Module Information
Module Identifier
GS09320
Module Title
How to be a Student 2
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Project Presentation 5 Minutes | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Independent Project 2000 Words | 80% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Independent Project 2000 Words | 80% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Project Presentation 5 Minutes | 20% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Ability to reflectively synthesise a range of competing interpretations and approaches.
2. Competence in a diverse range of communication modes.
3. Understand and respond effectively and creatively to a range of assessment types.
4. Reflect on own their skills and progress
5. Manage time effectively
6. Apply appropriate methodological approach to research objective
Brief description
The module will emphasise small group work and contact time with their allocated personal tutor. It will foster students’ independent study and research skills through a mix of lectures, tutorials and a presentation. The purpose of this module is to equip students with the skills and mindset necessary for self-directed study in a higher education institution.
Building on the learning outcomes of How To Be A Student 1, it is designed to support students in their acquisition of the skills required to:
• Identify a research project appropriate to their chosen degree scheme
• Design an appropriate research framework
• Write a literature review
• Present a proposal
• Finding appropriate academic sources
• Appropriately conduct a small research project/ critical analysis of written, visual or performed text
• Manage their time effectively
• Organise and analyse research material
• Understand core theoretical and epistemological approaches to independent research and their links to methods
The emphasis is on self-directed study over a long period to develop an in-depth understanding of their research topic, identification of suitable methods of data collection and analysis within their subject and awareness of the common disciplinary approaches to presenting research in their degree.
Students will maintain a portfolio of work contributing to the preparation of the research project which will be used as the basis for formative assessment and supervision. They will be assigned a supervisor during the module.
The content will cover:
• Research design
• Textual analysis, including audio and visual works
• Interviews, Survey/Questionnaire design
• Primary archival and public data sources
• Field-based data collection
• Report presentation (structure, organisation, referencing, visual material)
Careers Service staff will also contribute to the module lectures.
Building on the learning outcomes of How To Be A Student 1, it is designed to support students in their acquisition of the skills required to:
• Identify a research project appropriate to their chosen degree scheme
• Design an appropriate research framework
• Write a literature review
• Present a proposal
• Finding appropriate academic sources
• Appropriately conduct a small research project/ critical analysis of written, visual or performed text
• Manage their time effectively
• Organise and analyse research material
• Understand core theoretical and epistemological approaches to independent research and their links to methods
The emphasis is on self-directed study over a long period to develop an in-depth understanding of their research topic, identification of suitable methods of data collection and analysis within their subject and awareness of the common disciplinary approaches to presenting research in their degree.
Students will maintain a portfolio of work contributing to the preparation of the research project which will be used as the basis for formative assessment and supervision. They will be assigned a supervisor during the module.
The content will cover:
• Research design
• Textual analysis, including audio and visual works
• Interviews, Survey/Questionnaire design
• Primary archival and public data sources
• Field-based data collection
• Report presentation (structure, organisation, referencing, visual material)
Careers Service staff will also contribute to the module lectures.
Content
Content is delivered over 35 hours, including personal tutor meetings:
Weeks 1-5, two hour lectures
Week 5: Student proposal presentations (two days)
Week 6-10: 1X2 hour workshop (analysis of material), 1X2 hour workshop (writing up project) (weeks 7 and 8)
Supervision meetings to discuss progress in weeks 3, 6, and 9
Weeks 1-5, two hour lectures
Week 5: Student proposal presentations (two days)
Week 6-10: 1X2 hour workshop (analysis of material), 1X2 hour workshop (writing up project) (weeks 7 and 8)
Supervision meetings to discuss progress in weeks 3, 6, and 9
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Adaptability and resilience | Adapting to communicating to different audiences (in the presentation). Includes recognition that abilities grow over time; learning through mistakes; accepting feedback positively; constructive criticism - these will come through project supervision |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Students working on an independent project will need to choose appropriate readings, methods and data analysis to their chosen topic |
| Digital capability | Students will need to make use of VLE as well as other software, including but not limited to Word, PowerPoint and Excel. They will need to present their project findings in the most appropriate format. |
| Professional communication | Students will learn to communicate appropriately and effectively to an academic audience. They will learn to utilise subject-appropriate terminology in their independent project. |
| Real world sense | Students will learn effective communication, time management and self-motivation. They will develop their skills in planning, coordinating and organising, and recognising the transferability of skills through targeted sessions from Careers. |
| Reflection | Students will reflect on their own skill development and readiness to transition into Year 1 of the programme. Careers sessions will support students in learning on how to reflect on what they learned in semester 1 and from their independent project. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 3