How to work through the course

Support Icon.png Welcome call

Once you have received your Activate 1 coursebook, read through this Course Guide and familiarised yourself with the important course resources, you are ready to begin the course. The course starts with a Welcome call with your tutor. This is an informal discussion to make contact with your tutor and ensure that you are prepared for the course. For more information, see here. 

There are then nine modules for you to complete. You will find that each module follows the same structure:

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

Each module begins with a short introduction which introduces you to the topics you will be studying in that module. You then move on to the topic work.

Topics Icon.png Topic work

Each module contains a number of separate topics. You should work through the topics in turn, completing the activities that we direct you to. The activities include completing worksheets, reading the coursebook, watching video tutorials and putting theory into practice through a variety of activities.

The answers to the questions in the coursebook and in the worksheets can be found in the Check your answers section at the bottom of each topic page.

It would be a good idea to keep the answers to the summary questions, the worksheets, the knowledge organisers and the glossaries, along with any notes you take down, all together. You could add them to a file or stick them in an exercise book - whichever works for you.

Watch this video for some tips on taking notes:

Stretch Icon.png Support and extension activities 

Most of the topic pages include support and extension activities. These activities do not always need to be completed. You will need to decide if you are struggling with a particular topic, for instance: if you did the review activity and you still were not quite sure that you understood the topic. Working through the support activities is also a good idea if you get stuck on an assignment question, or if your tutor suggests in your assignment feedback that you need to review a topic. 

The extension topics are there to help you extend your knowledge of certain topics if you are really interested in them, want to gain further knowledge and your timetable allows it. 

Experiments Icon.png Practicals 

There are three practical experiments to complete during the course and they are indicated in the topic pages. For more information on the practicals, see here.

Review Icon.png Now check your understanding

This page gives you a checklist of all of the learning outcomes you have studied in that module and gives you the opportunity to check that you are confident with each outcome before you move on to take the quiz.

Quiz Icon.png Quiz

Each module has a self-marking quiz. When you have completed all of the topic work, you are ready to take the quiz. When you have completed the quiz, you should reflect on your score. Are there any topics you feel unsure of and would like to revise before completing the assignment?

Worksheet Icon.png Assignments

When you are ready to attempt an assignment, we suggest that you read through the assignment guidance box on the first page and check that you have got all of the resources you need and enough time to sit the assignment in one sitting. The assignments are formative, which means that you can use your coursebook and other resources to help you complete the assignments. For more information on assignments, see here.

Worksheet Icon.png Assignment mark schemes

Once you have submitted your assignment, you will have access to the corresponding mark scheme on Canvas. Make sure that you refer to this as you read through the comments from your tutor. The mark scheme will allow you to understand why you have received a particular grade and will outline what would be required for a higher grade.

Review Icon.png Mid-course and end-of-course reviews

After Module Four, there is a mid-course review and after Module Nine, there is an end-of-course review. These reviews give you an opportunity to reflect on your learning, identify your strengths and weaknesses and review your skills and study habits. When you have completed the review document (which is similar to an assignment, but is not marked or graded), you have the opportunity to arrange a Review call with your tutor.

The mid-course review is an opportunity to ensure that you are getting the most out of the course and are receiving the support that you need.

The end-of-course review is an opportunity to reflect on your progress since the beginning of the course and to review whether you feel ready to transition to the next stage of study.