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• Undergraduate study:
• Courses
• Order a prospectus
• How to apply
• Information for applicants
• Why choose Kingston University
• Disability and mental health support
• Accommodation
• Undergraduate fees
• Fees, funding and payments
• Access, participation and inclusion

Becoming an Active Learner

• Module code: FY3004
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 3
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: None
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module is designed to provide students with a general introduction to the Social Sciences through the critical lenses sociology and criminology. Therefore the module uses the creative pedagogy of film making to help students Iexplore the social nature of crime, deviance and social control, and familiarizes students with key ideas relevant to explaining these phenomena. At the same time the module will also enable students to develop academic skills necessary for them to succeed at university such as active academic reading, developing arguments, understanding assessment strategies, ways of working in groups, giving presentations and library skills. The module will develop students wider self-awareness of themselves as learners and encourage them to actively shape their own learning. This will be evidenced through the production of a portfolio of work to include:

• a group podcast
• the production of a group audio-visual film
• peer assessment task based on the audio- visual film
• a reflective essay worth 40% which will demonstrate students' abilities to identify and research of topics of interest to themselves and consider how their learning informs their understanding of the world and their lived experience outside of the classroom.

Aims

• To introduce and develop academic literacy through engagement with texts drawn from the Social Sciences, Criminology and Sociology.
• To introduce the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to independent learning
• To introduce reflective practice and enable students to become effective, self-aware learners
• To introduce students to the application of knowledge of the social sciences, criminological and sociological concepts in real world settings.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Identify and engage with relevant social science texts
• Demonstrate the ability to identify project topics, conduct library based research and present on a specific academic topic as part of a group task
• Recognise strengths and weaknesses in their approach to study.
• Demonstrate the ability to reflect on Social Science understandings and relate their learning to real world events and experiences.

Curriculum content

• How to write critical thinking skills
• Film making workshops
• Podcasting workshops
• What does it mean to be a reflective writer?
• Social constructions of deviance and crime
• Consensus decsicion making
• Social media and portrayals of young people
• Youth, gangs and violence
• Working in groups and building learning circles
• Orgnaising successful meetings
• Active listening skills
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Opportunities to engage with professionals from related social science field
• Academic reading / reading for argument
• Note taking
• Identifying project topics
• Plagiarism, and how to avoid it
• Presentation skills
• Working in groups
• Library / research skills
• Reflexive learning

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will be delivered through workshops which combine interactive lectures with small group activities, discussion and practical sessions (eg. library workshops, where possible guest speakers/presentations from professionals in related social science fields) and guided reading. This approach aims to cater for students' different learning styles and foster commitment and engagement. Weekly readings will familiarize students with the process of academic reading and encourage reading as a regular practice.  Wide use will be made of the variety of tools available through Canvas.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

Summative assessments will take the form of a portfolio of evidence assessed by a group podcast of no more than ten minutes reflecting upon the experiences of the group work processes (20%); the production and presentation of a group audio-visual film (30%); a peer assessment task based on the audio-visual film (10%). A 1000 word reflective essay (40%).

The reflective paper will enable students to engage with a range of Social Science and criminological/sociological based concepts that reflect on them critically in the light of their own experiences and/or real world observations.

All summative assessments will be preceded by in-class formative work in which the students will be given feed forward information and opportunities to practice the technqiues, skills and knowledge needed to perform well in their summative assessments.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Harrison, J., Simpson M. & Harrison, O. (2012) Study Skills for Criminology, London: Sage.

Newburn, T. (2017) Criminology, 3^rd ed. London: Routledge.

Bibliography recommended reading

Burns T. and Sinfield S. (2016) Essential Study Skills. 4^th Edition London: Sage Publications

Clyne, T. (2017) An Introduction to Criminology: A plain English guide to criminology, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Cottrell, S.(2008)  The Study Skills Handbook. 3^rd edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmilan.

Creme P. and Lea R. (2008) Writing at University. Buckingham: Oxford University Press

Croall, H. (2011) Crime and Society in Britain, London: Longman.

Downs, D. (2011) Understanding Deviance: A Guide to the Sociology of Crime and Rule-Breaking, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Potter, M. (2011), Study Skills, Richmond, Surrey: Trotman