PSP Guide for Students 27.03.2014

Photo: Juha Sarkkinen

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Contents

Background ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Getting Started .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Creating a New PSP ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Objectives and Self-Assessment .................................................................................................................... 6

Scheduling Your Studies .................................................................................................................................. 7

Commenting on Individual Courses ............................................................................................................. 8

Adding Study Modules to the PSP ................................................................................................................. 8

Sending the PSP for Approval....................................................................................................................... 10

Approved PSP and Grading........................................................................................................................... 10

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Background The University of Oulu Council for Education has decided that all students commencing their studies in autumn 2011 will begin using the PSP (Personal Study Plan) function in Oodi. The purpose of this guide is to introduce the main elements of the PSP environment and provide instructions on how to get started.

The following process chart shows the ePSP process at the University of Oulu:

Figure 1. ePSP process at the University of Oulu According to the PSP instructions, students will be offered the opportunity for personal guidance at least twice during their studies: once during their first academic year and again when constructing their bachelor’s thesis. Master’s level students will also be called for an appointment with their PSP advisor (teacher, programme coordinator, thesis advisor etc.). In case the students’ studies are not progressing as planned, the PSP advisor should call the student for an appointment. Main guidelines for PSP advising at the University of Oulu can be found at: http://www.oulu.fi/oodienglish/students/study-plan.

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Getting Started 1. Access WebOodi at https://weboodi.oulu.fi/oodi/ 2. Log in by using your paju username and password and choose the PSP link on the left. 3. Select your planned graduation year from the drop-down menu and save your selection.

Creating a New PSP 1. Begin devising your PSP by choosing ”Create new PSP”. 2. Select a degree structure template according to your major subject and the level of the

degree by choosing “Select” (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Selecting Degree structure template.

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3. Name your PSP and write it in the “My PSP’s name” –field (Figure 3). It is best to name your PSP clearly e.g. after the major subject and degree level. Oodi will automatically add the creation date.

4. After this, fill in the basic information of the degree structure. You cannot make changes to compulsory studies. Verify the selective courses you wish to include in your basic information and select them. Finish by choosing “Save”.

Figure 3. Naming the PSP.

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Once you have named your PSP and saved the basic information, the “front page” of the PSP will open (Figure 4). At the top of the page you will see a menu and tabs through which you will be able to edit your PSP. You can change the basic information by choosing “Edit the degree structure”.

Figure 4. Menu and tabs at PSP Front page

Objectives and Self-Assessment Especially at the beginning of your studies it is recommended to reflect upon and write down your PSP objectives and goals. You can do this by choosing “PSP Objectives” on the top menu. In the two text boxes that open (“My objectives” and “Self-Assessment”), you can write your own reflections and evaluate your personal progress. If you want your advisor to be able to view your writing, check the box “Visible to the advisors”. Don’t forget to save!

PSP menu

PSP tabs

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Scheduling Your Studies The best way to schedule your PSP is to schedule multiple modules at once. This can be done through the “Schedule” tab (Figure 5). The recommended completion period is suggested with darkened squares, but the choices may be altered according to your personal plan. NB! The University of Oulu uses only two “periods”, autumn semester and spring semester. Once you have finished choose “Save”.

Figure 5. Scheduling your studies in PSP.

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Commenting on Individual Courses In addition to objectives and self-assessment, you may comment on individual courses or study modules by clicking the -icon next to the name of a study module on the “Structure of the PSP” -tab. Again, you may choose whether or not the advisor can view your comments. Once saved, the icon will appear yellow .

Adding Study Modules to the PSP Studies which are compulsory in your degree are automatically shown on the PSP front page and you may not change them. Minor subjects and elective courses however can be added by searching for them manually and adding them in the PSP as follows: Under “Minor subject studies” and its explanatory text you will find the link “Add courses to minor subject studies”. Click on the link and you will be able to search for courses and study modules according to their name or code, type, unit or by browsing the course catalogue. E.g. like this:

Figure 6. Searching for courses and study modules to add to PSP

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By pressing ”Search Courses” a list of study modules which meet the search criteria will open. After selecting a course add it to your PSP by choosing ”Add to PSP”. If the desired study module has not been created in WebOodi, you construct it by adding required courses individually. If you want to remove courses that you have added to you PSP, press ”Delete”. You can add courses to your PSP on the ‘Other completed courses’ –tab. This tab also includes partial credits and substitutive courses. If a course consists of several partial credits, the first completed credit is marked directly on the PSP. The remaining credits are registered in ‘Other completed courses’. In this case you have to individually transfer the credits from the ‘Other completed courses’ –tab to your PSP. In order for a course to be complete, make sure that all of its partial credits have been completed. You can verify the scope of a course or a study unit by selecting the course code –link.

Figure 7. Partial credits can be added to the PSP on the ’Other completed courses’ –tab.

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Sending the PSP for Approval 1. Once you feel that your PSP is ready, you can send it to your tutor teacher or other PSP advisor. First change the status of your PSP from draft to primary by choosing ”Set to primary” and confirm by choosing “Change the status of PSP”. 2. After changing the status you can send your PSP for approval. Choose ”Submit for Approval” and select your advisor from the list. You can also attach an optional message. Read the delivery options at the bottom of the screen and check the box which states that you have read and accepted the terms. By pressing ”Send for Approval” the PSP will be sent to your tutor teacher or other PSP advisor who will be informed about it by e-mail. Wait for your advisors’ comments. NB! You cannot edit your PSP once it has been sent to your advisor. You can, however, cancel sending and re-edit your PSP if your advisor has not accepted the PSP for approval. If cancelling is possible, you will see a “Cancel submission” -link.

Approved PSP and Grading Your advisor can comment on your PSP and/or approve it. You will see your tutor teacher’s or PSP advisors’ comments on the tab “Advisors’ Comments”. If your tutor teacher or advisor has made comments, you may have to re-edit your PSP, after which you can resend it back to your advisor. If you have questions concerning substitutive courses or the recognition of previous studies, contact your advisor. Once the PSP has been approved, it can no longer be modified. This means that when you start making a new PSP, you should open the version marked as primary and check it has the same date in “Edited” column as the approved PSP has. The green checkmark in front of a course or a study module signifies that it has been registered as completed. You can print your PSP on the “Structure of the PSP” tab. Choose “Print PSP” and select the document form (PDF/html) and whether you want to print the PSP with or without commentary.