Assessment – Learning, Knowledge and Effective Performance –
Submission date:
Re-sit assignment By Thursday 18th August before 1600 hrs to
Reception, Brindley Building.
One copy of the assignment(s) to be submitted.
DIFFERENT QUESTION TO BE SUBMITTED FROM PREVIOUS
SUBMISSION
Level 5 Task 1 – (100% of the marks for level 5, 70% of the marks for level 6)
You should submit a 2000 word essay, answering ONE question from the list
below. A minimum of 5 Harvard references should be used.
Question 1
It is said that innovation is essential for companies who wish to achieve a
competitive edge. How can organisations encourage innovation through
learning and development activities? You should refer to some real-life
company examples to support your answer.
Question 2
You are a Learning and Development specialist. Your organisation has an
issue with poor management and it has been suggested that this might be
improved by implementing a Management Development programme. From a
strategic point of view, give your ideas (with justifications) for what such a
programme might include and how this might help to address the situation.
You should give thought to how the programme might be delivered, training
methods to be used and benefits/ drawbacks of running such a programme.
Question 3
We are currently experiencing hard times following on from the recession and
government cut-backs. In such difficult economic situations, organisations
often cut their training budgets as a means of saving money. With this in
mind, make some recommendations for cost-effective training solutions which
could be applied in your organisation (or an organisation with which you are
familiar). Justify your choices with reasoned argument and use of academic
references.
Question 4
Successful organisations need to “develop ‘learning cultures’ in which
employees are naturally helped to learn on a continuing basis”, Reid and
Barrington, (2001)
How can an organisation create a “learning culture”? What are the
advantages? Refer to examples from leading-edge organisations to illustrate
your answer.
Question 5
Identify 3 key areas which you feel will impact on the future of learning. What
should organisations do in order to meet these challenges? Support your
answer with academic references and real-life company examples.
Semester 1 questions and some SURF Colleges
1
Evaluation of training and learning can be an ad hoc and half hearted
affair, based mainly on the distribution of “happy sheets”. Given the vast
amounts of money spent on training and development in the workplace,
outline some useful recommendations on how training can be evaluated
in a meaningful way.
2
“Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a process by which
individuals take control of their own learning and development, by
engaging in an on-going process of reflection and action.” (Megginson
and Whittaker, 2003). How does your own organisation (or one with
which you are familiar) encourage CPD? How can CPD be made to be
both effective and relevant –to both the individual and the employer?
3
Employers often treat expenditure on training as a cost rather than a
benefit. Should employers foot the bill for training – or should it be the
responsibility of Individuals – or the Government? Discuss with reasoned
argument, the case for who should fund work-related training and
learning activity?
4
Following on from the Leitch Review, 2006, the Government has focused
on ways of reducing the skills gaps that exist in the UK workforce.
Critically evaluate some of the initiatives used to try and improve the
skills in the UK workforce, and discuss whether they have been, or are
likely to be effective.
5
Is student attendance at College an outdated idea? With the push for elearning and the introduction of technology into the learning arena, is
there still a need for traditional ways of teaching? Argue the case for (or
against) the use of technology as the best means of learning. You
should refer to real life company examples to support your case.
(NB The above 5 questions have been previously approved by the External
examiner)
RESIT ASSIGNMENT – LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3
For the resit at level 2 you should select a different question from Task 1.
For those resitting Level 3 – this cannot be a question that you have
answered previously, you must select a different question.
Level 2
2000 words
Level 3
3000 words
You should cite at least five academic references, using the Harvard
Referencing System.
Assignment word count
Word count should be to within 10% - no penalty up to 10%. 11-20% excess
= 10% reduction in the marks, 21-30% = 20% reduction, 31% plus = work will
be capped at a pass grade.
Assessment - Learning, Knowledge and Effective Performance – Level 3
At level 3, You have 2 Tasks to complete. One question taken from the list in
task 1 above, worth 70% of the marks PLUS the question in Task 2 below,
worth 30% of the marks.
Task 2 – 30% of the marks
Write a 1000 word critical review of 2 contemporary
academic/professional articles, relating to learning and
development in the workplace. These will be given out during the
module. Harvard referencing should be used.
Assignment submission arrangements.
Submission Time and Date: Tuesday 3rd May 2011
You should hand in one copy of your assignment by the time and date above to the
appropriate ‘hand-in location’ at the Business School Receptions on either the second
floor Brindley Building, B227 or K166, Octagon, Beaconside as specified above. The
Brindley reception is open Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 6.00pm and Friday 9.00am
to 4.30pm. The Octagon reception is open Monday to Thursday 8:45am to 4:30pm
and Friday until 4:00pm. Fill in the Business School front cover (staple together with
your assignment). This must be date stamped. MAKE SURE that you fill in all the
relevant details on this form (these are given above!). One copy of the front sheet, date
stamped, will be returned to you by the Office. This is your receipt, keep it. You can
submit work by post, but you must send it recorded delivery, it must be postmarked
two days before the deadline date and a copy must be kept by you in case it is lost in
the post. Faxed assignments will not be accepted.
There has been an important change to the academic regulations that will come into
force for all on-campus and UK partner students’ from this academic year – September
2010/11.
In essence, if you fail to submit any assessment for a module you will be given a
Grade Point N (Fail due to non-submission) for that module and you will no
longer have a guaranteed re-sit entitlement. Any further attempt entitlement will be
at the discretion of the Award Board. This regulation applies to all undergraduate and
postgraduate awards and at all levels. The regulation change has been incorporated
into the University’s published academic regulations available on the website at the
following links.
Undergraduate awards:
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/ugrad_mod_fram_tcm44-26763.pdf
Assessment guidelines
1. Logical coherence and structure
2. The work should be concise and relevant and the meaning should be clear
3. Logical arguments with sound conclusions should be made
4. Formulation and interpretation of relevant data and information, Effective presentation
of the assignment. This also means that the work must be word-processed. It should
be neat and demonstrate conventional spelling and grammar.
5. You will be expected to research and read widely, a minimum of 5 different sources
should be used in your answer to the question.
6. Sources of information/quotations used in the work should be properly referenced
using the Harvard method.
Assessment criteria
To gain a mark of 70% or over: excellent performance in this assignment
The work must meet all criteria shown in notes and guidelines above to an excellent standard.
The work will demonstrate a very wide range of reading, research, critical thought and
analysis, and a very good understanding of topics and their implications. Use of many
examples, data and information in support of your ideas and concepts.
To gain a mark of 60-69%: good performance in this assignment
The work must meet all criteria shown in notes and guidelines above to a good standard. The
work will demonstrate a wider range than average of reading and research, some critical
thought, analysis, and clear understanding of topics and their implications. Use of examples,
data and information in support of your ideas and concepts.
To gain a mark of 50-59%: Average performance in this assignment
The work must meet all criteria shown above in notes and guidelines above to a fair standard.
The work will demonstrate a larger range of reading than that given for a pass,
research, some demonstration of analytical thought, and an understanding of topics and their
implications. Use of some examples, data and information in support of your ideas and
concepts.
To gain a mark of 40-49%: Pass rate performance in this assignment
The work must meet all criteria shown above in notes and guidelines above to
a fair standard. The work will demonstrate an acceptable range of reading (a
minimum of 5 sources per question) and some research, an attempt at
critical thought and analysis, but with a limited understanding of topics and
their implications.
0-39 % Fail: Assignment performance that does not meet requirements for a pass
The work does not meet the guidelines shown above and fails to demonstrate any
understanding. The range of reading is minimal and there is no evidence of research, thought
and analysis.
Work handed in after the deadline will be labelled ‘Late’ and marked at zero, unless you
have approved extenuating circumstances. See notes above about non – submission.
If you fail to hand in, you are very unlikely to get another chance to resit the module!