PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILL

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILL

tested here
LO1 1. Analyse the different approaches and techniques that facilitate detailed study at the postgraduate level in business and management issues.
X
LO2 2. Evidence readiness, suitability and skills for Masters level study in business.
X
Assessment types

2000 word report
Weighting
25% PASS/FAIL

25%
PASS/FAIL
PASS/FAIL
Assessment type, weighting and LOs tested by this assessment indicated in the shaded area above by a ?
Important requirements (Delete where appropriate, if other please provide detail)
Mode of Working: Individual
Presentation Format: Course work and Presentation.
Resit/retrieval date July 11th 2016
Assessment limits (in accordance with UWBS assessment tariff)

Presentation 10 minutes plus 2000 word report.

Do clearly state your student number when submitting work but do not indicate your name. Always keep a copy of your work. Always keep a file of working papers (containing, for instance, working notes, copied journal article and early publishs of your work, etc.) that show the development of your work and the sources you have used. You may need to show this to tutor at some point so notes should be clear and written in English. This is an important requirement. There may be circumstances where it is difficult to arrive at a mark for your work. If this is so you may be asked to submit your file within 3 working days and possibly meet with your tutor to answer questions on your submission.
Explanation of submission requirements and further guidance

• Assessments are subject to a word limit to ensure consistency of approach across all modules. Your work should not exceed the limit indicated (excluding references and appendices). Do not feel that you have to “achieve” this word count in your work. What is important is that the work satisfies the stated learning outcomes which are articulated through the assessment criteria (see following page).
• Care is taken to ensure that work has been marked correctly. Checks are conducted by both a second lecturer and an independent expert from outside the University on batches of work.
• Your work will not be returned to you but you will receive detailed feedback explaining how your mark has been arrived at and how your work could have been improved upon.
• Always use the Harvard style referencing system. The Universitys Learning Information Services have produced a series of guides covering a range of topics to support your studies and develop your academic skills including a guide to Harvard referencing http://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills_for_learning/study_guides.aspx
• Expensive or elaborate bindings and covers for submissions are not required in most instances. (Refer to guidelines however in the case of dissertations).
• The Business School has a policy of anonymous marking of individual assessments which applies to most modules. You should not identify yourself directly in the work you submit and you may need to use phrases such as “the author of this assignment ….”in the detail of your submission.
Avoid academic misconduct
Warning: Collusion, plagiarism and cheating are very serious offences that can result in a student being expelled from the University. The Business School has a policy of actively identifying students who engage in academic misconduct of this nature and routinely applying detection techniques including the use of sophisticated software packages.
• Avoid Collusion. The Business School encourages group working, however to avoid collusion always work on your own when completing individual assessments. Do not let fellow students have access to your work at any stage and do not be tempted to access the work of others. Refer to your module tutor if you do not understand or you need further guidance.
• Avoid Plagiarism. You must use available and relevant literature to demonstrate your knowledge of a subject, however to avoid plagiarism you must take great care to acknowledge it properly. Plagiarism is the act of stealing someone elses work and passing it off as your own. This includes incorporating either unattributed direct quotation(s) or substantial paraphrasing from the work of another/others. For this reason it is important that you cite all the sources whose work you have drawn on and reference them fully in accordance with the Harvard referencing standard. (This includes citing any work that you may have submitted yourself previously). Extensive direct quotations in assessed work is ill advised because it represents a poor writing style, and it could lead to omission errors and a plagiarism offence could be committed accidentally.
• Avoid the temptation to “commission” work or to cheat in other ways. There are temptations on the internet for you to take “short cuts”. Do not be tempted to either commission work to be completed on your behalf or search for completed past academic work.
When you submit your work you will be required to sign an important declaration that the submission is your own work, any material you have used has been acknowledged and referenced, you have not allowed another student to have access to your work, the work has not been submitted previously, etc.

Assessment Brief/ Task
The detailed requirements for this task are as follows:
Assignment one

The audio visual presentation will start with a personal learning targets and intentions statement You will then present the identification, analysis and reflection of following :
A personal learning and targets statement.
A personal swot analysis.
A personal skills audit.
A personal learning styles assessment.
Teamwork assessment activity Belbin model
You will then offer S.M.A.R.T learning objectives to carry forward into your written report and portfolio.
The 2000 words report
In the report you will expand on the findings from the personal audit activities. You will offer supportive discussion reflection and analysis. This will be supported by current models, theories and concepts in self assessment, personal development planning and teaching and learning strategies. You will be expected to offer from your wider reading and research Harvard reference citations to support findings and assertions from recognised “bodies of knowledge, journal articles and reputable research materials.
During the taught sessions/workshop sessions you will receive further separate briefing sheets with regard to the presentation and the contents of its supportive report.
Youre presentation and report will be graded as PASS/FAIL.

The following information is important when:
• Preparing for your assessment
• Checking your work before you submit it
• Interpreting feedback on your work after marking.
Assessment Criteria
The module learning Outcomes tested by this assessment task are indicated on page 1. The precise criteria against which your work will be marked are detailed in the assessment criteria.
Performance descriptors
Performance descriptors indicate how marks will be arrived at against each of the above criteria. The descriptors indicate the likely characteristics of work that is marked within the percentage bands indicated below.
Assessment Criteria

Performance descriptors
Performance descriptors indicate how marks will be arrived at against each of the above criteria. The descriptors indicate the likely characteristics of work that is marked within the percentage bands indicated.
Level 7
% Work will often demonstrate some of the following features

70-100 Distinction

A fine standard of work. The work varies from very good (70-79%), excellent (80-89%) to outstanding (in excess of 90%). Aspects of this work are of a standard which could be considered for future publication in a professional journal. The work demonstrates a high level of originality with challenges to current theory and/or practice and specific, and examples of contestability. There is evidence of mature synthesis of theoretical exemplars, underpinning principles and practical interpretation. No obvious errors in referencing or grammar or syntax. The work demonstrates engagement in an academic debate which presents clear evidence of a considered (possibly deep) understanding of the professional issues studied, the approach adopted and the position taken. The work fully considers the complexity of the context in which it is situated and the impinging external factors; it takes cognisance of differing perspectives and interpretations and recognises dilemmas. Ideas are presented in a succinct manner and conclusions and/or reflections are well reasoned.

60-69 Merit

The work demonstrates a capacity to express views based on sound argument and solid evidence in an articulate and concise way, and, where relevant, to put forward and make use of criteria for the judgment of theories and issues. There is evidence of effective engagement in a critical dialogue relating to professional practice, a clearly presented overview of an area of concern, and a comparative review of key authors, rival theories and major debates. The work demonstrates a willingness to question and to explore issues and to synthesize theoretical perspectives and practical application within a given professional context. Some small repeated errors in grammar or syntax. Possibly failure to apply Harvard referencing standard correctly in places.

50-59 Pass

The structure and focus are evident and relevant to the assignment task. There is evidence of engagement with pertinent issues. Key authors and major debates are clearly presented and there is evidence of suitable basic reading. The work explores and analyses issues, but is not strong on presenting synthesis or evaluations. The work is mainly descriptive, but has achieved all the learning outcomes. Some repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

40-49 Fail.

Whilst some of the characteristics of a pass have been demonstrated, the work does not address each of the outcomes for the specified assessment task. There may be little evidence of an ability to apply the principles of the module to a wider context. The work may be an overly descriptive account demonstrating only minimal interpretation, and very limited evidence of analysis, synthesis or evaluation. No counterarguments or alternative frames of reference are generated or considered. There is evidence of sufficient grasp of the modules learning outcomes to suggest that the participant will be able to retrieve the module on resubmission.
Fail 0-39

The work has failed to address the outcomes of the module briefing and there are fundamental misconceptions of the basis of the module. The work is mainly descriptive with too few references to appropriate literature and little evidence of independent thought or criticality. This work is not coherent and shows severe faults in structure and /or presentation. Faulty application of Harvard referencing standard and/or faulty grammar and syntax. Possibly it includes unsubstantiated statements or assertions. It is unstructured and extremely badly presented. Little or no real attempt to address assignment brief or learning outcomes.

To help you further:
• Refer to the WOLF topic for contact details of your module leader/tutor, tutorial inputs, recommended reading and other sources, etc. Resit details will also appear on WOLF.
• The Universitys Learning Information Services offer support and guidance to help you with your studies and develop your academic skills http://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills_for_learning/study_guides.aspx