Teaching

(last updated 12 August 2011)

Each of the 4 taught modules is made up of 11 weeks of learning materials.  Materials are released on Fridays in term 1 (Sept-Dec, modules GISC 01 and GISC 03) and term 2 (Jan-Apr, modules GISC 02 and GISC 04). 

• Each week you will download a weekly topic from the VLE.  A discussion board thread will be available for 10 days for you contribute to a structured discussion of the topic, moderated by the topic tutor.  At the end of the term you will submit your topic discussion board contributions in a module discussion board portfolio for assessment in the BLE.  
• Periodically you will download a practical to put into practice some of the concepts discussed in the topics.  A discussion board thread will also be available for discussion.
• For each taught module, you will also download an assignment concurrent with other learning materials, and have approximately 4 weeks or more to complete and submit a 3000-word (max) submission for assessment in the BLE.  Again, a discussion board thread will be available for student and tutor interaction. 
• A reading week will also be incorporated into most modules for students to catch up, do some supplemental reading or work on dissertation ideas. 
• At the end of each academic year, for each taught module, you will also be assessed through a seen written examination paper (at an agreed examination centre).  Each exam paper is drawn from an exam question set of 8 exam questions published in March/April.  From each question set, 5 questions will appear on the exam paper, you must answer 3.  You will have 3 hours to complete each paper.
• As part of module GISc 05, the research module, you will complete a  design and development project (DDP) in which, in part 1, you critique one sample dissertation proposal and one sample dissertation as preparation for producing your own dissertation proposal in part 2.  You will also produce a project outline so that we can allocate you a dissertation advisor.
• Also in module GISc 05, by 15 September of your final year, you will submit your dissertation, an empirical or theoretical piece of research in GISc consisting of 8,000-10,000 words.

If you are studying the MSc over two years, or the diploma (2-year duration) or the certificate (1-year duration), you will study one module each term and thus study one topic each week.