The online component of this PGDip will intend to provide fully ‘supplied and facilitated’ but self-paced, self-directed, mostly asynchronous (meaning, ‘in your own time’) learning, in an online community of your peers. The materials that will be presented to you will be ‘made for’ online learning, involving a diversity of learning materials and modalities, that you will take at your own pace with few specific ‘time-and-place’ commitments, but overall within clearly identified time parameters. On this course we will use online discussion boards and several live webinars per module. We have a substantial digital e-library, and an excellent Course Team of Associates to look forward to.

The course will take place in consecutive 15-week trimesters. You should expect to dedicate 10 to 15 hours per week to teaching and learning activities, and organising to meet with your study group at least once each 3-week period. Your learning materials are presented in Microsoft Sway, an interactive and visually attractive online presentation system, with embedded media from the WWW, and links to originally produced PowerPoint, video, and/or audio presentations – and web-based reading, viewing, and resource material which is free access to you, included in your course fees.

In September there is a compulsory full-day videoconference orientation to attend, in which you will be introduced to the basic learning design and structure of the course, and the use of Blackboard (i.e., the online learning platform), and other aspects of the CCCU virtual learning environment (VLE). You will have an opportunity to meet and start to get to know your cohort, or ‘online learning community.’ You will have been allocated to a study group (which is allocated by the Course Director based on a brief questionnaire and your application (which looks to both 'match' and 'diversify' a group of 4 students). You will also learn about the library, e-resources, and other learning and support services the university offers. After this one-day orientation you will have a couple of weeks before the course officially starts. Additional orientations will take place over the course of the academic year, aimed to assist you and help you to be able to navigate easily all of the elements of the VLE.

You may also wish to look at some of the following accounts to get a feel for the department and course:

• CCCU Salomons Psych Twitter
• Our blog
• Applied Psychology Facebook

You may also wish to keep track of what we are doing in the Faculty as a whole by following us on our Faculty Instagram pages https://www.instagram.com/cccu_fsess/

Your welcome and induction will be on the 16th of September 2024 - we look forward to meeting you then.

Community

On the social side, the Student Union (CCSU) has a huge range of clubs and societies – all of which have unique social calendars of their own and offer endless opportunities to make lifelong friends and discover new hobbies. And you can always create your own society and cultivate your own community!

CCSU will be hosting their Freshers Fayre on Wednesday 18th September 2024. Make sure you keep checking the CCSU website for further details and how to get involved.

We understand that you may be nervous about your first few weeks on campus but rest assured - you'll be joining a nurturing and supportive environment where diversity, equality and individuality are part of everything we do.

You can find out more about our welcoming community and making friends here.

If you are an International Student joining us then please see our International Student Support pages for further information and guidance.

There is one course text we ask you to purchase, as it is a key text of the profession, and is not available as an e-book. Throughout your study you will have required reading from this primary text. You can familiarise yourself with the subject ahead of starting in September by reading Chapters 1 and 2, and any other sections of interest to you. Chapters or sections from this text will be required / essential reading throughout your 2 years of part-time study on the PGDip.

The required text is:

• Lezak, M.D., Howieson, D.B., Bigler, E.D., & Tranel, D. (2012). Neuropsychological assessment, fifth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match most Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbook. We also advise you to look at the second-hand book market.