IF0AS1: Academic Skills 1

Module code: IF0AS1

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Ms Lina Ying Ying Tang, email: l.y.y.tang@reading.edu.my

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE IF0AS2 (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE IF0ACA OR TAKE IF0ACJ OR TAKE IF0RAS (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to help students develop academic study skills essential for success both on the International Foundation Programme (IFP) and as an undergraduate. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. demonstrate good academic writing skills by producing written work which is well-organised and makes use of appropriate terminology and academic style. 
2. evaluate sources, incorporate and reference them correctly. 
3. reflect on their own learning and set targets for improvement. 

Module content

The course will cover the generic academic skills needed by IFP students progressing to an undergraduate programme. These include academic essay writing, finding, and processing information, referencing skills and avoiding plagiarism, academic culture at university, goal setting, time management, and revision and preparing for examinations. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught through seminars and workshops using communicative methodologies which encourage pair work and groupwork. Introductory lecture on the module will be scheduled on first week of the semester to introduce students to the module and its assessments as well as to set students’ expectations. Seminars cover all the basic learning materials while workshops enable students to put the skills into practice. Students will be encouraged to work either in groups or independently to complete a set of tasks. Formative assessments in workshops and feedback meeting(s) with staff allow feedback and feed-forward to be provided to aid learner’s skill development. In addition, the reflective journal encourages a reflective approach to student’s own learning. Students will also be expected to take responsibility for their own learning by setting goals and making regular use of the University library, Blackboard (the University’s VLE) and other resources. Video materials/screencasts/self-directed learning materials are included on VLE for students to access in their own time. The scaffolding approach guides students progressively toward stronger understanding of and, ultimately, greater independence in the learning process. 

This module is taught twice to two different cohorts of students - first in Semester 1 and then repeated in Semester 2. The 200 contact hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in Semester 1, and these same contact hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in Semester 2.

In addition to the hours listed below, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 46 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students are encouraged to schedule consultation session with lecturer for feedback on reflective essay.  

In preparation for essay: 

• student writes two paragraphs in preparation for the written essay.  
• student receives feedback individually online and/or in class. 

To assess students learning periodically, online tests/practise questions are included in the module. 

Reassessment

Additional costs