GV2STP: Skills Training and Project Design

Module code: GV2STP

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Jonathan Dale, email: j.j.dale@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module enables the development of a wide range of professional skills, including research approaches, project management, career awareness and employability. The main focus for the first part of this module is a team based research project, in which students work closely with an academic mentor to carry out a piece of carefully planned and highly professional research. Students will act as consultants, designing, executing and reporting on a research project that meets the original project brief. They will also gain experience of the University of Reading Research Ethics and/or Health and Safety processes as they prepare for their project. In the second part of the module, students will encounter more advanced-level research skills training which they will be required to reflect on as they start to prepare for their dissertations. Students will also receive guidance on CV writing, produce a supporting covering letter, and will reflect on the employability skills they have developed. This element will be supported by the Careers Service.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Design, select appropriate research methods, execute and report on a research project that meets a specific brief;
2. Navigate the University of Reading Research Ethics and Health and Safety processes;
3. Evaluate how their learning and knowledge of skills specific to their preferences and interests enables them to complete a research project relevant to their degree choice;
4. Identify and reflect on the typical graduate careers and postgraduate study options open to their degree discipline and how their own strengths and preferences, interests, motivations, and personality these relate to different career options and further study.

Module content

In Semester 1, students will work on their group research projects to gain experience of conduct research and completing a project from conception to dissemination. Students will then work under an academic mentor, who they will meet regularly to design their research project, carry out a short but carefully planned piece of research, and report on this in a professional way. Students will also encounter a range of careers and professional skills development activities. This includes engaging with alumni and employers from their programme and an introduction to the support available from the Careers Service. In Semester 2, students will undertake research training relevant to their degree programme through a series of methods workshops, including advanced-level research skills relevant to their future research activities.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will encounter a wide range of T&L methods on this module, including seminars and lectures, small group tutorials and peer based learning. 

Study hours

At least 36 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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/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 will be given feedback (both group and individual) on their project by their supervisor across the duration of the project. A dissertation topic selection form will need to be submitted during Semester 2.

Reassessment

Additional costs