This module facilitates the development of personal key skills required for academic success and the development of professional skills required in the workplace.

The module will cover the following topics:

Professional development
• Time management
• Goal Setting
• Analysis of current skills
• Personal portfolio creation
• Professional development planning

Study skills
• Introduction to libraries and learning resources
• Learning outcomes, assessment and marking criteria
• Mind maps and note taking
• Report writing, evaluation and refection
• Learning styles
• Communication skills and presentation
• Using feedback
• Use of relevant applications to support communication and collaboration
• Self and peer assessment
• Secondary research methods, referencing skills

Team working
Objectivity and subjectivity
Analysis, evaluation and reflection
Reliability of information and bias

100% assignment which is made up of:
- Portfolio of evidence:
• Formal individual reports 1500 words (LO 1 and LO 2)
• Individual presentation (LO 3)
• Reflective account (1500 words) of data used, the application of research, limitations etc… (LO 4)

Students will be introduced to this module, its assessment requirements and learning strategies at a residential study weekend, where there will also be initial training relating to this module.

An online module handbook will be provided which will guide students through a series of tasks which will give structure to independent academic research, work based investigation and practical work based learning.

Independent Academic Research
Students will be expected to undertake a minimum of 141 hours of independent academic study during the course of the module. This will be guided by a series of academic tasks such as producing research reports, working through case studies etc and will require access to academic resources.

Work-based Component
Students will need to spend a minimum of 141 hours over the course of the module undertaking their work-based tasks. This will include investigation of how aspects of the academic learning apply to the workplace and development of new skills.
Academic contact time will be used to provide academic support for student learning on an ad-hoc basis via the VLE.

Core Texts
MCMILLAN, K.,WEYERS, J. (2012) The Study Skills Book (Smarter Study Skills). 3rd Ed. Pearson Education Ltd
COTTRELL, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave study skills). 3rd Ed. Palgrave Macmillan Ltd
ADAMS, A.,MCCRINDLE, R. (2007) Pandora's Box: Social and Professional Issues of the Information Age. Oxford: Wiley
QUINN, M. (2010) Ethics for the Information Age: International Edition. 4th Ed. Pearson Education
BAASE, S. (2012) A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet 4th Ed. Pearson Education
RIDLEY, D. (2012) The Literature Review - A Step-by-Step Guide for Students. 2nd Ed. Sage Publications Ltd
CROFT, A., and Davidson, R. (2010) Foundation Maths. 5th Ed. Addison-Wesley

1.Demonstrate the key study skills and develop knowledge and understanding of the ICT packages required for verbal and written communication and collaboration in an academic context.
(COMMUNICATION, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)

2. Perform a skills audit and prepare a personal development plan giving consideration to employability enhancement and further career goals.
(ANALYSIS, REFLECTION)

3. Analyse and evaluate the importance of team work and understand the impact of individual contribution.
(KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, COMMUNICATION, TEAM WORKING, ANALYSIS)

4. Apply appropriate primary and secondary research techniques to source data and understand the limitations in terms of reliability and bias of the data collected.
(APPLICATION,KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)