Module Information

Module Identifier
PGM2310
Module Title
Research Skills and Personal Development (Science) (2310)
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Professor Reyer Zwiggelaar
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Workshop 30 x 1 Hour Workshops
Workshop 14 x 2 Hour Workshops
Workshop 2 x 4 Hour Workshops
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Presentation designed to demonstrate awareness of the key areas covered in the module, OR 2,000 word Abstract related essay  100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of failed component  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

On completion of this module, students should be able to;

  • Demonstrate a range of bibliographic and computing skills
  • Demonstrate skills in a range of dissemination strategies, including writing, oral presentation, internet usage, media usage
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the key skills involved in teaching in a higher education context
  • Work as part of a team
  • Show an appreciation of the issues involved in managing a long-term research project

Brief description

This module will form an integral part of a suite of RT masters courses being developed across the University. Through this module Masters and PhD students will gain a broad knowledge of a range of transferable skills which they can apply in a variety of research contexts.

Aims

This module aims to give research students a broad knowledge of a range of transferable skills that they can apply in a variety of research interests. In
particular, it will develop the ability of students to undertake independent research projects. To this end, students will be required to submit independent work, which is linked to their own particular research topic, and their ability to formulate independent research projects will be assessed. The module will also cover personal development. Students will be given skills in networking, teaching skills and presentation skills. The module also contains IT skills, both for general career development and in an applied research context.

Content

This module is delivered as a series of independent workshops, each of which can be between one and four hours long, of which there is a requirement to attend a minimum of 8 workshops.
The following themes are covered:
* Research management - including time management, stress management, risk management, supervisor skills, reference management
* Communication Skills - including writing skills, conference skills, public engagement, talking to the media,
* Research Skills and Techniques - including using archives, literature reviews, LATEX, R Stats, Linux, blogs
* After your PhD - including networking, funding, Continuing Professional Development, Transferable skills, planning your career progression

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication Written communication will be developed in a dedicated section of the course covering writing skills. In addition to covering traditional academic concerns such as preparing, publishing and disseminating research findings, this section of the course will also cover media awareness, and public dissemination. Thus a range of writing strategies will be covered, and these will be linked to different audiences. Oral presentations will be covered in a dedicated section of the module, where students will be introduced to a range of presentation skills.
Improving own Learning and Performance One explicit aim of the module is to develop the ability of students to undertake independent research projects, and a large element of the student learning will be directed to this end. Students will also be required to submit independent work which is linked to their own particular research topic, and their ability to formulate and manage independent research descriptions will be assessed.
Information Technology This concentrates on bibliographic skills and information handling, including the identification of library resources; techniques for managing literature sources; use of journals and conference proceedings and the maintenance of a personal research bibliography.
Personal Development and Career planning A section of this module will cover personal and career development. This includes the skills to manage effectively both career progression and development. In terms of the latter, students will be given skills in negotiation and networking; self-awareness and career evaluation; self-promotion and personal marketing.
Problem solving One explicit aim of the module is to develop the ability of students to undertake independent research projects, and a large element of the student learning will be directed to this end. Students will also be required to submit independent work which is linked to their own particular research topic, and their ability to formulate and manage independent research projects will be assessed.
Research skills The whole module has an emphasis on providing students with a range of transferable skills to enable them to manage their own research and their own career development.
Subject Specific Skills It is expected that the transferable skills and personal development aspects of the module are applied to the student’s research project.
Team work Team-working skills will be covered in the module in terms of the skills needed to conduct and administer group research.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7