Research Project B

Professor Douglas BellSchool of Academic Language & Learning (SALL)

Presentation Overview

Describe the aims and purpose of Research Project B, introduce the CDU Common Units Program, and explain how Research Project B ties in with this.

Outline the CDU requirements for advanced standing and explain the assessment criteria for Research Project B.

Provide an overview of the support opportunities available to teachers and senior students taking part in Research Project B.

The story so far…

So what exactly is Research Project B?

Research Project B is a subject offered to senior High School students before they apply to join university.

It serves as a vehicle for developing academic literacies, and in so doing, aims to better prepare such students for some of the demands of the Higher Education environment.

Research Project B

Successful completion of Research Project B provides students with advanced standing for CDU’s undergraduate academic literacy Common Units:

CUC 100 Academic Literacies through Exploring Sustainability CUC 106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology

Hmm, sounds good, but what does Research Project B actually involve?

Research Project B requires students to:

Engage with community issues

Think critically and creatively

Research, write and reflect on their personal learning

Research Project B

Source: housing.ucr.edu

Credible research using a range of secondary sources

Referencing skills that comply with a recognised academic style (e.g APA; Harvard)

A final report or essay, which follows the accepted university conventions with regard to overall layout, academic credibility and organisation of ideas

An oral and visual presentation of findings

To be deemed to have successfully completed Research Project B, students must provide evidence of:

Research Project B

The Common Unit Program

Three compulsory first year units which aim to help students make a successful transition to the demands of studying at university.

Academic skills

Cultural knowledge

Critical enquiry

Creativity and teamwork

Citizenship and social responsibility

Confidence to participate in academic culture

The Common Unit Program

The Common Units at CDU develop:

One academic literacy common unit:

CUC 100 Academic Literacies for Exploring Sustainability

(for Humanities and Social Sciences subjects)

or

CUC 106 Design & Innovation:Communicating Technology

(for Business, Technology, Engineering and Science subjects)

And then:

CUC 107 Cultural Intelligence & Capability

The Common Unit Program

In their first year at CDU, all undergraduate students are required to successfully complete:

The Common Unit Program

1. Critical thinking, reading and researching

2. Notetaking, summarising and paraphrasing

3. Academic referencing

4. Writing for different academic genres:

– Annotated bibliographies

– Reports

– Discursive essays

5. Verbally presenting information

6. Relevant ICT skills to engage with online learning & present assignments professionally

Specific academic literacies developed by the Common Units:

Source: languagemagazine.com

1. Critical thinking, reading and researching

2. Notetaking, summarising and paraphrasing

3. Academic referencing

4. Writing for different academic genres:

– Reports & Essays

5. Verbally presenting information

6. ICT skills to present assignments professionally

Specific Common Unit academic literacies developed by Research Project B:

Research Project B

Research Project B

When completing Research Project B, students must achieve a minimum of 65% when measured against CDU assessment criteria.

Student performance is evaluated using the same benchmarks which are applied in the Common Units when assessing written submissions and oral presentations.

Those that successfully meet the standard, receive the full 10 credit points for either CUC 100 or CUC 106 and therefore have advanced standing for these modules when they enrol at CDU.

Research Project B

Support we offer:

For teachers

Workshops on:

• Researching & referencing

• Academic conventions for written work and oral presentations

For students

• Bespoke research and referencing workshops at the CDU library during termtime

• Access to CDU academics as expert mentors when choosing suitable report topics

Research Project B

The (highly successful)

story so far…

Research Project B

In 2016, 45 RPB students from a range of NT schools (Casuarina, Taminmin, Good Shepherd, Marrara) presented to a panel of CDU experts.

All were deemed eligible to be awarded credit for the academic literacy common units.

Their teachers reported that the project was a great success:

o It boosted students confidence for attending university

o It encouraged other students to enrol and recognise the benefits of this valuable subject.

13 teachers attended the CDU support workshops

They reported that these were useful in:

o Confirming that their curriculum and standards are appropriately aligned with CDU’s literacy expectations

o Providing a great opportunity to network with other RPB teachers

Research Project B

For their part, the students reported that they loved attending the library research workshops on the CDU campus.

Further Details

Dr Nicola Rolls

Theme Leader, Common Units Program

E-mail: nicola.rolls@cdu.edu.au

Website: learnline.cdu.edu.au/commonunits/

Thank you