The Sticky Campus
The term ‘Sticky Campus’ is a phrase which has emerged from Australasia where the idea is to create an environment where students will want to come to and to stay. Abertay is proud to follow this model as ‘the University should not be seen as simply a place where students come to for formal classes and then leave, instead it should be somewhere they can study in private or in groups, relax, meet their friends, grab a coffee etc.’(Robertson, 2016).
Lectures
In a lecture, lecturers usually speak to a large group of students for a fairly long period (usually about 50 minutes) and students are expected to listen and take notes if required. In most cases the lecturer will use some kind of visual support such as PowerPoint slides, to enhance the content of the lecture.
The purpose of a lecture can often be to provide students with information, or explain ideas, that they will need to complete a coursework assignment, or may be tested on. However, in the UK and at Abertay, the main purpose of a lecture can be to give an overview of a topic or issue, to create a starting point for students to read in more detail on specific aspects of that topic or issue.
Some lectures might follow the development, over time, of thinking on a particular issue or phenomenon. In others the lecturer might present, analyse and evaluate a range of different current perspectives on an issue or phenomenon. In the sciences a technique or procedure might be demonstrated in a lecture, and students expected to apply that technique or procedure in some practical work they have to do. In all these cases, instead of memorising the content of the lecture, the students are expected to go away and do more learning related to the lecture.
Study programmes at Abertay usually include a reading list which students can find on the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) with a range of useful sources to help them complete their assignments.
Online lectures and lecture recordings
Study programmes at Abertay sometimes include a mix of in-person lectures (which you must attend) and online lectures recorded by your tutor which you watch by yourself through the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). This is called blended learning and is a style which is becoming more widely used in UK universities. These recordings are intended as a resource you can return to, for example, if you want to check your understanding, or if there’s something important that you forgot to note down.
Watching and listening to a 50-minute lecture on video, and understanding it, can be very demanding. However, if you are watching a lecture recording, you can learn at your own pace by pausing and replaying parts of the video. You can also split your viewing of the video into separate parts according to topics and take breaks in between.
If your tutor / lecturer doesn’t automatically record their lectures, you can ask for permission to make a recording on your phone or other device. They will sometimes give permission – but you must ask.
Small and personal class sizes
You may find that at Abertay your tutorial class sizes will be small which means you will have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss ideas, and receive individual feedback on your work. Indeed, an article by studyin-uk.com: Five Reasons to Study at Abertay University says that ‘Abertay University is proud to keep its classes small and give personalised experiences to the students. It focuses a lot on students’ satisfaction and their overall development. At Abertay, you are a name, not a number, and you are given more time to discuss a matter. The campus is not as crowded, meaning students can engage in discussions with lecturers more frequently’.
Students as partners in learning
The teaching style in British universities is student-centred which means that students are encouraged to take an active role in their own education and are provided with the resources and support they need to succeed. At Abertay University, the Learning Enhancement Strategy describes its pedagogic philosophy as ‘founded upon active learning and providing our students with opportunities to put into practice theoretical knowledge gained. Students are considered partners in programme design and learning opportunities and we expect all our students to engage in their own learning and take full advantage of the learning opportunities provided to them by the university’.
Reflective practice
Reflective practice was something which developed in disciplines such as teaching, medicine and social work as a way to learn from real life experiences. However, over time many other areas of academic study have adopted the principles of reflective practice. At Abertay, students are often asked to reflect as part of their graded assignments or coursework. Your tutor may give you an exercise where you have to think about a topic in relation to your own experiences or you may have to reflect on something as part of a general essay question or a group work project.
Use of Generative AI tools
As an Abertay student, you are expected to undertake research and identify resources to support your learning. The Abertay approach is not to prohibit the use of some Generative AI tools used to enhance your work. However, you should always read your assessment briefs carefully to find out the tutor guidelines on using AI as in some cases, it is not permitted. You should also consult the Abertay Study Skills guides on Generative AI as these can help you to:
While GenAi tools can be valuable aids to critical thinking and analysis, they should not be used as a substitute for your own critical thinking, creativity and effort. We want to encourage you, if you use them, to do so only in ways that are effective, and demonstrate Good Academic Practice. At Abertay we want to hear your own ideas and for your own voice to be within your assessments.
At Abertay, all assessments submitted via the VLE (Visual Learning Environment) are scanned by Turnitin. You will receive a (plagiarism) ‘similarity score’ which is visible to the student as well as a Turnitin AI Detection Tool score which is non-visible. It is therefore important to read the Code of Student Discipline: Academic Misconduct before deciding to use any AI tools to enhance your work.
Important note: If you are in any doubt about how to use Generative AI in your work, please firstly contact your module tutor / lecturer. Secondly, you can also contact the Learner Development Service at Studyskills@abertay.ac.uk to request a confidential one-to-one appointment with a Learner Development Advisor.