PP0425 - Learning at University

What will I learn on this module?

This module aims to provide formal academic induction across your whole first year of study, introducing you to the academic literacy practices required to perform successfully in higher education. The module will equip you to become effective, active, independent learners throughout the rest of your degree. It will enable you to recognise appropriate approaches to study in higher education and begin to develop the academic skills, qualities and competencies expected of students on the programme. The module has been designed to support you to recognise and debate key concepts of your degree by encouraging you to actively engage in discussion and debate to enable you to make-sense of the subject-curricula and discourse communities of the discipline area and to develop your own standpoint.
The module will illuminate how to use, at various points throughout the programme, the expertise and resources on offer in a range of formats via, for instance, the Northumbria Skills framework including Skills Plus.

How will I learn on this module?

You will have a structured programme of lectures and seminars (delivery by, for instance library and careers staff as well as academic staff), directed learning, independent learning. Seminars will provide you with an opportunity to discuss and develop your thinking; group discussions will help you to consider how others view the key ideas and concepts of this module and the other areas of study. You will also work with your guidance group and tutor to complete specific learning activities for your e-Portfolio, as well as working closely with your peers in writing groups to develop your ideas, working towards the assessment.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Tutors will provide a short programme of lectures which relate to the learning outcomes for the module; these lectures support you to recognise and debate the key skills, approaches and attributes expected of students on the programme. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work in smaller groups on specific activities which will support you to generate material, debate ideas and discuss your developing views of key concepts. Material generated during these activities will be made available via the Electronic Learning Portal (eLP), and in some cases will form the basis for later discussions. Additionally, the guidance tutors will meet regularly with your guidance group to support the development and completion of the assessed learning activities in your e-portfolio

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Be able to articulate and begin to integrate various perspectives concerning the discipline area, starting to locate their own position within the field

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Have started to develop the particular academic skills, qualities and competencies expected of students on the programme, including effective approaches to assessment, academic and information literacy and reflection on values, attitudes and assumptions
3. Know how to use appropriate resources and expertise on offer within and beyond the programme to support their learning
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Have developed an understanding of effective approaches to learning, teaching and assessment on the programme, including approaches to assessment, self-direction, and employability.

How will I be assessed?

You will benefit from informal feedback (from tutors, peers and self) throughout the module as you undertake a carefully structured sequence of learning activities and tasks threaded throughout and you will present your ideas to the module tutors and peers for feedback on a number of occasions.

Formative Assessment:
Review of Academic Writing in your e-portfolio. (500 words) Your guidance tutor will provide feedback on your writing at a mid-point in the first semester.

Summative assessment
You will submit one piece of work via your e-portfolio for grading (2,000 word total) on a Pass/fail basis

1. Produce a short review of introductory article in the area of study and annotate the original article

This task requires you to demonstrate an ability to describe of the key themes from a relevant text, as well as effectively use appropriate academic writing conventions in the presentation of work (MO 1, 2, 3,4)

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module will encourage you to use appropriate resources and expertise on offer within and beyond the programme to support your learning and ease your transition into Higher Education. You will develop effective approaches related to learning, teaching and assessment. You will be able to articulate, and begin to integrate the range of perspectives offered by the degree programme and begin to locate your own position within the field of study.

Course info

UCAS Code B9L5

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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