Free research and study skills course: Step Up to Arts
‘Step Up to Postgraduate Studies in Arts’ is a blended learning module that is intended to help you make the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies.
What is ‘Step Up to Postgraduate Studies in Arts’?
‘Step Up to Postgraduate Studies in Arts’ is a blended learning module that is intended to help you make the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies. We ran a very successful pilot version of the ‘Step Up’ course in 2013 and have offered it every year since then. We are very pleased to have been able to continue to provide this opportunity for you to access a flexible and useful preparatory course in summer 2016.
In summer 2016 we are offering this short course free of charge. ‘Step Up’ is open to any student in the School of Arts who has applied for a postgraduate course beginning in October 2016. This includes anyone who has been offered a place on a PG Certificate, Diploma or MA course in the School of Arts.
‘Step Up’ is essentially an academic skills module designed to help you improve your skills and gain confidence in your abilities before the start of your post graduate programme. It is a generic module for all Arts subjects as is intended to complement and not replace the kinds of academic skills provision you will be offered on the programme to which you have applied.
The structure of the module
Most of the module is done on-line via Moodle (our virtual learning environment) so you will need access to a computer and an internet connection. The module will open on Wednesday 6th July and closes on Wednesday 30th September 2016. Most of the on-line parts of the module are completely flexible and you can complete all, or some of them, at any time during this period, from home or in College or anywhere else that suits you. There are two face-to-face sessions on the first evening of the module (6th July, 6.00 – 9.00pm) and on Wednesday 24th August, 6.00 – 9.00pm when you will need to come to the School of Arts, Birkbeck. The aim of the first event is to introduce you to the module tutors and to the module itself, to provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow students, to learn about the resources needed to complete the module and to allow you to attend a sample seminar. There will be a drinks reception for more casual ‘networking’ too! If you are unable to attend one or both ‘face to face’ events you are still most welcome to participate in the course at your own pace.
At the final session you will have the opportunity to do some further group work focussed around the assessment for the ‘Seminar Skills’ unit and to practice your presentation skills in a friendly and supportive environment. There is also one synchronous online session, a ‘webinar’, in early August. This event will give you an opportunity to ask questions about a lecture delivered on-line and to engage in live debate about some of the issues it raises (this lecture will run subject to student demand).
The ‘Step Up’ module consists of the six following units:
- Critical Thinking
- Seminar Skills
- Using Research Materials
- Plagiarism, Referencing and Bibliography
- The Language of Academic English
- Planning and Structuring Essays
Each unit contains text-based and visual materials with which you can engage and which are supported by quiz-type exercises by means of which you can test you understanding of what you have learnt. The module is given a degree of academic coherence as many of the sample materials and exercises are built around a common theme: The City in Arts / Arts in the City. This allows you to get a taste of some of the kinds of materials and ideas you will be working with on a postgraduate programme in Arts.
Student support
You will have the opportunity to engage with and mutually support your fellow students through the module’s cafe (a chat forum). In each week during which the module runs, a module tutor will be available at regular intervals to engage with you in the virtual cafe and to address questions that may arise.
Assessment
You are asked to complete a piece of assessment for each of the six units of the module, you can then submit your work at two separate assessment opportunities, these assessments are marked by the module tutors who provide feedback. Students who make a reasonable attempt to participate in all or some of the assessment opportunities will be considered to have passed the module. There are no implications for any other course or applications. ‘Step Up’ is to support you in a casual and enjoyable way.
The Feedback
We will be asking you to kindly contribute to the development of the module by providing feedback about your experience of doing the module, we will provide more information on this at the introductory session, at Gordon Square on July 6th.
Enrolment
Please confirm your interest as soon as possible to:
Simonie Coote: s.coote@bbk.ac.uk
Course leader: Joanne Leal
Step Up 2016 Key tutors: Joanne Leal, Liz Drew, Leo Havemann
Step Up design and course materials: Joana Barros, Liz Drew, Leo Havemann, Joanne Leal, Fleur Rothschild, Vincent Tong