TPP 7120 Studying to Succeed

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Students contemplating undergraduate study at a tertiary institution are required to demonstrate certain prerequisite skills, knowledge and attitudes before they meet enrolment requirements considered to be appropriate for acceptance. Whilst the whole of the Tertiary Preparation Program provides for a variety of entrance standards, this course provides the core skills that all students need to acquire in order to successfully undertake further higher education studies. Central to this course is the concept that students should be able to take control of and manage their own learning, being confident in the decisions made and pathways selected. Also central is the notion that potential university students are expected to display a basic level of achievement in language skills. As the student population which undertakes a TPP is diverse in educational, social, geographical and economical circumstances, this course seeks to provide a broad base which allows each student to begin from their own personal standpoint and develop the necessary qualities required to reach the common goal of access to an undergraduate program. The course is designed to provide optimum flexibility for each student.

SYNOPSIS:

Students progress through a program which requires them to manage their own learning and establish their own future goals through a process of self development. Career planning is a key component of the program. Effective study skills and attitudes will be developed and applied to areas of communication studies to prepare the student for entry into a tertiary undergraduate course. The language content is provided in a broad context to best enable students to continue in the career of their choice.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will have:

1. made informed choices about own career by undertaking a realistic vocational assessment of own self and available opportunities (Assignments S1 and S4),
2. managed own self-development through formal study by producing and evaluating a personal plan involving the development of study strategies (Assignments S2, S3 and S5),
3. met the required academic criteria in areas of communications relevant to tertiary study (Assignments C1, C2, C3, C4 and the exam).

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

All study materials are supplied as part of the course.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Examination date will be available during the semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   The Examiner may permit a student to resubmit an assignment that has received less than 50% of the marks available for the assignment. Normally, a resubmitted assignment will receive no more than 50% of the marks available for the assignment. Students are reminded of the general requirement that, normally, every assessment item listed in these Course Specifications has to receive at least 50% of the marks available before a pass grade in the course will be awarded.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 5% of the total marks available for the assignment may apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, students must achieve at least 50% in all weighted assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   Restricted Examination. In a Restricted Examination, candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: English translation dictionaries (but not technical dictionaries). Students whose first language is not English, may, with the Course Team Leader's approval, take an appropriate non- electronic translation dictionary into the examination. This will be subject to perusal and, if it is found to contain annotations or markings that could give the candidate an unfair advantage, it may be removed from the candidate's possession until the appropriate disciplinary action is completed.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Normally to gain a passing grade, students must submit ALL assignments before the exam period and obtain a satisfactory result in each assessment item. Students who are unable to meet these requirements and who wish to apply for special consideration,are required to apply in writing to the Course Team Leader prior to the examination.
2. Normally students will be ineligible to sit for the examination until all assignments have been received. Examination scripts of students who are ineligible for the examination will not be marked.
3. A penalty of up to 100% of the marks may be applied to late assignments. If more than one assignment is late subsequent assignments may not be accepted for marking. An assignment is deemed to be late if it is received later than the normal mailing time after the approved due date, including, where applicable, the approved extension or resubmission date.
4. Students must obtain a satisfactory result in both of the two major components (Self Development and Communication Skills).