“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
This course will introduce you to the world of Applied Computing by teaching you the concepts of computer programming though a series of fun, problem solving activities. Scratch is a new programming language which makes creating interesting computer programs much easier. You will have the opportunity to create your own interactive projects involving sound, graphics and animation, and at the same time learn the fundamental concepts of computer programming. This will be a fun introduction to Applied Computing.
Once you've learned the basics using Scratch then we'll move on to Java. Java is the world's most popular programming language, and in this course you'll be given a gentle introduction to the language with the help of an old computer expert, Pacman. You will learn the basic structure of Java programs, and use this knowledge to help Pacman solve puzzles. This builds on the concepts learnt in the previous topic.
This course will also teach you the skills required to become an efficient researcher. You will be shown how to make best use of the resources and tools available, and how to effectively communicate your work to others.
This course will introduce you to all three main literary genres (prose fiction; poetry; and drama as theatre-text and film). There are quick quizzes for you to do, to help you (and us) assess how well you're grasping detail. There are also key questions for you to consider, that will guide your thinking; and which will help you make your Journal entries.
Assessment will be by an essay at the close of week 2, and an exam at the close of week 4, worth 50% each. Essay topics will be posted nearer the onset of the course; and the exam questions at the end of the course. The exam will be in three parts, each of which must be attempted, covering poetry (a choice between two short contemporary poems, neither of which will have been discussed on the course), prose fiction, and drama. It will be posted some 15 minutes before the onset of the exam, and must be submitted within 15 minutes after the 3-hour duration of the exam.
Facilities for feedback and questions will be enabled nearer the time. Staff will be on standby each day to field your queries and offer advice, subject only to their other teaching commitments.
This course aims to introduce students to the concept of 'globalisation' and to encourage them to think about how it is relevant to today's big political issues. Through examining issues such as war, international terrorism and climate change, this module will encourage students not only to understand the events which are making headline news today; it will also forge a broader appreciation of how these issues have been affected by the forces which are commonly referred to as 'globalisation'.
Various readings will be designated for each week's study – these will be assigned at the beginning of the course. Aside from those readings recommended by their tutor, students will also be expected to conduct their own independent research and will be encouraged to source and analyse contemporary media and political analysis of the topics. Students will thus not only develop a solid understanding of today's major international issues; they will also develop key research skills.
Assessment will be by an essay and an exam (students' final marks will include a continuous assessment element).
The course will focus upon the following topics:
This course studies the development of the first British Empire in the Atlantic world between the mid sixteenth and mid eighteenth centuries. This is an exciting period of change and transformation and we will look at issues such as the creation of a 'British' identity, the development of slavery in the British colonies and relations between settlers and indigenous peoples. The course has two fundamental aims. First we will introduce you to the topic of Atlantic history, placing the history of Britain and America in the context of the Atlantic world. This should provide a basis for understanding the world in which we now live. Second, the course will help you hone and develop some of the skills used by historians at university level. The course will focus on such skills as how historians create and defend their arguments, how you should write and construct essays, and how we can use numbers and statistics in support of arguments.
Assessment for this course is 100% continuous assessment. You will be required to write one essay of 2,000 words for 30% of the mark - essay topics will be circulated at the commencement of the module; keep a regular course journal of your reactions to readings and discussions for 25% of the course mark; complete an online skills workbook for 20% of the mark; provide a review of an academic journal article for 10% of the final mark; and participate in online discussions and debates for 15% of your final mark. You will read a combination of contemporary sources, journal articles and books. All material will be available online.
In week one we will look at the relationship between the first British settlers and Native Americans at the time of first settlement. In week two we will look at migration to the colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, examining who migrated to the colonies and why. In week three we will look at the expansion of British trade in this period and what some historians have called the first consumer revolution of the eighteenth century. In week four we will examine how this expansion of trade also led to the development of the slave trade within the empire and examine the differing experiences of slaves around the empire. All work will be submitted online, and all sources and reading will be available online. Staff will also be available each day to answer questions and provide guidance.
The current course textbook is Alan Taylor, The American Colonies: The Settlement of North America to 1800. It is available in paperback for around £10.00 and the publisher is Penguin (new edition 31 Jul 2003). It's ISBN-10 is : 0142002100 and ISBN-13 is: 978-0142002100.
This course will introduce you to the topic of Health allowing you to explore what this means for you the individual and what it might mean for others in Society. There are many factors which influence our health beliefs and the risky behaviours we engage in. This course seeks to understand some of these complex health behaviours and will introduce you to ways of helping yourself and others to become healthier. There are a number of activities in the course which include quizzes to help you measure your own health and to get you thinking. As the idea of being healthy comes from a personal point of view you will be asked to post your ideas on the discussion boards so we can debate issues raised with each other. This is an important aspect of this course as one of the major roles of any health professional is to help to keep the population as healthy as it can be and we need to share our own ideas of what being healthy means to us as individuals. The discussion board will be accessed each day, if possible and feedback and a summary of points raised will be posted for all to review. Any questions posed will also be responded to at this time.
Assessment consists of an essay at the end of week two and a two hour exam in week four. The essay question will be available at the beginning of the course and a sample exam paper will also be available for you to practice your exam technique. Each assignment is worth 50% and you need to achieve a pass both assignments.
Course Length: 4 weeks
Aiming to enter the University of Dundee as a student is an exciting challenge. You'll have expectations about your subjects and how you're going to learn here. This will probably mean new ways of working since most students usually find that university learning is different from what they've experienced elsewhere; there are also subtle changes as you become more involved in your subject areas. We help you do all of this.
Within Discover Learning at Dundee we have designed Learning Xtra at Dundee as a core course that will prepare you to meet these challenges.
The aim of Learning Xtra is to introduce you to the skills and practices that distinguish a university education - independent thinking, ability to analyse complex issues, and self-expression.
Learning Xtra is presented in eight units. Each unit provides you with insights, learning and assessed tasks that will complement your learning in your other subjects.
To pass Learning Xtra you need to complete two units per week. Successful completion of each Unit ensures that you meet the standard that the University sets. The Units are time-released which means that you need to complete one unit before you can move on to the next. These eight units reflect the learning experience of a student's first year in higher education and we list these below in order:
Unit 1: University and You
Unit 2: Learning and Listening
Unit 3: Efficient Reading and Note-making
Unit 4: Reading Academic Texts
Unit 5: Academic Writing
Unit 6: Academic Team Learning and Report Writing
Unit 7: Assessment at University
Unit 8: Tackling University Exams
The course starts with a revision of basic algebra , including the rules of algebra and the laws of indices. Whilst this should mostly be revision for most students, quite a bit of time is spent studying these basics, as they underpin everything else covered in the course.
The next topic studied is solving equations, both single linear and quadratic equations in one variable and pairs of simultaneous equations in two variables. Sequences and series are covered, albeit quite briefly, with limits of series and sums of arithmetic and geometric series all included. Functions are a very important mathematical structure, which will feature throughout the remainder of the course in one form or another. Therefore time is taken to develop a basic understanding of what functions are and how they are represented in mathematical notation. Compositions of functions are also studied.
Trigonometry is a very useful area of mathematics for solving geometrical problems, and forms a major part of this course. Topics covered include degrees and radians, the sine, cosine and tangent functions, trigonometric formulae and techniques of solving trigonometric equations.
The course concludes with an introduction to calculus, looking at both differentiation and integration. The differentiation section of the course includes the definition of and techniques of differentiation, finding and classifying maxima and minima, and curve sketching. The integration section of the course covers antiderivatives and indefinite integrals, definite integrals, and the evaluation of areas beneath and between curves.
This course aims to give students an idea of what philosophers do and how they do it through critical study of two texts broadly related by the theme of education: Plato's Meno and Rousseau's Emile. Related texts will also be examined.
The course operates on two levels:
The course will delivered through a variety of online resources. Students will be expected to do preparatory reading of primary and secondary sources and to contribute to online discussion. Assessment will be by essay and exam (students' final marks will include a continuous assessment element).
The course will consist of the following approximate order of topics.
Week 1:The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to several important areas in Psychology. By the end of this course, you will have a much better understanding of the breadth to Psychology. You will also have a better understanding of the ways in which Psychological theories are developed through research.
Basic concepts covered include:Each member of the teaching team will provide a reading list tailored to their specific course. As an initial point of reference students are advised to consult Gross, RD (2005) Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour 5th Ed. London: Hodder & Stoughton, or earlier editions.
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