Avoid Plagiarism at University. Harlow: Pearson, 2013. Print. Smarter Study Skills. McMillan, Weyers, and Weyers, Jonathan D. B. How to Write Essays & Assignments. 2nd ed. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2011. Print. Smarter Study Skills. Dowson, Paul. Personal & Professional Development for Business Students. First ed. 2015. Print. Lumley, Maryvonne, and James Wilkinson. Developing Employability for Business. 2014. Print. Learning materials The reading list for this module is available Blackboard and ULearn in the module area. This provides direct links to online resources, recommended by your lecturer. Remember to log into Blackboard daily to receive all the latest news and support available at your module sites! Subject guides are also available to help you find relevant information for assignments, with contact details of the Academic Support Librarian for your School. Things you need to knowExpectations Specific expectations students can have of tutors: You are expected to attend a live lecture scheduled on a MondayPlease e-mail for an online/phone appointment outside of normal class times for mutually convenient timesRefer to MSG (and all assignment guides/case studies) on BBFormative feedback on their assessments Specific expectations tutors will have of students: Attend all seminars and arrive at classes punctually even if they are online.Practise all the provided materials prior to seminars and prepare answers to questions as per instructions given.Actively participate and engage in class activities.Inform tutor via email when not able to attend any classes.Appointments can be made at mutually convenient times. Please e-mail for an appointment outside of normal class times.Communicate with tutors in a professional manner – Attempt all assessments by the submission deadline unless there are extenuating circumstances (please do contact your tutor and your Module Leader).Behave professionally in classes and not cause any disruption that may affect other students’ learning. It is important that you do at least 152 independent-study hours (referring to the Reading List) on related and relevant topics, which may not be necessarily covered during the lessons, but all will still be assessed. Attendance Attendance is crucial for your success as a student. Over the years, it has become clear that there is a very clear link between students’ attendance levels and their module marks, so please make sure you give yourself the best possible chances for success through attending your classes, seminars and tutorials. You are expected to attend all forms of learning activity associated with your course of study regularly, and to engage in your course as required by the University’s Policy. If things don’t go to plan The University recognises that there are times when you may encounter difficulties during your course of study and provisions are made to help you. In all cases, you should speak to your Personal Tutor/Module Leader and seek advice as soon as possible. If you think you need a little more time past the original deadline, you can approach your Module Leader for a 10-day extension initially. If an extension is not sufficient and your circumstances have prevented you from submitting on time then you may for instance be able to apply for mitigation. You are encouraged to seek advice from USupport who can support you. Please refer to the University Policies and Procedures for further guidance on extensions and mitigation: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/about-us/policies-and-regulations If you fall below the pass mark or fail to submit to all elements or part of a module’s assessments, you will be required to do a resit, normally at the next opportunity. Resits do not involve re-enrolment and attendance at classes. Failure of a resit means you are required to retake the module. Retakes involve re-enrolment, attendance, payment of tuition fee and completion of all elements of the module, and the submission of all assessments. If your course is accredited by a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) certain rules may apply to you; please check this with your Course/Module Leader. If your course is accredited by a professional body, the module requirements outlined in the above document will specify the elements of assessment that must be passed, those that must be taken, and those that are optional. The relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) rules also apply in such cases. You are reminded that the University applies penalties to students who commit an academic offence, in which case the Academic Offences Regulations will be used to deal with any cases of academic misconduct including examination offences, plagiarism and other means of cheating to obtain an advantage. If you have an issue or complaint about the module, you should speak to your Module Leader, Tutor or Course Leader informally in the first instance. Your Course Representative can also raise your concerns at Course Committees, which take place each semester. If you are unable to resolve it informally, you should refer to the Complaints Procedure and consult USupport about it. The University aims to ensure that issues are resolved informally as quickly as possible to have minimum impact on your studies. Getting support for your studies Throughout your course of study, you will have access to a wide variety of sources of support depending on your individual circumstances and needs. Your first point of call for getting general academic support is your Personal Tutor. As well as approaching your Module Leader with any questions specifically related to your module and your Course Leader with questions on your Course, do contact your Personal Tutor for academic advice in relation your studies and your academic development. There is a University-wide support framework, which encompasses the Module Leaders, Course Leader, the Subject Librarian, and your Course Administrator. For more information email uSupport@ukcbc.ac.uk or you can visit our website to find out more about the support offered by UKCBC: ulearn.ukcbc.ac.uk Student support In addition to the support listed in the previous section, there is also more help offered by UWL Student Support Services. These are located in The Street at St Mary’s Road, Ealing campus, but offer drop-in sessions at all UWL sites. They offer a wide range of support and advice services consisting of Student Advice, and Funding & Immigration advice; Careers; Counselling; Disability/Mental Health; Inter-faith Advisor; Placement & Employment; Volunteering; Student Welfare; and Scholarships and Bursaries. Contact Student Services (general) for more information at: Email: usupport@ukcbc.ac.uk Module evaluation – have your say! Towards the end of the module you will be invited to provide some anonymous feedback to the Module Leader through an online survey. This is your opportunity to give some direct feedback about the module through a series of questions and free text. Your constructive feedback will help the Module Leader and teaching team to understand the module experience from your perspective and helps inform the development of the module. At the end of the survey period, a response to the survey will be available on Blackboard so that you can see exactly how your voice has been heard.
