IF0ACA: Academic Skills

Module code: IF0ACA

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr Robert Pitt, email: r.k.pitt@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

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

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 17 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to help students develop the academic study and communication skills which are required to be successful on the International Foundation Programme and on their future degree courses. It will give them the opportunity to build up their confidence and abilities in these transferable skills gradually over two terms through a range of in-class group activities and individual study tasks. This will provide the basis for the completion of two integrated coursework assignments requiring a combination of academic writing skills and collaborative group work. While many of the skills covered will be generic in nature, an opportunity to apply them in subject-specific ways will be afforded by requiring the choice of assignment topics to be related to students’ future degrees.  

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Ms Lina Ying Ying Tang (l.y.y.tang@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

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

1. produce written work incorporating appropriate academic conventions for structure, content, critical evaluation and appropriate use of sources 
2. prepare and deliver an oral group presentation 
3. work effectively as a member of a group to achieve shared goals 

Module content

Key Foundation Skills 

The Foundation Skills component presents an essential introduction to transferable skills. The session provides a framework of strategies which will enhance organisation and efficiency in academic encounters. 

Academic Culture 

The Academic Culture component has been designed to assist students in coping with the process of acculturation involved in the transition from secondary to higher or further education. 

Academic Writing 

This component provides an introduction to the process of academic writing through the completion of a written assignment. Focusing on structure, organisation and academic register conventions, students who follow this course will be supported in the process of title analysis, arrangement of key information and the creation of effective paragraphs. 

Team Working 

The Team Working component shows students how to optimize the group work experience for the purpose of achieving collaborative goals. This includes how to effectively use technology in collaborating online. 

Presentations 

The Presentations component familiarises students with the process of researching, structuring and delivering an oral presentation. Delivery is in-person and students will learn how to effectively deliver group presentations to a live audience.  

Research & Online Sources  

The Research and Online Sources component navigates students through the essential skills of researching other people’s ideas and gathering resources in order to support arguments in seminars, presentations and written assignments.  

Referencing & Avoiding Plagiarism 

The Referencing & Avoiding Plagiarism component provides guidance in the mechanics of plagiarism avoidance and gives students practical strategies in avoiding academic misconduct through inappropriate use of sources. Students' attention is drawn to identifying appropriate supporting statements and acknowledging expert opinion from a range of sources as well as focusing on the key features of direct and indirect quotation in addition to the conventions for preparing a reference list. This will include a focus on appropriate use of generative artificial intelligence tools.

Critical Thinking 

The Critical Thinking component trains students in the evaluation of knowledge claims and provides students with the necessary tools to identify fact from conjecture. It also gives students a toolbox with which to evaluate their own work and to detect bias in others. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught through practical classes using communicative methodologies which encourage pair work and groupwork. Face-to-face drop-in sessions allow students to get extra support and feedback from their tutor. A scaffolded approach guides students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, greater independence in the learning process.  

Students will also be expected to take responsibility for their own learning by completing weekly independent study material on Blackboard. 

The schedule of this module, including start and finish dates, follows that of the January Start Foundation, which does not follow standard University Semesters. There is however significant overlap and Semesters referred to in this document are the University Semesters where most of this module teaching will take place. Information about specific key module dates will be provided by the International Foundation Programme prior to the start of the course. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, 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 Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 44 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.

Oral  assessment preparation tasks

Written  assessment preparation tasks

Reassessment

Additional costs