BSc Speech and Language Therapy / Course details

Skills for critical thinkers runs in semester 1 of the second year of study and will build on the academic skills unit in Y1 and support students ahead of the Y3 unit focussing on leadership.  

This course unit provides key knowledge, understanding and skills required for students to develop and enhance their critical thinking skills in relation to their own work and the work of others (e.g. the published literature). Students will be supported with skills such as how to deconstruct essay questions, evaluate evidence, develop logical and coherent arguments, and present a clear and direct answer. These are essential academic and professional skills.

Throughout the unit students will be supported to explore strategies for  

• engaging with academic texts and ideas  
• effective assessment preparation
• engaging with feedback for continuous improvement
• understanding social responsibility and sustainability 

The unit aims to:

• Develop students critical reading and thinking skills for academic and professional contexts regardless of educational background and experience
• Provide opportunities for students to access support for developing academic skills relevant to learning and assessment specific to the needs of speech and language therapy students
• Improve students’ ability to engage with and use feedback constructively for learning and development
• Foster understanding of social responsibility in academic and professional setting

Learning and teaching processes will include tutor led lectures and workshop sessions. Online resources will be used to support directed asynchronous teaching and learning. To support independent study, learning materials will be provided on the unit’s online learning environment.

• Describe, synthesise and critically evaluate published research findings.
• Recognise the importance of feedback for academic and professional development.
• Discuss social responsibility and understand their role in ensuring and promoting sustainable practices. 

• Synthesize selected evidence from the appropriate directed reading.
• Present a clear discussion of the topic, which is accurately expressed with appropriate referencing.
• Engage in self-directed learning that will promote academic and professional development.
• Synthesise, organise and begin to evaluate research findings and present them in a logical argument, clearly and accurately expressed.
• Reflect on feedback and apply it to improve future performance. 

• Use databases to find peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Write clearly and concisely in an appropriate formal style in order to communicate information accurately and reliably.
• Use appropriate methods to search for published research findings and original sources.
• Utilise library, electronic and online resources  
• Develop structured plans for assessments.
• Manage time and resources efficiently, demonstrating an awareness of sustainable study and work practices. 

• Develop ability to write clearly and concisely and using appropriate terminology in a range of formats.
• Independently gather, organise, and synthesise material from various sources.
• Reflect and comment on their own performance or work, identifying strengths and areas for improvement where appropriate.
• Utilise library and electronic resources to support and extend learning.
• Demonstrate ethical awareness and responsibility, including the role of social responsibility and sustainability in academic and professional contexts. 

Feedback will be provided through in class discussions, via peers and tutors. Self reflection will be encouraged through the provision of structured exercises and directed independent study resources. Students will be able to self evaluate their performance through quizzes linked to structured activities. A summative mark will be provided for the assignment accompanied by detailed feedback from the marker. 

Students will be directed to resources as appropriate including My Learning Essentials resources.