Introduc)on*to* Degree*Study*

Tracey*Ashmore* Learning*Development* Tutor*

Figure 1, Survival (c2008)

Your*Learning*Development*Tutors*
Tutorials*

Tracey'Ashmore'

Lucy'Panesar'

Backgrounds,in,the!Visual,and,Performing,Arts,and!Crea8ve,Industries,Management., Part,of,the,UCA,Learning,Enhancement,&,Support,Team.,,

Self*Directed*Study*and*Being*an*Independent*Learner*
You*need*to*be*proac)ve*and*take*responsibility*for*yourself,*your*programme*of*studies*and* your*own*learning,*this*means:*
*

'

Eec3vely'managing'your'3me'and'studies'so*you*are*ALWAYS*on*)me*for*EVERYTHING,* and*meet*ALL*deadlines.*Lateness*is*unacceptable* Plans'ahead'to'save'3me'such*as'nding*out*key*theore)cal*reading*for*the*following* term/academic*year*and*reading*during*free*)me/holiday*periods* Ac3ve'par3cipa3on'in*all*teaching*and*learning*situa)ons**always*carry*out*prior* reading,*ask*ques)ons,*be*prepared*to*comment*&*take*notes*etc* Being'organised'so*you*are*always*in*the*right*place*at*the*right*)me*and*have*the* necessary*equipment.*Also*developing*a*system*for*ling*all*notes*and*handPouts*etc Learning'from'your'mistakes'*iden)fying/using*tutor*feedback*to*iden)fy*weaknesses*in* your*selfPmanagement*or*learning*and*taking*ac)on*to*improve** Accessing'advice/tui3on/support'as*soon*as*you*need*it,*before*it*becomes*a*real*issue' Communica3on*is*your*responsibility*'*always*check*myUCA*for*)metable*changes.* Always*check*your*UCA*email*for*communica)on*from*sta.*Always*contact*your*course* administrator*(or*relevant*tutor)*for*any*absence*or*lateness** Catching'up'on'any'missed'tui3on/lectures/tutorials'etc'*everything*is*important*and* must*be*aVended,*nothing*will*be*repeated.*CatchPup*on*missed*teaching*by*contac)ng* tutors,*fellow*students*and*checking*myUCA*for*uploaded*lectures*
*

The*Degree*Experience*
Project'Briefs'and'Briengs' Lectures'and'noteBtaking'3ps' Seminars' Academic'Integrity' Research' Essays' Sketchbooks/Research'journals' Learning/reec3ve'journals'' Presenta3ons'and'Cri3ques' Tutorials'' Common'reasons'for'failure'and' solu3ons'
Figure*4.*,Clarity.,(cUnknown)*

Tips:*

Project*Briefs** *

Always*read*the*FULL*brief* Underline*and*lookup*any*unknown*words*(Oxford* Dic)onary*or*Subject*Dic)onaries)* Highlight*key*components*and*annotate* Ensure*you*understand*the*brief,*which*can*o]en*involve* some*ini)al*research* Ask*ques)ons*about*anything*you*do*not*understand* File*your*project*brief*with*relevant*hand*outs*and*lecture/ workshop*slides*

See*Study*Guide:**Understanding,the,Project,Brief, Go*to:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**
Figure*5.*Ques8on,,(c2012)*

Lectures*
Lectures*are*verbal*presenta)ons,*usually*with*accompanying*powerpoints.*You*will* probably*only*receive*two*types*of*lectures:*1.*instruc)onal*and*2.*subject*related*
*

Instruc)onal*lectures*(like*this*one)*will*give*you*stepPbyPstep*guidance*on*how* best*to*manage*your*studies*and*complete*assignments.*You*need*to*download* them*from*myUCA*and*refer*to*them*for*every*assignment*

*

Subject*related*lectures*merely*give*introduc3ons*to*subject'related'theories'and* Genres*or*subject'related'contexts'such*as:*history*(including*ar)s)c*movements)*
*

What*is*meant*by*theory?*What*is*meant*by*context?*How*do*they*relate*to* prac3ce?*
*

Because*subject*related*lectures*are*mere*introduc)ons,*it*is*up*to*you*to*research* any*important*theory/context*etc*to*aid*understanding*and*complete*assignment*
*

Lectures*are*not*considered*research*and*therefore*cannot*be*quoted*from,* however,*they*give*you*key*words*in*order*to*carry*out*research*(nd*relevant* publica)ons*and*read)*

*

Gecng*the*Most*from*Lectures*:* AVempt*to*nd*out*the*topic*of*lectures*and*try*to*carry*out*a* * liVle*prior*reading*to*aid*understanding*

Ensure*you*are*always*on*)me* Always*take*notes.*Develop*your*own*shorthand*and*avoid*wri)ng* full*sentences* Only*note*relevant*keywords*and*their*rela)onship*to*each*other,* including:* *P*Ideas*/*theories**/*concepts* *P*Names*&*dates*********** *P*Related*terms*&*deni)ons* Also*note*any*thoughts*or*ques)ons*you*have,*and*ask*these* when*possible* A]er*the*lecture*look*up*any*new*terms*and*use*notes*to*research* topics*to*respond*to*briefs* Organise*your*lecture*notes*along*with*project*briefs*and*lecture* slides* See*Study*Guide:**Lectures,,Seminars,and,Tutorials, Go*to:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Figure*6*NoteItaking,for,Lectures,,(c*date*unknown)*

Useful*NotePtaking*Method*

Figure*7:*Mindmapping,1,,(c2010)*

Seminars*
A*seminar*is*a*group*discussion*usually*led*by*a*tutor,*in*which* students*par)cipate.** * Tips:* Always*carry*out*expected*reading*before*hand,*look*up* anything*you*do*not*understand*and*make*a*note*of*any*points* you*are*going*to*raise.*
*

Ensure*you*are*always*on*)me* You*must*play*an*ac)ve*role,*ensuring*you*contribute*to*the* discussion*and*ask*ques)ons,*as*well*as*listen* Make*notes*on*the*key*points*raised*that*need*remembering,* either*during*or*immediately*a]erwards* Organise*your*seminar*notes*along*with*project*briefs*and* related*materials* See*Study*Guide:**Understanding,the,Project,Brief, Go*to:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Figure*8:*Group,Discussion,,(2011)*

Academic*Integrity*
All*wriVen*and*prac)cal*work*should*be*en)rely*your*own*work*
*

Students*using*any*aspect*of*another*persons*work*without*fully*acknowledging* the*other*person*and*the*work,*are*plagiarising.*
*

Plagiarism'is*an*oence,*it*is*considered*as*chea3ng'and*in*industry*it*is* considered*stealing.** Students*found*guilty*of*plagiarising*will*fail*their*units*and*run*the*risk*of*having* their*place*on*their*course*terminated.*

*

To*avoid*plagiarism*in*wriVen*assignments*specically,*you*must*reference*all* research*that*you*use*.e.g.*wriVen*or*spoken*words*of*others,*whether*it*is*the* exact*words*or*rePphrased*words*(paraphrases),*including*images*and*graphs*etc* Referencing'is*a*system/method*of*sta)ng*exactly*who*and*where*any*research* has*come*from.*You*must*follow*the*rules*about*what*informa)on*needs*to*be* included,*the*format*it*must*follow,*and*where*in*your*work.*

*

When*studying*at*UCA*you*are*expected*to*use*the*UCA'Harvard'Reference'style* www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/referencing*************www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/academicintegrity*

Research*
The*word**research'has*two*meanings:*it*is*something'you' do'as*well*as*the*term*used*for*the*material/informa3on* you*nd*
*

To*research'is*the*act*of*looking*for*and*retrieving* informa)on,*it*is*a*road*to*discovery*where*you*are*nding* out*about*what*you*did*not*already*know*

*

We*research*to:*
keep'informed'of*what*exists*and*what*is*emerging' increase'knowledge'on*topics' develop'and'broaden'our'thinking'abili3es'by*looking*at* dierent*perspec)ves* develop'our'understanding*of*theories/concepts,*contexts* and*their*impact* get*inspira3on*
Figure*9,*,Reading,and,NoteItaking.*(c2011)**

Research*Material*and*Use*
The*most*common*research'material'people*look*for*and*use*are*text/wri3ng' and*visual/images' Reliable*sources'of'text/wri3ng'are*published'sources*.e.g.*books,*journal* ar)cles* While*the*internet*can*be*a*useful*research*tool,*and*does*have*some* published/reliable*material*e.g.*government,*educa)onal*and*gallery*websites,* you*are*beVer*using*books*and*journal*ar)cles*for*essays.*Librarians*(Adele*and* Georgia)*can*teach*you*how*to*search*for*appropriate*sources**
*

You*have*to*do*something*with*research*material*for*it*to*have*been*considered* as*informing*your*work:**
in*essays*that*can*mean*introducing*and*analysing*quota3ons*and*images'and* drawing*informed*conclusions*in*rela)on*to*an*essay*ques)on* for*visual*work*that*can*mean*analysing*texts/images,*drawing*conclusions*and' basing*decisions*on*those*conclusions**

See*Study*Guides:**Reading,and,NoteItaking,,Using,Evidence,,,, www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides*

Essay*

An*essay*is*a*wriVen*assignment*that*is*fullling*a*par)cular*aim,* usually*answering*a*ques)on* Developing*answers/responses*to*ques)ons/aims,*involves* introducing*and*discussing*bits*of*relevant*referenced*text* (quota3ons*or*paraphrases)'and*possibly*images,*from*your* research** An*essay*should*be*a*balance'of:*research'and*analysis*and* conclusions*you*have*drawn*from*it.*It*should*NOT*be*you* copying/cucng*and*pas)ng*chunks*of*text.* Essay*wri)ng*involves*several*steps,*the*three*main*ones*are:*
1. Researching:'to*understanding*topic*and*to*gather*relevant* referenced*quota)ons*and*images*to*discuss*in*your*essay** 2. Planning:*working*out*how*many*paragraphs*your*essay*will*have,* what*point*you*wish*to*make*in*each,*in*what*order,*and*what* referenced*material*you*will*use*to*make*each*point* 3. Wri3ng:'following*your*plan*and*wri)ng*each*paragraph.*Wri)ng* your*introduc)on,*conclusion,*bibliography,*illustra)on*list*etc* '

Figure'10.'Making,LeOers.,(c1954),

See*Study*Guide:**Essay,Wri8ng,,,,At:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Sketchbooks/Research*Journals*
Are*usually*where*you*show*all*your*workings*out.*Dependant*on*your* course*these*can*be*physical*or*digital,*or*a*mixture*of*both*
*

Your*sketchbook*/research*journal*should*track*your*progress*through*a* project,*therefore*should*contain*a*mixture*of*both*visual*and*wriVen* work:*

*

Key*elements*of*brief* Ini)al*thoughts* Research** Analysis*and*use*of*research,*your*thoughts*about*how*what*you* have*found*informs*your*decisions* Decisions*and*ra)onales* Records*of*changes*in*your*work* Experiments*and*comments*about*what*works*and*what*does*not* Reec)ons*

See*Study*Guide:**The,Research,Journal,,,Using,Evidence,, At:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Figure*11:**Reec8ng,and,Crea8ng,(2013)*

Learning*Journals*or*Reec)ve* Journals*
A*learning*or*reec)ve*journal*is*where*you*record*personal/professional* reec)ons*and*developments** * You*may*be*expected*to*keep*a*learning/reec)ve*journal*in*addi)on*to*your* sketchbooks/research*journals,*as*some*courses*prefer*to*separate*concept/ project*development*from*general*development*as*a*learner*

NB:*BA*Photography*do*not*have*separate*sketchbooks/research*journals*and* learning/reec)ve*journals**your*reec)ons*are*included*in*project*development*

See*Study*Guide:**The,Research,Journal,,,,,,,At:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Presenta)ons*&*Cri)ques*
Presenta)ons*and*cri)ques*are*usually*a*mixture*of*visual*and* wriVen*material*verbally*introduced*and*explained*for*some* form*of*assessment/feedback*
*

Cri3que*means*construc3ve'cri3cism.*Construc)ve*cri)cism*is* not*nega)ve,*it*is*a*way*for*you*to*develop*yourself*and*your* work.*It*is*an*important*part*of*Art*and*Design*prac)ce.*

*

Tips:*

*

When*presen)ng*your*work*ensure*you*explain:*not*only*your* concept,*but*also*the*key*decisions*you*made*and*the* research*that*informed*those*decisions* Be*prepared*to*take*notes*on*all*the*feedback*you*receive*or* organise*someone*else*to*note*all*of*your*feedback*for*you* Do*not*ght*with*feedback,*and*try*not*to*experience*it*as* nega)ve* If*you*are*part*of*a*group*giving*feedback,*do*not*be*afraid*to* par)cipate.*You*are*helping*your*peers*to*develop*themselves* and*their*work*in*a*learning*environment.*

Figure*12.*Rules.,(cUnknown),

See*Study*Guide:**Presenta8on,Skills,,,,,,,At:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Tutorials**
Tutorials*are*individual*or*small*group*mee)ngs*with*a*tutor*
*

They*should*be*student*led.*It*is*your*opportunity*for*you*to* discuss*progress*and*any*concerns,*in*order*to*receive* bespoke*advice*and*guidance* * Tips:* Ensure*you*book*tutorials*well*in*advance*(where* possible)*

*

Think*about*what*you*want*to*get*from*the*tutorial*and* prepare*ques)ons*and*any*work*to*take*with*you* Always*turn*up*on*)me,*so*always*ensure*you*know* where*you*are*going* Always*turn*up*prepared*to*take*notes* Ensure*that*when*aVending*tutorials*with*Learning* Development*Tutors*(librarians,*dyslexia*tutors*etc)*that* you*always*bring*relevant*briefs*

Figure*13:*Tutorial,(2009)* *

See*Study*Guide:**Lectures,,Seminars,and,Tutorials,,,,,At:*www.ucrea)ve.ac.uk/studyguides**

Common*issues*leading*to*failure*and*solu)ons*
Poor'3me'management'and'poor'division'of'3me'between'all'projects'running*sidePbyPside'' Start*work*on*ALL*projects*as*soon*as*you*get*the*brief* Allow*)me*daily/weekly*to*work*on*all*projects*sidedPbyPside*regularly' Divide*the*work*into*tasks*and*set*mini*deadlines*daily/weekly*for*each*project*to*ensure* the*work*ts*into*the*)me*before*the*handPin*date* Lack'of'understanding'regarding*what*is*expected*in*a*brief*or*relevant*theories/concepts** If*you*do*not*understand*any*aspect*of*a*brief*ask*ques)ons*immediately' If*you*have*researched*a*theory/concept*and*s)ll*do*not*understand*it,*ask*the*librarians* (Adele*and*Georgia)*for*useful*introductory*sources* Leaving'work'that'you'are'not'good'at'to'the'last'minute'' As*soon*as*you*get*the*brief*go*through*and*follow*instruc)onal*lectures/powerpoints* Book*tutorials*with*a*Learning*Development*Tutor*early*on,*so*they*can*teach*you* Ensure*you*allocate*adequate*)me*to*learn*how*to,*undertake,*get*ini)al*feedback*on,* and*amend*your*work* Fails'to'read'or'note'tutor'feedback'therefore*repeats*mistakes* ALWAYS'read*or*make*a*note*of*tutor*feedback* Write*feedback*out*like*a*checklist*for*yourself*and*ensure*you*learn*how*to,*and* address,*each*issue*on*the*list,*in*your*next*assignment*
'

Book'a'tutorial'with'Learning'Development'Tutors'(Tracey'Ashmore'or'Lucy'Panesar)' immediately'if'you'are'unsure'or'struggling'with'any'aspect'of'work'or'self'management'
'

Illustra)on*List*
Fig*1:*Saelinger*,*D.*(c2008)*Survival.,[photograph].*Found*at:* hVp://adventure.na)onalgeographic.com/2008/08/everydayPsurvival/laurencePgonzalesPtext**(Accessed:*3.09.12)* Fig*2:*FiVal,*A.(c2011)*Tracey.,[photograph].**In*possession*of:*the*author:*UK, Fig*3:*Unknown*photographer*(cUnknown)*Lucy.,[photograph].**In*possession*of:*the*author:*UK, Fig*4:*Unknown*photographer*(cUnknown)*Clarity.,[photograph].*Found*at: hVp://www.spiritandplace.org/Fes)val.aspx?access=Signature*(Accessed:*15.10.12)* Fig*5:*Creator*unknown.*(c2012)*Ques8on.,[3D*Graphics].*Found*at:* hVp://wondrouspics.com/coolPques)onPmarks/bookPques)on/*(Accessed:*3.9.12)* Fig*6:*Ar)st*Unknown.*(cUnkown)*NoteItaking,For,lectures.,[Illustra)on].*Found*at:* *hVp://theberry.com/2012/04/16/mindPblownP30Pphotos/*(Accessed:*03.09.12)* Fig*7:*Creator*Unknown*(c2010)*Mindmapping,1.,[Photograph*of*hand*wriVen*notes].*Found*at:* hVp://aus)nmakes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/scenarioPmindmap.html*(Accessed:*3.9.12)* Fig*8:*Shankbone,*D.*(2011)*Group,Discussion.,[photograph].*Found*at:* hVp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Occupy_Wall_Street_Group_Discussion_2011_Shankbone.JPG*(Accessed* 20.09.13)* Fig*9:*Photographer*Unknown.*(c2011)*,Reading,And,NoteItaking.,[photograph].*Found*at:* *hVp://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/readingPoutPloud.html*(Accessed:*03.09.12)* Fig*10:*Unknown*photographer*(cUnknown)*Making,LeOers.[photograph].*Found*at:* hVp://www.adbranch.com/thePmakingPofPaPcocaPcolaPneonPsignPforPpiccadillyPcircusP1954/cocaP cola_making_leVers_1954/**(Accessed:*15.10.12)* Fig*11:,Creator*unknown,(2013)*Reec8ng,and,Crea8ng.,[photograph*of*research*journal*page].*Found*at:, hVp://thesaltwayfarer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/reec)ngPandPcrea)ng_4023.html*(Accessed*20.09.13)* Fig*12:*Unknown*photographer*(cUnknown)*Rules.[photograph].*Found*at:* hVp://www.theoryosnowledge.net/assessment/thePessay/generalPguidelinesPtoPthePessay.php*(Accessed:* 15.10.12)* Fig*13:*RaV,*M.*(2009)*Tutorial.,[photograph].*Found*at:* hVp://cri)calmaking.com/torchPpartnershipPwickedPlunch/p1010099/*(Accessed*20.09.13)*