Learner Support Services
A Directorate of Corporate Services
The University is committed to the national target that all students will have a support framework to develop their own progress files and access to a skills programme for monitoring and enhancing their personal skills. Learner Support Services has a number of HE Academy Registered Practitioners in the Library, Computer Centre and Career Development Services and are exceptionally well placed to assist Schools and Departments to meet these goals through the provision of diagnostic tests, delivery of specialist, up to date teaching and a range of assessment methods that can be integrated into existing courses of study. We have wide experience of competence based assessment methods fitting national standards and will work with course leaders to develop material suited to supplementing existing modules or deliver and assess complete modules if required.
Our experience in delivery, support and assessment means we can provide a wide range of personal skills, from IT and information handling techniques through to personal development and action planning, suited to students in all years of study.
We also have experience in diagnosing competence levels in a range of key skills areas so that pre-existing skills can be mapped against a skills matrix to ensure students receive development opportunities suited to their individual needs.
It is important that students do not view progress files and key skills as something unrelated to their chosen area of study. For this reason, our teaching, assessment and learning materials are tailored to the course of study.
While Learner Support Services staff can deliver entire modules without the involvement of academic staff in the department, we prefer to plan joint delivery and assessment of modules where possible.
We have a strong record of providing a range of different support mechanisms to students at all levels. These vary from use of a Virtual Learning Environment (currently Blackboard) to lead discussion, answer questions, provide learning materials and provide a route for students to assist each other, through to running IT workshops to support those with weaker IT skills.
We can also arrange a training programme for staff within the department to ensure they also can support their personal tutees appropriately.
Learner Support Services staff involvement with delivery and assessment of a part or whole module is based on the full student load model. Input from Subject Librarians is not included in this calculation as their contribution to academic modules is already covered by University top-slice.
Modules in which Learner Support Services IT staff are contributing should normally be approved through the relevant School Course Approval process and have a suffix to identify the home School of the participants. The departmental administrative overheads (10%) for this module will then go to the School concerned even if ALL the delivery and assessment is undertaken by Learner Support Services. The weighting of input by IT staff to each module will be discussed in depth to ensure that the level of input reflects your needs and affordability.
The generic modules offered by Careers are approved separately and can be included in any new or existing course programme.
We have wide-ranging experience in developing module descriptors and matching learning outcomes and assessment methods to suit the abilities and needs of the participants. Several of our staff are HE Academy Registered Practitioners and/or have teaching qualifications. We also have in-depth experience of portfolio building and competence based assessment through involvement with the NVQ programme.
Library inductionSessions are not generic but designed to relate to the subject needs of the participants. Supporting web sites are also produced. Elements of the above can be delivered as part of an Information Skills Module, embedded within existing subject modules, or provided by separate arrangement with subject librarians who will be happy to tailor sessions to specific course requirements.
File managementA key component of the University's E-Strategy is to integrate the key skill of “communicating in the information age” in the curriculum. We are also considering the following content areas to support this:
Reflective learningThis module aims to introduce students to the key theories of career management and decision making, relate these theories to their own career plans, provide students with an understanding of employability and an opportunity to develop relevant career management skills, including opportunity research and self awareness. The focus is on the development of job seeking skills for roles in the health sector and other related career areas..
This module aims to introduce students to the key theories of career planning and personal development, equip them with the skills to make effective decisions on graduation, provide students with an understanding of employability and an opportunity to develop relevant career planning skills including self awareness, opportunity research and job-seeking skills.
This module aims to introduce students to the key theories of career planning and personal development, equip them with the skills to make effective decisions on graduation, provide students with an understanding of employability and an opportunity to develop relevant career planning skills including self awareness and opportunity research.
With the rapid expansion of the Internet bringing communities previously separated by distance closer together, effective communication is becoming an increasingly important skills for study, work and life. This module focuses on developing group working and ICT skills so that students can work with others more effectively and exploit technology for presenting and sharing information within a multi-cultural society.
This module focuses on developing ICT skills so that students can exploit technology for presenting and sharing information.
The module aims to equip students to acquire information skills and understanding appropriate to stage 1 undergraduate level and aligned with the Key Skills level 3 standards in the National Qualifications Framework. The module content is tailored to the needs of the academic School in relation to communication, IT, information handling and application of number skills areas. As a general overview, the sessions might cover:
This module provides students with an understanding of employability and an opportunity to develop relevant life skills, introducing students to the key issues of life and career planning, and personal development, equipping them with the skills to make effective decisions on graduation.
This module provides students with an understanding of employability and an opportunity to develop relevant life skills, introducing students to the key issues of life and career planning, and personal development, equipping them with the skills to make effective decisions on graduation.
If Learner Support Services can do anything to help you with planning, delivery or assessment for any new or existing modules, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We are working in close collaboration with staff in the Centre for Educational Development to ensure that we are addressing the University's commitment with regard to key skills support and student progress files.
If you would like to explore any aspect of how our staff can contribute towards delivery or assessment of your academic programmes please contact:
Introduction