Plymouth University
Academic Partnerships
(Insert College/Institution Name)
College/Institution to amend / update all Yellow plus include local site specific information & update contents page once completed
***Please unmask the RED sections after editing – these just highlight this year’s changes****
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Handbook for
College/Institution to add programme name
2015 – 16
Contents
1. Welcome and Introduction to (College/Institution to fill in name of Foundation Degree / other). 4
1.1. Distinctive Features of the Foundation Degree 4
2. Course Contact List 4
2.1. Programme Leader 4
2.2. Module Leaders 5
2.3. Personal Tutor 5
3. Programme Structure and Pathways 6
4. Course Resources 6
5. Enhancement Activities 6
6. Employment and Progression Opportunities 7
7. Teaching, Learning and Assessment 8
7.1. Formative and Summative Assessment 8
7.2. Indicative Programme Assessment Schedule, Assessment Flowchart and Hand in Process 9
8. Assignment Feedback Form 10
9. Referencing Guide 11
10. External Examiners 11
11. Module Descriptor / Title and Code (For each module) 11
11.2. Module Aims 11
11.3. Assessed Learning Outcomes 11
11.4. Scheme of Work 11
11.5. Assignment Brief with Mapped Learning outcomes 11
11.6. Assessment Criteria 11
11.7. Module Resources 11
11.8. Module Reading List 11
11.9. Descriptor of Higher Education Qualification at Level 4 / 5 11
11.10. Submission of Assessed Work 11
11.11. Return of Assessment and Feedback 12
12. For Guidance only: College/Institution to delete once covered 12
1. Welcome and Introduction to (College/Institution to fill in name of Foundation Degree / other).
Welcome to (amend as appropriate) in (College/Institution to fill in name of Foundation Degree / other). (College/Institution worded welcome here along with statement about distinctive features of the programme, development of the programme, for example, employer involvement in design; integration of Work-Based Learning), liaison with Plymouth University; previous success stories, student testimonials, quotes etc.)
This programme has been designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge base required to work in your chosen specialism or other graduate opportunities. It is also a platform from which you can undertake additional vocational and academic qualifications.
This Teaching, Learning and Assessment Handbook contains important information including:
· Who will be teaching and providing support to you
· Details of your programme of study and assessment including feedback.
· College/Institution to add anything else
Note: the information in this handbook should be read in conjunction with the current edition of the College/Institution / University Student Handbook available at (College/Institution to add link) which contains student support based information on issues such as finance and studying at HE along with the University’s Student Handbook available here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-university/governance/student-handbook and your Programme Quality Handbook available on website.
College/ Institution to add in any specifics to the programme including information on Disclosure and Barring checks if appropriate.
1.1. Distinctive Features of the Foundation Degree
College/Institution to add statement
2. Course Contact List
College/Institution to add statement to include all support staff as well
2.1. Programme Leader
College/Institution to add statement brief staff profiles – biographies of academic history, including photos if you wish.
2.2. Module Leaders
College/Institution to add statement brief staff profiles, biographies of academic history including photos if you wish.
2.3. Personal Tutor
College/Institution to add statement brief staff profile
The university personal tutoring policy is available for information and guidance.
College/Institution and programme staff will communicate with students in the following ways:
· Email / text messaging
· College/Institution intranet / virtual learning environment (enter url)
· Plymouth University Student Portal (see section below)
· Programme Notice-Board (enter whereabouts of noticeboard)
· HE bulletins
· Link to College/Institution campus map or details
· Links to disability support teams
3. Programme Structure and Pathways
College/Institution to populate including description of the programme
Course Code: (insert PU course code)
Full / Part Time: (enter PT / FT or both)
Programme Structure for (insert name of programme)
Level 4 / Level 5Module Code / Module Title / No. of Credits / Core / Optional / Module Code / Module Title / No. of Credits / Core / Optional
NOTE - also present a separate “indicative” part-time structure if this is proposed
For more information on the Level descriptors see Appendix F or make links available on your VLE.
4. Course Resources
College/Institution to add statement
5. Enhancement Activities
College/Institution to add statement
6. Employment and Progression Opportunities
College/Institution to add statement about employment and include Plymouth University Careers and Employability Service for a wealth of guidance and support resources.
Any bridging modules that need to be attended for progression should be noted here. A small number of Foundation Degrees do not have progression routes; it should be clearly noted where this is the case).
(‘Direct Entry’ applications can always be made by students, however success in the application will always be considered based on individual merit and availability of space by the admissions tutors. The programme manager needs to consider how appropriate it is to advertise specific ‘direct entry’ examples here, including the comparative reflection on this Fd and its agreed progression route as well as how the student body are likely to perceive these (i.e. as a likely opportunity when it may well not be).
Please note there is a deadline for progression applications (circa mid-January with the actual date determined annually) and places maybe subject to availability.
Your Programme Manager has access to University staff and is able to communicate your questions regarding progression to programmes at Plymouth University.
Information on individual programme progression is available in your Programme Quality Handbook available on your College/Institution website and also on the Plymouth University course web page (College/Institution to add hyperlink.)
If you progress to a Plymouth University honours degree programme, Plymouth University will calculate your final Honours Degree classification to include marks from each of your levels of study.
10% from Level 4 – calculated from the highest achieved 80 credits. Where modules are arranged in such a way that the 80 credits of ‘highest module marks’ cannot be identified unequivocally, the average for the best 70 credits and 90 credits will be calculated and the student given the best advantage.
30% from Level 5
60% from Level 6
If you progress onto Level 5 of a programme at Plymouth University, then 10% (of the highest achieved 80 credits or where modules are arranged in such a way that the 80 credits of ‘highest module marks’ cannot be identified unequivocally, the average for the best 70 credits and 90 credits will be calculated and the student given the best advantage) will come from your level 4 marks studied previously, 30% of yourlevel 5 aggregate mark will be drawn from the level 5 modules studied at Plymouth University and then 60% from your level 6aggregate mark at Plymouth University.
7. Teaching, Learning and Assessment
7.1. Formative and Summative Assessment
College/Institution to provide an overview of the forms of assessment across the programme and signpost to individual module guides for further detail.
Your performance in a module will be assessed during the academic year, normally through a combination of coursework and end of year examinations. You must pass the assessments in order to be credited with that module for your award. In addition, some modules may have to be passed as pre-requisites for others taken later in your programme.
The method of assessment varies between modules and your lecturers will advise you of the method(s) to be used. This reflects the need to develop a range of different knowledge, understanding and skills. During your programme you may experience some, or all, of the following types of assessment:
· Coursework essay questions
· Coursework group reports
· Coursework case study problems
· Group presentations
· Small group assessed discussions
· Practical’s
· Formal examinations
· In-class tests
· Online assessments
· Portfolios
· Research project
(The College/Institution should adjust this list to take account of the assessments that are appropriate for the programme.)
In all cases these are chosen and designed to assess your achievement of the particular learning outcomes for the module. You will be given Assessment Criteria which are used to judge the extent of your achievement.
Please note that ALL assessment marks and results are provisional until confirmed by the Subject Assessment Panel and verified by the Award Assessment Board. If you do well enough, i.e. you average a mark of over 70% over all your modules at the end of your programme then you will qualify for the award of a Foundation Degree with distinction. You should note marks of 70% and over are awarded for outstanding work only.(College/Institution to update/amend where required)
Please reference the Benchmarking Skills Map (College/Institution to link to Programme Spec in programme Quality handbook) within the Programme Specification for further details on how the teaching, learning and assessments are achieved within each module.
7.2. Indicative Programme Assessment Schedule, Assessment Flowchart and Hand in Process
(College/Institution to insert diagram to indicate assessment schedule and mode through the programme)
(College/Institution to add a statement about modified assessment provision)
8. Assignment Feedback Form
(College/Institution to amend to include College/Institution Feedback Form )
9. Referencing Guide
Online support available through the University Referencing Library Guide including the online version of ‘Cite them rite’.
(College/Institution to add additional information / localised resources/support)
10. External Examiners
(College/Institution to add external examiners details and guidance on how to access locally).
You can find your External Examiner reports online through the Plymouth student portal under the tabs ‘Your Learning, Your External Examiner’.
11. Module Descriptor / Title and Code (For each module)
11.1.
11.2. Module Aims
11.3. Assessed Learning Outcomes
11.4. Scheme of Work
11.5. Assignment Brief with Mapped Learning outcomes
11.6. Assessment Criteria
11.7. Module Resources
11.8. Module Reading List
11.9. Descriptor of Higher Education Qualification at Level 4 / 5
11.10. Submission of Assessed Work
College/Institution to add process
11.11. Return of Assessment and Feedback
College/Institution to add process to include the University Policy to return marked work within 20 working days.
12. For Guidance only: College/Institution to delete once covered
Module Teaching and Learning Guides - Academic Partnerships –Guidance notes
The Module Leader is required to produce a Module Teaching and Learning Guide (see below for indicative content) which provides students with the information they need to plan their work and to ensure that they meet the assessment requirements of the module.
This may form part of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Handbook dependent on a stage or module approach which is chosen by your institution. Please contact your Programme Leader for further guidance.
The partner must ensure that the data below is provided in either a module guide or as part of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment handbook and is clearly communicated to the students as well as linking to the Programme Quality Handbook and Student Handbook where necessary.
These guidelines should be distributed and discussed with all students registered on the module. These should also be published on the programme and module VLE pages and available in hard copy if required. Please add module specific information.
Module Details / Ø Welcome to include distinctive features of the programmeØ Module code
Ø Module title
Ø Name of module leader and additional staff (with photos where possible)
Ø The module aim(s) and assessed learning outcomes - as given on the Module Record (MR)
Schedule / Ø Scheme of work - to include dates, times, locations and content of all module sessions
Ø Nature of all module sessions (e.g. lecture, field trips, practical, seminar, tutorials etc.)
Ø Module information available on your College/Institution VLE with links to electronic resources, student comments and feedback.
N.B. it is sensible to include a statement that the schedule is subject to alteration
Information on Assessments / Ø for each coursework assignment the following information should be provided (Assignment Brief)
o brief description or title
o detailed information on assessment tasks marking and grading criteria
o value (i.e. weighting)
o date and time deadline for submission including information on penalties for late submission and how to submit (this may include Turnitin)
o planned dates for the release of marks and feedback
o sources of guidance and support available (seminars, personal tutorial, DAS, LD and peer support)
o clear guidance on referencing protocols
o reading lists
o assessment feedback form
Ø information on examinations / tests including:
o format of examination / test (seen, unseen , open book, group etc.)
o dates and times (if available) or when and how they will be available
o value (i.e. weighting)
o links to past papers
Ø detailed information asking students to notify the programme & module leader of any modified assessment provision as soon as possible.
Ø detailed information asking students to notify the programme & module leader of any extenuating circumstances as soon as possible
Other Information / Ø information on how groupings of students will be determined / notified for group work activities including procedures for problems arising from assessed group work
Ø statement of how / where amendments and additions to this will be notified
Ø programme / module leader contact details
Ø list of recommended texts / support materials (may be provided separately)
Ø detailed information on re-sits, including fees
Ø Any additional enrichment information
Ø Any enhancement information and wider learning opportunities
Academic Partnerships Teaching, Learning and Assessment Handbook 2015-16 Page 2 of 12
Last saved:14/04/2015