Course Title: Apply essential further study skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: GEDU6187

Course Title: Apply essential further study skills

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4399 - Certificate IV in EAL (Further Study)

Course Contact: Baia Tsakouridou, Melanie Reynolds

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4488

Course Contact Email: baia.tsakouridou@rmit.edu.au; melanie.reynolds@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 90

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

In this unit of competency, you will be introduced to skills and knowledge required to prepare to enter tertiary study. The competency will cover basic skills in research and the analysis of tasks in a further study context and reinforce collaboration and study skills.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU21881 Apply essential further study skills

Element:

1. Analyse the requirements of tertiary learning environments

Performance Criteria:

1.1

Identify the expectations of the tertiary learning environment

1.2

Determine the main learning contexts found in tertiary learning environments

1.3

Define the main learning strategies used in tertiary learning environments

1.4

Analyse the features, benefits and disadvantages of different learning strategies as they relate to different learning contexts

1.5

Identify the features of the peer review system

1.6

Determine effective personal strategies to maximise learning opportunities

Element:

2. Investigate library services

Performance Criteria:

2.1

Identify the main servicesof educational libraries

2.2

Identify sources of information available in educational libraries

2.3

Establish broad criteria for assessing information

Element:

3. Use effective reading strategies to analyse complex texts

Performance Criteria:

3.1

Investigate the features and purpose of different  academic reading strategies

3.2

Determine the significance of context for the meaning of a text

3.3

Use text structure, wording, syntax and technical vocabulary to support the interpretation of meaning

3.4

Synthesise, summarise and note the main arguments of the text

3.5

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the text

Element:

4. Produce complex texts

Performance Criteria:

4.1

Identify the main features of types of academic texts

4.2

Analyse the features, purpose and phases of the academicwriting process

4.3

Identify the significance of context and audience to academic writing

4.4

Produce a piece of academic writing, including appropriate referencing

4.5

Observe required standards on plagiarism and collusion

Element:

5. Develop collaborative learning relationships

Performance Criteria:

5.1

Identify modes of collaborative learning

5.2

Identify characteristics of effective collaborative learning relationships

5.3

Form collaborative learning relationships with other learners

5.4

Negotiate collaborative learning relationship protocols with other students

5.5

Agree strategies to deal with uneven contributions to collaborative work


Learning Outcomes


The outcomes described in this unit relate to:

The ISLPR (International Second Language Proficiency Ratings) descriptors for Reading and Writing. They contribute directly to the achievement of ISLPR Reading 3/3+ and Writing 3/3+ and The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) indicators of Reading and Writing competence at Level 4. 

 


Details of Learning Activities

This unit is part of Certificate IV in EAL (Further Study) which is an integrated program. This means that you will study this unit with one other unit on the same day. Your program consists of Face to Face teaching, Online via Canvas and Directed Study. This cluster will have a minimum of 5 hours Directed Study per week (two hours of Directed Study Required and three hours of Directed Study Recommended). You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit.  An outline of your Directed Study is published each week in the Modules section on Canvas. 

This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program. This unit is taught with VU22648 (GEDU6184) Read and write complex texts for study purposes. 

Examples of how you will practise and study the units: 

READING 
You are encouraged to read a wide range of texts relevant to the study context. You will: 

  • read academic texts  
  • study current issues  
  • research skills 

WRITING 
In a variety of writing activities, you will improve your sentence structure and learn how to use different writing styles. This will include extended written responses such as academic essays and research reports. You will: 

  • learn to locate and record references used 
  • learn about research for essay writing 
  • learn to plan, draft and proofread your work 
  • construct formatted texts for study purposes 
  • become familiar with academic discourse 

The revision of important grammatical structures will be incorporated into each activity. 

 

COLLABORATION 

  • collaborative working strategies 
  • learning relationships 

 

All students will have an induction into RMIT. The induction includes: 

  • Induction Booklet available on Canvas and Induction presentation 
  • Orientation to RMIT Libraries 


Teaching Schedule

This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program. This unit is taught with VU22648 (GEDU6184) Read and write complex texts for study purposes. 

  

 

Week 

Topic 

Activities 

  

Elements 

Week 1 

Induction 

Introduction to RMIT online/CANVAS 

Reading (Myung Sook) and predicting 

Reading and comprehension (Myung Sook) 

  

Orientation/Administration: Skills Survey, my RMIT, Canvas 
Learning lab - study 

Diagnostic Tasks 
 Collaborative learning: skills/Group work 

Introduce Assessment Task 1: Group Work Task & Short Written Response' 

Topic Sentences and sentence structurel 

VU22648- E1,2,3 

  

VU21881- E 1,3,4,5 

Week 2 

Paragraph writing 

Unity and cohesion of paragraphs 

Taking notes 

  

Harvard referencing 

  

Paragraph structure 

Paragraph Unity and Coherence 

Learning Strategies and Contexts 

Research-reading and taking notes 

Introduce Assessment Task 2 Extended Written Response 1 

  

VU22648- E 1,2,3,4 

  

VU21881-E 1,3,4, 5 

Week 3 

Stolen Generation-Reading and Taking notes 

Unity and coherence 

Group work practice 

  

  

  

Learning Strategies and Contexts 

Research/ Reading and Paraphrasing 

In text referencing 

Collaborative learning/Group work 

Finish Assessment Task 1: Group Work Task & Short Written Response 

Introduce Assessment Rubric 

VU22648- E 1,2,3,5 

VU21881-E1,2,5 

Week 4 

Reading 

Referencing 

Paraphrasing 

Introduce extended response structure -exposition/informative 

Essay structure 

Brainstorm advantages and disadvantages of The Jury 

Essay structure 

Model essay- deconstructed 

Harvard Referencing/reference lists 

essay question/context brainstorm 

VU22648- E 1,2,3 

  

VU21881 –E 1,3,4,5 

Week 5 

  

In text citations/reporting verbs 

Essay structure- Essay planning/brainstorming 

Synthesizing 

Essay Writing 

Essay writing/peer editing 

Reference List 

Essay planning 

Direct Quotes and In-text referencing 

Complex Sentences 

VU22648- E 2,3,4,5 

  

VU21881-E1,3,4 

Week 6 

Synthesizing 

Essay writing session 

Watching and taking notes 

Reading comprehension 

Essay writing/self-editing 

Draft essay feedback sessions 

  

Paraphrasing and in text citations 

synthesising and summarising 

Peer editing using rubric 

DRAFT Essay writing 

Assessment Task 2 Extended Written Response 1 DRAFT to be submitted to CANVAS and check Turnitin similarity report - due Friday Week 6 

VU22648- E2,3,4,5 

  

VU21881 -E1,3,4 

Week 7 

Research techniques 

CAPOW 

Website anatomy 

Introduce Assessment Task 3: Extended Written Response 2 

Proof reading, editing and re writing an essay 

Research techniques 

submitted to CANVAS 

Introduce Assessment Task 3: Extended Written Response 2 

  

Assessment Task 2: Extended Written Response 2 Final Due Friday Week 7 

VU22648-E1,2,3,4 

VU21881-E 2,3,4,5 

Week 8 

  

Assessment Task 3 -Break down the question/ Brainstorm the topic 

 Activity: New vocabulary- single sex education vs coeducational education 

  

Academic English 

Reporting verbs 

  

VU22648-E1,2 

VU21881-E 1,2,3,5 

Week 9 

Reading academic articles 

Note taking 

Paraphrasing 

Fact and opinion 

Research 

Extended written response/Essay review 

Library research session 

Reading academic articles 

Research-fact and opinion 

Discussion essay structure 

Library Research session 

  

VU22648-E1,2 

VU21881-E 1,2,3,5 

Week 10 

Read, discuss and reference Linking words 

Review essay structure/plans  

Research and essay planning 

Reference lists 

Reading academic article activity 

Introductions 

Intext citations 

  

Essay Planning review 

Collaborative learning/Group Work 

Paraphrasing, synthesising 

Punctuation, linking words review 

Research Report topic focus 

Assessment Task 3 Essay Plan due in class 

Complete DRAFT of Assessment Task 3 Extended Written Response 2 -upload to Canvas by Friday Week 10 

VU22648-E1,2, 3,4 

VU21881-E 1,2,3,5 

  

Week 11 

Reading/comprehension 

Paraphrasing 

Visual literacy- reading graphs 

  

Draft essay feedback sessions 

  

review intext citations 

Visual Literacy- reading and interpreting graphs and tables 

Peer editing using rubric 

  

Complete FINAL  of Assessment Task 3: Extended Written Response 2 submit to CANVAS by Friday Week 11  

VU22648-E1,2 

VU21881-E3,5 

  

Week 12 

  

Draft essay feedback sessions 

Editing draft essay 

Topics/groups for assessment part 1 

Topic brainstorm session 

Research 

  

Proof reading, editing and rewriting a essay 

Introduce Assessment Task 4: Research Report 

Introduce Research Report Structure 

Report structure 

Review- what are academic references 

Brainstorm topics for research report/Prepare for group tutorial 

VU22648-E1,2,3 

VU21881-E1,3,5 

  

  

Week 13 

Reading 

Paraphrasing 

Referencing 

Research/ prepare for part 1 

  

  

Research reading and summarising   

Findings (section of Report)  

Interpreting nonverbal data, graphs statistics 

VU22648-E1,2,3 

VU21881-E1,3,5 

  

Week 14 

Reading 

Paraphrasing 

Research and writing session 

Taking notes and writing a summary 

Report writing sessions 

  

Research 

Reading and paraphrasing, synthesising 

Discussion (section of Report) 

in text citations/reporting verbs 

Review reference lists 

VU22648-E1,2,3,4 

VU21881-E1,2,3,4,5 

Week 15 

Reading comprehension activity 

Writing an abstract 

Report writing sessions 

Checking reference lists and in text citations 

  

Introduction (section of Report) 

Abstract (section of Report) 

synthesising and summarising  

Peer editing using rubric 

DRAFT Essay writing 

Assessment Task 4: Research Report draft and check Turnitin similarity report - submit to Canvas by Friday Week 15 

VU22648-E1,2,3,4 

VU21881-E2,3,4 

Week 16 

Draft report meetings 

Work on oral presentations 

Final report writing session 

  

  

Proof reading, editing and re-writing a report 

Complete Assessment Task 4: Research Report final - submit to Canvas by Friday Week 16 

VU22648-E4 

VU21881-E4,5 

Week 17 

Assessment resubmissions; finalise assessment 

  

  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT 

There are not set texts in this course but it is recommended that you bring: 

 

  • Display folder with plastic sleeves 
  • Highlighter pens 
  • Notebook or loose leaf paper in folder 
  • Headphones 
  • Dictionary/thesaurus 
  • Laptop computer 
  • Canvas app on mobile device 


Overview of Assessment

This course is part of a full-time integrated program. You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by quizzes, notetaking, summaries and short answer responses, essays and research reports and groupwork. 

 

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester, in both oral and written form, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.

 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

 

The Student Charter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT university student as well as the responsibilities of the university. This can be found on the RMIT University website at: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/rights-and-responsibilities/student-responsibilities/student-charter

 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which can be found on the RMIT University website at: https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/governance-and-management/policies/assessment-policy


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1:  

Group work task and Short Written Response (Week 3) 

You will collaborate to complete a group activity and then write a short written response. 

 

Assessment Task 2:

Extended Written Response 1   Draft (Week 6); Final Draft (Week 7) 

You will research, plan and draft an extended written response. The draft will be submitted via Turnitin. The final essay will be submitted via Canvas. 

 

Assessment Task 3:

Extended Written Response 2   Draft (Week 10);  Final  (Week 11) 

You will research, plan and draft an extended written response. The draft will be submitted via Turnitin. The final essay will be submitted via Canvas. 

 

Assessment Task 4:

Research Report     Draft (Week 15); Final  (Week 16) 

This task involves researching a current issue. It involves group research using academic texts and writing an individual report discussing the research. The group research involves group meetings, tutorials and academic research using a variety of text types and summarising. 

The draft will be submitted via Turnitin. The final report will be submitted via Canvas 

Formative assessment may also be used: ongoing observations, summaries and review of student work 

Assessments tasks will include other courses (Units of competency) from the program.  


Assessment Matrix

Each assessment cover sheet clearly outlines the competencies being addressed in the task in relation to performance criteria. The sum of assessment tasks will cover all units and their elements over a range of occasions. You will be given opportunities to demonstrate competency in a variety of ways throughout the program. 

To successfully complete this unit you will need to demonstrate that you are competent in each element of the unit/subject as assessed in the assessment tasks. 

 
You are encouraged to discuss any problems or concerns with your teacher or program coordinator. An assessment matrix will be available on Canvas. 

Other Information

Attendance 
Your course involves participating in face to face classes. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to successfully complete this course. 

 

Student Progress 

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. 

Student program policy www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress 
  

You will be asked to attend mid-semester and end of semester interviews with relevant teachers and Program Co-ordinator. The interviews are an important part of giving you feedback and supporting you through your program by monitoring your academic progress 
  

Special consideration policy (Late submissions) 
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Extension www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension 

Special consideration is an assessment adjustment for unexpected circumstances that are outside your control, which: 
• have a significant adverse impact on your performance in assessment or 
• prevent you from attempting or submitting the assessment. Special Consideration www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration 

 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy 
www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview