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Academic Skills for University Success: Capstone

Approx. 32 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course aims to improve academic skills such as critical thinking, reading and writing, research, and time management. Students will learn different techniques to help them become more efficient learners.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to improve critical thinking skills
Develop effective reading and writing strategies
Master research skills and time management techniques

Learning Outcomes

Improved critical thinking skills
Effective reading and writing strategies
Efficient research and time management techniques

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge required
Open to all levels of students

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Self-paced
Online
Interactive

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Notable People in This Field

Barbara Oakley
Cal Newport

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Description

This Specialization is aimed at preparing students for undergraduate study in an English-speaking university. The course equips you for full participation and engagement with your studies by building awareness and understanding of the core values and expectations of academic culture, and providing you with practical strategies to apply to your studies.

In the Capstone Project, you will apply the academic knowledge and skills you have learnt throughout courses 1-4 to research, write and present a project proposal that addresses a complex, real-world problem related to your field of interest and/or future study. After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Apply a range of idea generation techniques 2. Apply research strategies to search, collect, select, process, and cite information 3. Use the research process to develop and critically analyse ideas 4. Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate and analyse ideas and evidence 5. Use problem-solving skills to identify gaps in knowledge and define issues 6. Develop creative and innovative solutions to real-world problems 7. Use appropriate academic genres for written texts and multi-media presentations 8. Use written and oral skills to communicate ideas effectively for academic contexts

Outline

Introduction to the course & How to identify a real world problem
Welcome to the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization!
1.1a Introduction to the Capstone
1.1 Discussions
1.1 Weekly Peer Review
1.1 Resources
1.2a Identifying a Real World Problem
1.3a Causes & Effects
1.4 Writing a Problem Statement
Overview of Weekly Topics & Learning Outcomes
Assessment Overview
Stage 1 - Step by step example
Community Brainstorm
Issues Brainstorm
Cause & Effects Brainstorm
Word Storm
Question Map
Mind Map

Researching the Current State
2.1a Searching for, Evaluating & Using Information for the Capstone
2.2a Writing a Background Paragraph
Processing and Coding
Stage 2 - Step by step example

Solving the problem: Defining the Desired State
3.1a Defining the Desired State
3.2a Evaluating the Actions
Stage 3 - Step by step example
Stage 4 and 5 - Step by step example

Write the project proposal
4.1a Big Picture & SMART goals
4.2a Action Plans
4.3a Participants & Resources
4.4a Titles & Refining and Polishing
Stages 6 and 7 - Step by step example

Plan, write, and produce the video presentation
5.1a Introduction to the Video Presentation
5.2a Creating the Storyboard
5.2b Writing the Script
5.3a Preparing & Recording the Script
Video Example 2 - Gateways For Girls
Video Example One - Early Career Teachers
Storyboard template

Final Submission of Assessment

RESOURCES - Optional
The Resources Section
PSS 2.1a Defining Problems
PSS 2.3a Analytical Tasks
PSS 2.3b Analytical Problems
PSS 3.2a Starting With What You Know
PSS 3.1a Understanding the Problem
PSS 3.1b Strategies for Understanding and Beginning the Problem
IDL 2.1a The Scholarly and Cultural Record
IDL 2.1b Defining Information 2
IDL 2.2b Understanding different kids of information (Journal Articles)
IDL 2.4a Defining an Information Need
IDL 2.3a Accessing Information
IDL 2.4b Developing a Search Strategy
IDL 2.4c Documenting & Evaluating the Search Strategy
COM 3.3a Conducting Research for Essays
COM 3.3b Conducting Research for Reports and Proposals
CT 2.2a Argument Spheres
IDL 3.1a Critically Evaluating Information
IDL 3.1b Critically Evaluating Web Resources
IDL 3.1c Critically Evaluating Wikipedia
IDL 3.2a Establishing Relevance
IDL 3.2b Establishing Relevance
IDL 3.4a Processing and Coding: Step 1 and 2
IDL 3.4b Processing and Coding: Step 3
PSS 4.1a Seeking Different Perspectives
CT 3.2a Common Fallacies
CT 4.1a Claims & Evidence
CT 4.2a Identifying Biases and Assumptions 1
CT 4.2b Identifying Biases and Assumptions 2
CT 4.2c Identifying Biases and Assumptions 3
IDL 4.3a Incorporating Sources
IDL 4.3b Incorporating Sources: Quotes
IDL 4.3c Paraphrasing & Summarising
IDL 4.1a Avoiding Plagiarism
IDL 4.2a Referencing and Attributing Sources
IDL 4.4a Referencing Software
IDL 4.4b Mendeley
IDL 4.4c Zotero
IDL 4.4d EndNote
PSS 3.3a Using Specialised Knowledge
PSS 3.4a Problem-solving with Special Cases
PSS 4.1b Learning from Other People
PSS 4.2a Applying forms of Reasoning & Thinking
PSS 4.2b Questioning Assumptions & Considering Alternatives
PSS 4.3a Using Creative Strategies
CT 3.4a Applying Systems Thinking
CT 3.4b Applying Systems Thinking Expert Video
CT 4.3a Using Critical Thinking to Evaluate Arguments
CT 4.3b Using Critical Thinking to Evaluate Arguments
PSS 4.4a Evaluating Solutions
PSS 4.4b Strategies for Evaluating Solutions
PSS 5.1a Communicating solutions in academic contexts
PSS 5.1b Communicating Solutions in Written & Oral Form
COM 4.2c Coherence & Cohesion
COM 4.3a Polishing and Refining Essays
COM 4.3b Polishing and Refining Reports & Proposals
COM 4.3d Editing for Language
COM 4.4a Formatting & Proofreading Written Assignments for Sumbission
COM 4.3c Incorporating Visual Aids in Written Assignments
COM 5.3a Preparing Visual Aids
IDL 5.1a Copyright
IDL 5.1b Creative Commons Licensing
How to use the Resources Section

Summary of User Reviews

The Academic Skills Project course on Coursera has received positive reviews from many users. The course has been praised for its comprehensive content and interactive approach to learning. Users have reported an overall positive experience with the course.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The interactive approach to learning was a key aspect that many users found to be effective.

Pros from User Reviews

Comprehensive content
Interactive approach to learning
Engaging lectures
Clear and concise instructions
Helpful resources and tools

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too basic
Limited opportunities for interaction with instructors
Some technical difficulties with the platform
Not enough focus on specific academic skills
Some users felt that the course lacked depth in certain areas

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