Module Information

This module is designed to give Foundation Students an in-depth introduction to the resources available to them at Aberystwyth, with a particular focus on the National Library of Wales. The students will be introduced to abstract concepts , and learn the fundamental philosophical ideas that conceptualise ‘knowledge’. The module aims to equip students with an understanding of themselves as producers of knowledge. They will actively engage with texts and develop their interpretation skills. Students will be introduced to different types of text and will learn how to critically analyse and interpret them. Beginning from an assumption that we are in a ‘post-truth’ era, students will learn how to determine the source and the factualness of different texts. This will equip them with the ability to determine appropriate sources, to critically analyse texts, and to understand the political context that shapes the production of knowledge. They will learn key research skills and will be able to use both primary and secondary data sources.

Students will attend lectures that introduce relevant concepts to them on a weekly basis. They will participate in seminars that provide examples and discussion on relevant topics. They will learn the differences between different types of data and how they are acquired. They will be introduced to key philosophical ideas discussing the production of knowledge. They will learn that knowledge production is a political and social act. These lectures will take place from Weeks 1-10, with seminars using current events to give practical examples of the concepts introduced in the lecture. The theme can, as required, link to content of other foundation modules to provide further opportunity for learning and reflection.