Introduction
Welcome to your new module. We hope you enjoy your studies. This document specifies the assessment/s for this module. We want you to be successful at the highest possible levels. You should find the assessment/s to be clear, relevant, accessible, appropriate and challenging.
This assessment brief tells you:
1. what the module is about overall
2. what the module Learning Outcomes are
3. what assessment/s you must pass, in order to successfully complete the module
4. what you need to do in the assessment/s
5. how your work will be assessed and marked
6. how to present your work for marking
7. where to access the University of Derby Assessment regulations
8. where to get other assessment-related help and support.
1. Module Overview
All modules have an overview. This gives you an indication of the aim or purpose of the module, and its content. This module’s overview is below.
This module runs over two trimesters and provides the opportunity for you to learn about primary and secondary research methods such as research methods, systematic review and rapid evidence synthesis.
For the first part of this module you will learn the theoretical and practical principles of conducting a project; at the end of which you will submit a formative piece of work. The final part of the module will enable you to conduct an independent project that will demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical, investigative principles to a topic relevant to your chosen area of practice.
The processes in this module will enable you to develop your ability to work independently through the research process. You will enhance your critical analytical and appraisal skills but also digital skills such as searching digital databases along with your organisational skills.
2. Learning Outcomes
All modules in UK Higher Education have learning outcomes that you will study towards and then demonstrate you have met them. In order to do this, you will draw on many factors such as:
• your prior learning and experience
• the module learning units and task
• your wider reading, reflection (and possibly practice)
• and, also the expertise of your tutors and other students.
In most modules, it will be clear exactly which of these learning outcomes is assessed in which of the assessments you have to submit and pass.
On successful completion of this learning, and this module, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to work independently
2. Critically appraise evidence in relation to an area of practice
3. Assessment types used in this module
Formative Assessment
Formative assessments and activities are opportunities for you to apply, practice and make sense of the learning materials and content that you have worked with. These will mainly be located in the End of Unit Activities.
We have written these to help you to (for example) practice some academic or professional skills, such as referencing, literature searching and analysing materials. You can choose how much time and effort you put into these activities.
These may take the form of individual tasks, such as: reading some text, or watching a video and documenting your reaction to it; responding to some discussion points on the discussion forum; considering a case study; or, participating in a live online classroom session.
The main aim of formative activities is for you to receive feedback on your contribution, performance, or progress that will help you prepare for and complete your final summative module assessment.
All modules you take will vary in several ways, and the type of feedback you get for each formative assessment or activities will vary too. If your tutors give you marks as part of the feedback, these will not be counted in your final module grade.
Formative Assessment: Proposal template
Word count: 8 pages maximum, which may include charts and tables. A typical submission ranges from 4 to 8 pages (see the sample in the assessment area).
Suggested Submission Date/Time: Tuesday on Week 8 (13th Nov 2018) 9pm UK time. If your submission is later than this, please confirm with your supervisor in advance.
You will get feedback on the proposal once by 27th Nov 2018 9pm UK time. For late submission, please allow 2 weeks for feedback.
Assignment
This piece of work will be submitted to Turnitin.
There is a proposal template for you to complete that can be found in the assessment area of blackboard.
Marking scheme (this will not be counted toward your final grade)
• Project question using an appropriate focused question model 20%
• Clear and appropriate aims and objectives that demonstrates understanding of the difference between the two 20%
• A well evidenced rationale for the topic/project in relation to the outlined practice context 40%
• A clear and appropriately presented project plan, data analysis and tools to be used 20%
Summative Assessment
Summative assessments are the pieces of coursework that you must complete which contribute towards your final grade in this module. If you have a Support Plan you can discuss with your module tutor what reasonable adjustments you need.
Summative assessment in this particular module is via one piece of submitted work.
You will be expected to submit your summative assessments via the Turnitin assessment points on the Assessment page in My Learning section of the module.
You should take the feedback that you receive from the completion of summative assessment in this module and use it to help you improve your performance in future assessments.
4. Specific Assessment Component Guidelines
Assessment description: Rapid Evidence Assessment (dissertation)
Assessment Component: Assessment weighting: Assessment limits: Assesses module learning outcome/s:
1 100% 9,000 words (see the word count guidance) 1 & 2
Last submission Date/Time: Provisional feedback released:
DRAFT:
12 March 2019. 21:00 hrs UK time DRAFT feedback:
26 March 2019. 21:00 hrs UK time
Completed final work:
9 April 2019 by 21:00 hrs UK time Completed final work feedback (provisional grade):
30 April 2019 by 21:00 hrs UK time
Detailed guidance
This will consist of an end of project report using an appropriate report format such as (detailed guidance will be provided through the taught component and supervision). More detailed guidance and the mark scheme can be found in an additional document in the assessment area. It is strongly advised that you follow this as your supervisor will use this to provide advice and award marks.
Marking scheme:
Introduction /20
– Use of high quality, current and contemporary literature and/or practice related evidence
– Clear justification of the benefits of an REA and why a response to the focused REA question is needed for practice
Methods /20
– Appropriate methodology for a REA based on the content of the module induction
– Justification and presentation of evidence for decisions made in relation to the aims, objectives, resource and scope of the REA set out in chapter 1
Results /20
– Logical presentation of results and evidence of the findings from each stage of the method presented in chapter 2
– Common themes or topics in response to the REA question have been extracted based on the data extraction method that was presented in chapter 2
– The quality appraisal of the evidence found
Discussion /20
– Critical discussion and analysis of evidence in relation to the REA question and results
– Critical discussion of the findings in relation to the current practice situation
Conclusion /10
– Acknowledgement the limitations of the REA process and findings presented
– Recommendations for practice, research or similar
– Summary and response to the REA question and aim
Abstract, glossary, referencing, appropriate use of appendices, contents, structure /10
– Logical flow of the topic throughout the work in relation to the original question, aims and objectives with a clear response to the question in the conclusion
– Appropriate use and high quality supporting information/documentation e.g. abstract
The grid below provides some further guidance on how marks are awarded. Any box with an ‘!’ indicates a failed piece of work even if you achieve more than 40% in other boxes.
5. Feedback, marking criteria and grading of your assessment
This section tells you how the marker will assess your work fairly. All markers aim for our feedback to be: timely, individual to you, helpful, empowering and manageable.
They will also offer you opportunities to discuss the marking criteria they intend to use, and the type of feedback they intend to give you. You should create a shared understanding of this with them and your peers during the course of the module. They may also give you opportunities to assess your own work and the work of your peers. Look out for these opportunities.
Assessment markers can give you feedback and allocate marks to you using a range of methods and tools that are appropriate to the specific module and assessment. The marker may make comments within your script (in bubbles) and may also give you written comments in the long box. They may give you a form of audio or video feedback.
When they give you feedback on your assessment, as a minimum, your marker will tell you:
• if and how you have met the relevant learning outcomes
• the areas within which you did well in this assessment (they will commend you)
• the areas you could have improved in this assessment (they will make suggestions)
• what activities you can work on to help you in your next studies (you can take these ideas forward with you, and may discuss them with your Personal Tutor. You can also build them into your Action Planning.
In this module specifically, they will use the following tools. This feedback and marking structure will be specific to each component as relevant.