Business School

Preparation for your Degree Wednesday 22nd September, 2010

Lindsay Williams (Senior Lecturer)

and Belinda Platt (Undergraduate Course Manager/Field Chair)

Business School

Aim of the session…

• To introduce you to University level study• transition, expectations, and Business School requirements

• Help you make sense of the Modular System• key facts, and planning your programme

Business School

What is teaching and learning like at University?

• Perception (and reality) that teaching and learning at University is different to University pre-entry education

• Key features and issues:

• Larger class sizes

• from ‘name to number’?

• Greater emphasis on ‘Independent Learning’

• Does that equal less support?

• What do you do in the ‘gaps’?

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Typical ‘classroom’ activities

Lectures • Introduction to topics/concepts etc

• requires additional reading (‘so that’s what I do with the gaps!’)

• Can be in (very) large groups • Pace

• Clarity

• Mixed groups• Familiarity; cohort identity?

• Lecturer distance• Accessibility/support (Office Hours)

• Virtual Learning Environments (‘Brookes Virtual’)• Relationship with the module

• Can be comfortable space to learn

Business School

Typical ‘classroom’ activities

Seminars/workshops

Smaller groups (clarity; relationship with seminar leader; group identity; comfortable environment)

• A chance to prepare (and contribute)• Activities:

• directed questions (and volunteering answers)

• reinforcement activities • ‘chat with your neighbour’• moving around the group• case studies • informal group presentations• discussions/debates• reflection• psychometric tests/self evaluation

activities• ‘active’ exercises• experiential learning

Participatio

n and engagement!

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What is assessment and feedback like?

Range of assessment methods:• Essays• Report writing• Dissertations• Exams (different types)• Case study analysis• Individual and Group presentations• Role plays• Portfolios• Reflective statements • Assessment Centres/Practical activities• Videos• Virtual tasks/VLE assessment• Active research• ‘Dragons Den’ style pitches

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Progression through undergraduate study

Are there any differences between years 1-4?

• word counts

• Semester 1 in your first year, versus a ‘dissertation’

• weightings

• Multiple (low risk) points of assessment versus ‘finals’

• ‘Blooms taxonomy’

• Moving from ‘describe’ to ‘analyse and synthesise’

The one constant:

• The importance of reading . . . .

• Without reading you will not graduate!

Business School

3 Steps to Academic Success

• Reading• …absolutely loads! • assignments are a chance for you to show off how much you’ve

read!• ‘more is more’……it’s not rocket-science!• books v’s journals

• Writing • Present a logical argument (based on what you’ve read)• There’s not always a right or wrong answer• Substantiate and evidence your assertions

• Referencing• Shows where you got your information from• Harvard Referencing system (you’ll be given a guide)• Plagiarism and ‘Turnitin’

‘To what extent does money motivate staff

in the workplace?’

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Wake up! How’s your Maths?

A = 1

B = 2

C = 3

D = 4

E = 5

F = 6

G = 7

H = 8

I = 9

J = 10

K = 11

L = 12

M = 13

N = 14

O = 15

P = 16

Q = 17

R = 18

S = 19

T = 20

U = 21

V = 22

W = 23

X = 24

Y = 25

Z = 26

Task: Using your full name (including middle names), add together the values of each letter.

For example: Belinda Platt = 116

(B=2, E=5, L=12, I=9, N=14, D=4, A=1…. etc)

There’s a prize!!

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Wake up! Choose and answer three of the following questions….

1. What degree are you studying?

2. Where is you home town/village..?

3. What made you come to Oxford Brookes?

4. What are the 3 Steps to Academic Success?

5. What was the last piece of music you downloaded?

6. If you could invite anyone (alive or dead) to a dinner party, who would it be and why?

Share your answers with somebody sitting next to you (3-5mins!)

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A quick recap • You are part of a larger learning environment

• Contact hours are different

• The concept of ‘Independent Learning’

• There are big differences in the way you are taught, and assessed

• It’s your responsibility – get organised!

• Don’t forget the importance of reading…..and critical thinking

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So, basically it’s a time of change!

Other things that might be different:

• No multiple hand-ins/hand-backs (a deadline IS a deadline…..zero marks for late work….)

• No teacher ‘micro-management’ (it’s your responsibility)

But…

• It’s a chance to be autonomous and have an inquisitive mind!

• You will have lots of support

• You’re not expected to know it all from day 1…

Business School

Expectations

• We know it’s a learning curve (Stage II counts towards your degree)

• But don’t aim low• Placement recruitment and selection• Less of a jump in year two• Self-respect

• Grade equivalents - ‘but I’m a 97% student!’

• We can’t ‘reward’ effort…

• We expect you to prepare for lectures/seminars, and Academic Adviser meetings (orange pages in your diaries)

• We expect you to read your Brookes emails (it’s no defence!)

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Parting comments…

• You have joined a supportive learning community at Brookes

• Our students graduate with excellent grades and transferable skills (and end up with great jobs)

• Please ask for help when you need it – it’s our job

• Your Academic Advisers, SSCs and Field Chairs are your ‘champions’ – make sure you build a relationship with us!

• Speaking of Field Chairs…

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The Modular SystemKey facts for new students

Belinda Platt Undergraduate Course Manager/Field Chair

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What will this presentation cover?

• How many modules you need to take• What kind of modules you need to take• Degree Classification• How to plan your programme• Combined Honours Rules• Deadlines for adding and deleting modules• Possible problems• Additional Module Charges• Key points• Other rules to be aware of• DON’T PANIC!

Business School

What do you need to do?

Stage 1 (Year 1)

• 8 basic modules – Including compulsory modules

(Plus U95002 non-credit module for International Students)

Stage 2 (Years 2 & 3 or 2, 3 & 4 for placement students)

• 16 acceptable modules for your Field including compulsory modules and 6 honours components

Business School

What are the different types of module?

Stage 1• Basic Modules

• Must take all Compulsory Modules• Plus Recommended or Free Choice of modules to

make total of 8

Stage 2• Can only take modules that are Acceptable for your

Field• Including Compulsory Modules and 6 Honours

Components to make total of 16 (minimum)

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How is your Final Degree Classification worked out?

• Is based on the average of your best 14 acceptable modules (including all 6 honours components)

• Note – you must pass minimum of 16 acceptable modules

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Classifications

70%+ First (A)

60-69% Upper Second (B+)

50-59% Lower Second (B)

40-49% Third (C)

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Planning Your Programme

• Only need to plan First Year at this stage (both semesters)

• Check for Prerequisites or Restrictions

• Some modules count as two credits (in one semester or over the whole year)

• Use your PIP – it gives full details of Field requirements, prerequisites etc.

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How many modules do I need to take?

Plan for 4 credits per semester and 8 credits per year

8 is the maximum number of module credits you can take in a year, without additional payment

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Module Charges

If you take more than 8 module credits you will be charged per additional module credit.

This includes retakes of modules failed.

UK students - £540

International students - £1300

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Exceptions to the Rule!

Charges do NOT apply to 1 language module per year

This includes U70910 – Academic Writing for Business which International and EU students take

For a full list of modules see the FAQ page on the Wiki

This means, if you want to take a language module as your 9th module credit then you will not be charged.

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Combined Honours - Rules

Stage 1 – must take compulsory modules from both fields and recommended or free choice modules to total 8 module credits.

Stage 2

Minimum 7 credits from each field including all compulsories from both fields (but can also elect for major/minor)

Must include 6 honours components

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Deadlines

• Make any changes by Friday Week 0 latest

• Can Delete Modules by Friday week 2 latest (but this can cause problems)

• Do not leave yourself short of modules!

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Possible Problems

Failing a module• Resit available if your mark is between 30% and

39%• Less than 30% = Retake

Generally• Less than 6 passes per year• Less than 3 passes per year

Illness etc• Act promptly• Act correctly

Year 2 is harder than year 1

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Key Points

Understand the rules Plan Ahead to take advantage of the flexibilityCheck your PIP regularly

• Look out for error messages – Act promptly• It is your responsibility to ensure that your

programme is correct• Make sure that you save any changes that you

make.

If you have any doubts or queries about your first year programme– talk to a Student Support Co-ordinator

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Other rules

Check your Student Handbooks and Module Guides for rules that apply at Field or Module Level

You will receive these at the Field Meeting on Thursday

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Don’t panic

Over load of information during Induction Week!

PIP is your friend and will let you know exactly what you need to do!

Do not ignore errors and warnings!

Any problems – please don’t be afraid to ask!

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Any Questions?....