Module overview
As the title indicates, this module helps you develop your independent study skills. You will reflect across other modules you have studied and your experience to make connections and draw out common themes, choosing one of these as the focus for your assignment. Through discussions with others and your own reflection you will work towards an assignment which applies this learning, based on the theme or topic that you have identified.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- LO4. To organise and articulate opinions and arguments in speech and writing using relevant specialist vocabulary.
- LO3: To develop independent learning skills in terms of self-management and research
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- LO2: To be able to draw on, link and apply learning and new knowledge that has and is taking place across your degree programme
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- LO1: To be able to connect concepts and evidence together in a coherent manner in the education field and within related disciplines
Syllabus
- What does it mean to study independently
- Definition of ‘synoptic’ within education
- Making connections and establishing linkages between modules
- Ways to apply ‘knowledge’ within the educational context
- Appraising personal and professional development within the degree
- Models of academic reflection
- Writing reflectively in different styles
- Acting as a critical reviewer:
- Techniques for drafting and re-drafting writing (self and others)
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Much of the time in sessions is spent discussing articles and ideas. Therefore it is not usually appropriate or practical to record sessions.
Preparation for sessions usually involves reading so that this can be discussed when we are together.
Everyone is encouraged to keep a reflective diary which they complete weekly.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tutorial | 1 |
| Seminar | 20 |
| Independent Study | 129 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
Synoptic assessment: Report for QCA. (Patrick, H).
Journal Articles
Ryan, M (2011). Improving reflective writing in higher education: a social semiotic perspective. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(1), pp. 99-111.
Lau, K. (2017). The most important thing is to learn the way to learn’: Evaluating the effectiveness of independent learning by perceptual changes. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 42(3), pp. 415-430.
Hockings, C., Thomas, L., Ottaway, J., and Jones, R (2018). Independent learning – what we do when you’re not there. Teaching in Higher Education. Teaching in Higher Education, 23(2), pp. 145-161.
Southall, J. and Wason, H. (2016). Evaluating the use of synoptic assessment to engage and develop lower level Higher Education students within a Further Education setting. Practitioner Research in Higher Education, 10(1), pp. 192-202.
McGuire, L., Lacy, K., and Peters, J (2009). Pedagogy of reflective writing in professional education. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 9(1), pp. 93-107.
Dochy, F., Segars, M., and Sluijsmans, D. (1999). The use of self-, peer and coassessment in higher education: A review. Studies in Higher Education, 24(2), pp. 331-350.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Class discussions
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Verbal feedback
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External