Developing Academic Skills: Portfolio of Tasks for BUS003 [2182]

Developing Academic Skills: Portfolio of Tasks for BUS003 [2182]

Developing Academic Skills: Portfolio of Tasks for BUS003

Assignment Brief and Learning Outcomes

The Developing Academic Skills assignment is a crucial part of your formal assessment for the BUS003 program. Refer to your Student Handbook for comprehensive details on the program's assessment scheme and general information regarding assignment preparation and submission.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Identify and explain key resources that facilitate personal learning and study, reflecting on the development of academic skills.
2. Apply effective time management techniques to study planning.
3. Identify, summarise, and evaluate credible information from a variety of academic sources.
4. Explain and demonstrate proper referencing to avoid plagiarism.

Word Count and Submission Details:

- Maximum word count: 3000 words.

- Exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a reduction in grade.

- The submission portal on ilearn will close at 14:00 UK time on the date of submission.

Please ensure your assignment includes:

- Title page: Include your student number, module name, submission deadline, and word count.

- Appendices, if relevant.

- Reference list in Arden University (AU) Harvard format.

- Do not include your name in the submission. Instead, use your STU number.

Assignment Tasks [2182]

Task One: Time Management

- Demonstrate effective time management skills by creating a study timetable for this module. Highlight work commitments, family time, study time, and recreational time.

- Write a reflective piece on your time management, utilizing the timetable and employing techniques like Pomodoro or Eisenhower. Use Gibb's model to structure your reflection.

Task Two: Resources and Reflection

- Identify four key resources that supported your study during this module. Explain how you utilized each resource in your studies.

- Reflect on the development of your academic skills during this module, including writing, referencing, researching, and summarizing skills. Use Gibb's model to structure your reflection.

Task Three: Literature Searching, Note Taking, and Evaluating

- Find a book on Academic Integrity, plagiarism, and referencing using Perlego. Summarize the key points using the Cornell note-taking method. Provide the full reference in AU Harvard format and evaluate the source's credibility using the CAARP guidance.

- Find a newspaper article or website on Academic Integrity, plagiarism, and referencing. Summarize the key points using a mind map note-taking method. Provide the full reference in AU Harvard format and evaluate the source's credibility using the CAARP guidance.

Task Four: Plagiarism and Referencing

- Define plagiarism and academic integrity, supporting your explanations with definitions and citations.

- Create a concise reference list using AU Harvard referencing. Include examples of in-text citations and direct quotations in an "at a glance" leaflet format.

Formative Feedback and Assessment Criteria

You have the opportunity to submit a draft copy of your work to receive formative feedback. The feedback is designed to help you develop your skills as an independent learner. Please refer to the guidelines provided in your module for formative feedback submission details.

To ensure a successful assessment, refer to the assessment criteria provided in your module. Grades will be awarded based on the demonstrated knowledge, analysis, competence, initiative, academic writing skills, and professional skills (where applicable).

Submission Guidance

• Assignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail.
• Submit your assessment as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file following the guidelines provided in the "Guide to Submitting an Assignment" document available on the module page on ilearn.
• Ensure all sources used are correctly attributed and accurately referenced using the Arden Harvard system(s).

For additional resources on referencing, refer to the My Study Skills Area on ilearn. This section provides useful materials related to referencing.

Additional Notes:

- The exact word count must be indicated on the title page of the assessment.

- The word count excludes the title page, tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list, and appendices. Reprinted assessment questions are also excluded from the word count. All other printed words are included.

- Refer to the "Word Count Policy" on the module's homepage for detailed information.

Remember, proper submission is essential:

- Late submissions will not be accepted and will receive a 0% grade.

- Submit your assessment as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file.

- Ensure that the submitted work is entirely your own and properly attribute all sources used.

- Penalties apply for academic unfair practice, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Assessment Criteria (Covering all Learning Objectives)

The assessment criteria reflect the skills necessary for self-managed learning in an HE context and the discipline-specific knowledge and understanding required for higher education.

Grading Mark Bands and Generic Assessment Criteria:

- First (1): 80% and above - Demonstrates outstanding performance, extensive knowledge base, analytical ability, and ethical awareness. Displays excellent competence, initiative, academic writing skills, and professional skills.

- Upper Second (2:1): 70-79% - Demonstrates excellent performance, sound knowledge base, and ability to analyze the subject matter. Shows high competence, initiative, very good academic writing skills, and professional skills.

- Lower Second (2:2): 60-69% - Demonstrates very good performance, solid understanding, and some analytical ability. Displays good competence, satisfactory academic writing skills, and professional skills.

- Third (3): 50-59% - Demonstrates satisfactory to good performance, decent understanding, and limited analytical ability. Shows satisfactory competence, limited academic writing skills, and professional skills.

- Marginal Fail: 40-49% - Demonstrates a basic level of understanding with gaps in knowledge, weak academic writing skills, and difficulties developing professional skills.

- Fail (29% and below): Shows poor performance with substantial gaps in knowledge and understanding, very weak academic writing skills, and lack of professional skill development.

End of Question

Remember to consult the specific guidelines and instructions provided by your module for accurate submission and assessment details.