Study Skills Seminar in Human Sciences

Teacher(s)

Simon Saskia;

Language

French

Main themes

Part 1: (for all Bachelors' courses) 15 hours of lectures (15h x 5 lecturers = 75h) - Presentation of information sources (written, oral, visual, figures) … - Introduction to research tools (library, web, etc.) - Definition of the rules of critical analysis and how to apply them - Formalisation of methods of scientific reasoning Part 2 : 15 hours of presentations in large groups (15h x 10 teachers and supervisors = 150h) - Application of these principles and methods to a subject of general interest chosen by degree course (eg.: globalisation, immigration, work and unemployment, European construction) - Presentation of the stages involved in a piece of research - Definition of the subject, the objectives, the methods, relevant information sources - Data compilation and handling - Analysis Part 3 : 15 hours (illustration through practical work) These general topics are divided into a number of specific sub-topics (1 topic per sub-group of 30 students) and lead to practical project work supervised by assistants (+ groups of 30 students) - Choice of an individual sub-topic - Delimitation of the object of study - Primary Analysis and explanation - Development of a critical approach and the capacity to formalize reasoning - Communication of results Completion of a piece of personal work related to students' degree course, using an approach specific to the subject area chosen.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	The aim of this seminar is to equip students with study skills for university, using concrete questions within a subject of their own choosing. Students will come to master the basic skills they need for their university work: using bibliographic references, drawing up critical summaries, using reference conventions, writing skills etc. At the same time, the aim is to make students aware of the concrete issues involved in research, again working within a subject domain of their own choosing. The seminar is conducted in a spirit of openness and will help students to identify the research tools used within their own subject area, in relation to methods used in other subjects taught within the Faculty.

Content

The seminar is given in the form :
Q1) Lectures (presentation of a scientific approach, definition of concepts, critique of sources...) for the general part (Luc Courtois).
Q2) Participative presentations involving an active approach by the student (presentation of a research approach, illustration using concrete examples, proposals and use of adequate methodological and theoretical support).
This second part of the course will approach the following themes in a conceptual and pragmatic way: entering a research field, observation work in the field, construction of a research question, bibliographical research, writing observations and first analyses.

Teaching methods

As for the general part, given by Luc Courtois, the seminar is given in the form of lectures presenting learning modules: Conceptual introduction, presentation of a scientific approach, choice of a subject, documentation, criticism sources, etc.
Due to the sanitary situation and to the COVID measures, the courses will take place in a comodal procedure (lectures in the auditorium, but filmed with the possibility of following from a distance), according to the timetable: S9 Tuesday 10/11, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31 ; S10 Tuesday 17/11, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31 ; S11 Tuesday 24/11, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31 ; S12 Tuesday 01/12, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31 ; S13 Tuesday 08/12, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31 ; S14 Tuesday 15/12, 14:00-1600, DOYE 31.
These provisions are subject to change according to other measures that may be decided upon.
In the second semester, the course is oriented towards a "Practical Exercise" dimension, with field observations, practical work sessions around the bibliography, criticism, research question and the writing of a scientific text.  An assistant accompaniment and a Mooc and readings complete the teaching methods.

Evaluation methods

As for the general part, given by Luc Courtois, the evaluation is based on a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ).
Due to the health situation and COVID measures, the planned examination will take place in an open-book distance procedure via Moodle: please register and follow the instructions.
These provisions are subject to change according to other measures that may be decided upon.
The evaluation of the seminar given in Q2 will be both continuous and certifying. It will be finalized by the completion of a group work presented orally and in writing.

Other information

For the disciplinary part.
Evaluation: continuous evaluation and evaluation of personal work

Online resources

As for the general part, given by Luc Courtois, see the Moodle website, the course filled out "LESPO1125 Séminaire de travail universitaire. Partie générale".

Resources for the second half of the year will also be on Moodle.

Bibliography

Pour les deux parties du cours, les supports de cours (notes écrites et PowerPoint) sont fournis sur Moodle.

Teaching materials

• Pour les deux parties du cours, les supports de cours (notes écrites et PowerPoint) sont fournis sur Moodle.

Faculty or entity

ESPO