Course Title

A course leading to a Qualification in one of the Faculties

Study Guide

This Study Guide is aimed at structuring your study efforts and attempts to enhance the learning to be derived from the textbook prescribed for this course. It maps out the specific context of the course (indicating what to study) and suggests how you should study to maximise learning and retention. It will therefore help you to understand the text and remember its content.

The Study Guide serves as the course professor's communication with his/her students and academic tutors. It is important to read trough the Guide before you begin your studies as it contains valuable information.

Please note that this document is linked to several other relevant documents which must also be read with care.

Introduction to the Course

This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of all the important functions and underlying principles of a specific aspect within a field of focus which is handled by one of the faculties. Please read the introduction to the texbook for an overview of the course contents.

Course Information

Credits

On successful completion of this course the student will receive a certain number of credits. Look up the correct number as this will affect the number of tests, assignments and tasks.

Textbook

The prescribed textbook with all learning activities associated with it is central to this course. The details of the textbook prescribed for this course are given. The edition is important, otherwise you will get an older version and the Study Guide will not make the same sence. The following is an example only:

Richard Paul & Linda Elder 2001
Critical Thinking  5^thEdition
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
ISBN: 0-13-086972-4

Course Summary

For a summary of this course, please refer to the summary of the programme which is listed under each faculty.

Study Process

To succeed in this course you need to strategize. Although study strategies will differ from student to student, our students have excelled by following the process described below. It is therefore strongly recommended that you follow this process.

After you have obtained the textbook, you can embark on your studies with your academic tutor, the textbook and the Course CD (compiled by your course professor) as your constant companions. Study activities emanate from the textbook and comprise individual as well as of group work.

Should there be no Course CD for the specific book then follow this example and adapt the activities according to what you find in your particular textbook. Every textbook has different titles for their attention drawing features which you find within each chapter. These will proove very helpful in your studies.

Individual Work

Private study is an essential element of learning. It is strongly advised that you follow the following procedure:

• Get acquainted with the textbook by reading the preface. It contains valuable information with regard to the textbook and therefore to the course in general.
• Memorise the contents of the textbook as it serves as the general framework of the course.
• Read and understand the learning objectives (see chapter summary). Learning objectives are clearly stated to signal important concepts that you are expected to master and give excellent structure to your learning. The linking of the learning objectives and chapter summary provides you with a helpful and coherent way to review the concept in each chapter
• Read the introduction to each chapter as it sets the scene for the chapter.
• For an overview of the chapter that you are studying, read the introduction, all the headings and then the review (or summary if provided). This is also a good way to revise your material.
• Memorise each chapter outline. The outline often lists the primary and secondary headings found in the chapter and provides a detailed framework for each chapter and for the course. It also may give details to the contents of the textbook.
• At this stage you should have a good idea of what this course is all about. You are now ready to fill in the details.
• Read through the chapter by reading the material under each heading (thus filling in the detail of each heading and the chapter framework as a whole). This step should take place with full understanding of the material.
• The key terms (sometimes listed at the end of each chapter) will help you to review the major topics in each chapter. These terms are shown in bold type with marginal definitions at the point of first reference in the chapter.
• Use the professor's lecture notes in conjunction with the text. These notes are additional learning material and do not replace the textbook. You will only be tested on the content of the textbook!
• Use the PowerPoint slides to reinforce your learning. These slides illuminate and build upon key concepts in the text. Presentations include basic chapter outlines and are excellent for review purposes.
• The chapter questions included in boxes (self-check questions) is a way for you to review and assess your comprehension of the core concepts presented in the chapter. The answers to these questions should near the test(up-side down) or at the back of the textbook. However, it is important for you to work out these questions before referring to the answers.
• Read the chapter summary. Just as objectives clarify where you're going, chapter summaries remind you of where you've been. Often chapters conclude with a concise summary organised around the learning objectives stated at the beginning of the chapter.
• Thoroughly study and answer the relevant review questions and questions for analysis at the end of each chapter. These questions are ideal for reviewing your work and can be used to determine how well the material has been mastered. The answers to these questions are sometimes provided to you separately on the course CD-ROM. However, it is important for you to work out these questions before referring to the answers.
• Answer the questions put to you in the unit tests. The solutions to these questions are provided after each unit test

Individual work does not mean that you are isolated from the academic environment. It is strongly advised that you make use of the academic support offered to you in this course.

Group Work

Group work is mandatory for all our students. The following group activities are prescribed for this course:

• The discussion questions are designed to help you grasp the important concepts presented in the chapter and to become more knowledgeable about the topic of the chapter.
• The tutor will provide several application exercises/questions to prepare you to apply both critical- and creative-thinking skills to solve real-world problems within the context of the course.

Your academic tutor facilitates all group work. The solutions to the group activities will be provided to your group by your tutor after the completion and the assessment of these activities.

Exemptions

No activities in the textbook which are not indicated in this guide are mandatory for this course. However, these activities are developmental in nature and participation is strongly recommended.

Academic Support

Excellent student support and the best learning material available are two of the most important pillars that we build our services on to assist you in your studies. CU's academic support system was especially developed for students who are not able to attend regular classes. We strongly recommend that you make extensive use of the support available to you. Some aspects of our support are indicated below.

Course Professor

Your course professor who is a specialist in his field of study presents this course to you. The professor is, amongst other duties, also responsible for the following:

• Development of the curriculum
• Compiling the Study Guide
• Managing the tutorial process
• The assessment process
• The hotline (e-mail) between you, the professor and your academic tutor
• Compiling the Web-based FAQ list for the course
• Keeping the course Website up to date with relevant reading material
• Sending messages to students from the course Website interface

Academic Tutor

Your academic tutor will assist you in the learning process. The role of your tutor in this course is mainly the following:

• Arrange regular face-to-face contact between peers (this could be through a local support group or any other arrangement)
• Act as invigilator during formal assessment sessions (tests)
• Facilitate the prescribed group work
• Assess the prescribed assignments
• Assess the prescribed group work
• Assess the prescribed tasks
• Assess the workbook
• Facilitate all prescribed self-assessing activities
• Facilitate all other prescribed assignments, projects and practicals
• Give general guidance and advice during the learning process
• Give advice on the content of the course material when necessary
• Communicate with the course professor when necessary through the CU Website
• Submit prescribed reports to the Faculty
• Be a sounding board to students
• Act as counsellor

Textbook

One of the best textbooks available is prescribed for this course. It is characterised by the following:

• It is written by a world-renowned author
• It was deliberately selected to reinforce learning and increase comprehension
• It is focused on learning objectives
• It is packed with pedagogical features (in-text learning aids)
• It has state-of-the-art design and cutting edge style
• It is easy-to-use

Course CD

This CD-ROM was specially developed to serve as the platform from which we present all the information and learning methods you need to successfully complete this course. You are strongly advised to explore the CD-ROM to ascertain what is available and how it should be incorporated in your studies.

You have direct access to the following information and learning materials:

• Study Guide (this document)
• Companion Website
• Supplementary material for each chapter (on the web):
  • Chapter Overview
  • Chapter Objectives
  • Chapter Outline
  • Solutions to informal tests (web-link)
• PowerPoint slides
• Assessment Directive
• Support Websites with links to libraries; encyclopaedias; dictionaries; yearbooks; atlases; journals; indexes; and many other study and writing resources
• Academic Guide
• Support software
• Faculty information on matters such as learning programmes, syllabi and courses
• Administrative and technical information
• Selected topics from CU Website

Study Skills

The first course in this programme deals with study skills and sets the norm for learning activities in this and other courses. The aim of the course is to equip students with study skills to enable them to have success in the highly competitive era of mass higher education and to cope with independent study and lifelong learning.

At this stage, you should have completed the particular course with full understanding of its contents. In this course, it is essential that you put those acquired skills into practice.

Assessment

After following the study process you should be ready to be evaluated and to give an account of your performances and achievement.

Assessment Schedule

Prescribed assessment activities are scheduled for this course. Please refer to the course schedule (also referred to as a course calendar) in the Assessment Directive.

Assessment Activities

Assessment activities for a course of 22 credits include the following: [These figures depend on the number of credits or to the specific course]

• Self-assessment
• Five* open-book tests
• Four* written assignments
• Two* oral tasks
• Group Work
• Keeping a workfile

Assessment Directive

Each of the above assessment activities is linked to essential details. Please go through the information pertaining to each activity.

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