BEDALE8/301/4/2016
BEDALE8/301/4/2016
COLLEGE FOR EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL
STUDIES
BACCALAURUS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMME (BEd)
(Senior Phase and FET)
General Tutorial Letter 301
2016
Preparation for Distance Education and Introduction to the
Programme
, CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION 4
1.1 A word of welcome from the Executive Dean 4
1.2 The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301 4
1.3 Finding your way around the study package 4
2. ORIENTATION TO OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL) 5
2.1 The nature of ODL 5
2.2 Assessment in distance education 5
3. WHAT IS THE BEd (SENIOR PHASE AND FET)? 5
3.1 Aim 5
3.2 Approach 6
3.3 Expectations from a BEd programme 7
3.4 What are the BEd (Senior Phase & FET exit level outcomes? 7
3.5 How is the programme structured? 8
3.6 How will the BEd be assessed? 15
4. LEARNING STRATEGIES 16
4.1 Estimating your time 16
4.2 Reading for understanding 17
4.3 Making your own glossary 17
4.4 Re-using effective learning strategies 17
4.5 Assignments 18
4.5.1 The value of assignments 18
4.5.2 Understanding the assignment 19
4.5.3 Read the assignment 19
4.5.4 Find the key words 19
4.5.5 Compile a list of things to find out 21
4.5.6 Researching the assignment topic(s) 22
4.5.7 Answering the assignment 24
4.5.8 Technical details of assignments 26
4.5.9 Some editing tips 27
4.5.10 How to approach multiple-choice questions 28
4.6 Preparing for the examination 30
4.6.1 Planning and revising 30
4.6.2 In the examination venue 30
4.6.3 Supplementary/Aegrotat examination 31
5. ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR AS A STUDENT 31
5.1 Plagiarism 31
2
, BEDALE8/301
5.2 Referencing techniques and citing of sources 31
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 34
6.1 What is Tutorial Letter 101? 34
6.2 Are there assignments that I need to complete? Do I have to submit the
assignments? 34
6.3 Do I have to buy any prescribed textbooks? Can you recommend any further
reading material? 34
6.4 What do I do if I experience problems with the content of the study material? 34
6.5 I have not yet received my study material. Can you send it to me? 35
6.6 When do classes start at Unisa? 35
6.7 Do I have group discussions (that is, visits from lecturers at various
venues)? 35
6.8 When and where am I writing the examination? 35
6.9 When will the examination results be released? 35
6.10 Where do I find my examination results? 35
6.11 What do I do if I am not happy with my results? 36
6.12 How do I apply for my examination script to be remarked or rechecked? 36
6.13 When do the supplementary examination/ aegrotat examinations take place? 36
6.14 For which modules do I have to register now? 36
6.15 What is myUnisa? 36
6.16 What is satellite delivery? 36
6.17 What is RPL? 37
6.18 I want to transfer credits from another University. How do I do this? 37
6.19 What can a tutor do for me? 37
6.20 I want to work with other students. How can I do this? 37
6.21 What can I do if I am not a confident reader or writer? 37
6.22 What if I have received a CD or DVD and I don’t have the equipment to
play it? 38
6.23 What happens if I need a placement for Work Integrated Learning
(Teaching Practice)? 38
6.24 How much contact can I expect? 38
6.25 Where can I obtain financial aid? 38
6.26 What can I expect from the University? 39
7. COMMUNICATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY 39
7.1 By letter 39
7.2 By telephone 39
7.3 By E-Mail or SMS 39
7.4 In person 40
Annual Study Programme 43
3
, 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 A word of welcome from the Executive Dean
It gives me pleasure to welcome you as a student in the school of Teacher Education and I am
pleased that you have chosen this field of study. I hope that you will complete your studies
successfully and find them relevant to your chosen career. I also hope that your study experience at
Unisa will be both pleasant and stimulating.
This tutorial letter contains important information that will assist you in your studies in the school of
Teacher Education. Please read it carefully and keep it at hand when working through the study
material, preparing the assignment(s), preparing for the examination and addressing questions to
your lecturers.
At the outset it is very important to remind you that you must read all the tutorial letters you receive
during the year immediately and carefully. The information they contain is always important
and may well be urgent. They may also contain additional study material or information about recent
developments in education that is prescribed for the examination.
Enjoy your studies. I wish you all the best!
1.2 The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301
The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301 is to provide you with an orientation to open distance learning
(ODL), outline a few study skills that will enable you to become more independent as students and
answer some of the common questions asked by students. This tutorial letter introduces you also to
the whole programme. It helps you understand the approach, the aim, the outcomes, and the
structure of the programme; it also explains how we will be assessing the work you do.
1.3 Finding your way around the study package
During the course of the year you might receive additional tutorial letters numbered 302, 303, etc.
The 300 series of tutorial letters deals with issues that affect the whole programme. For each
specific module, you will also receive guiding tutorial letters numbered 101, 102 etc. Tutorial letter
101 for each module will outline the nature and purpose of that module and will include your
assignments.
You should immediately read Tutorial Letter 101 of all the modules for which you are
registered. It will also tell you which prescribed books, if any, you need to buy.
Note the submission dates of the assignments for all your modules. Then plan your study
programme in such a way that you will be able to submit all your assignments on time.
4
BEDALE8/301/4/2016
COLLEGE FOR EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL
STUDIES
BACCALAURUS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMME (BEd)
(Senior Phase and FET)
General Tutorial Letter 301
2016
Preparation for Distance Education and Introduction to the
Programme
, CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION 4
1.1 A word of welcome from the Executive Dean 4
1.2 The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301 4
1.3 Finding your way around the study package 4
2. ORIENTATION TO OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL) 5
2.1 The nature of ODL 5
2.2 Assessment in distance education 5
3. WHAT IS THE BEd (SENIOR PHASE AND FET)? 5
3.1 Aim 5
3.2 Approach 6
3.3 Expectations from a BEd programme 7
3.4 What are the BEd (Senior Phase & FET exit level outcomes? 7
3.5 How is the programme structured? 8
3.6 How will the BEd be assessed? 15
4. LEARNING STRATEGIES 16
4.1 Estimating your time 16
4.2 Reading for understanding 17
4.3 Making your own glossary 17
4.4 Re-using effective learning strategies 17
4.5 Assignments 18
4.5.1 The value of assignments 18
4.5.2 Understanding the assignment 19
4.5.3 Read the assignment 19
4.5.4 Find the key words 19
4.5.5 Compile a list of things to find out 21
4.5.6 Researching the assignment topic(s) 22
4.5.7 Answering the assignment 24
4.5.8 Technical details of assignments 26
4.5.9 Some editing tips 27
4.5.10 How to approach multiple-choice questions 28
4.6 Preparing for the examination 30
4.6.1 Planning and revising 30
4.6.2 In the examination venue 30
4.6.3 Supplementary/Aegrotat examination 31
5. ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR AS A STUDENT 31
5.1 Plagiarism 31
2
, BEDALE8/301
5.2 Referencing techniques and citing of sources 31
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 34
6.1 What is Tutorial Letter 101? 34
6.2 Are there assignments that I need to complete? Do I have to submit the
assignments? 34
6.3 Do I have to buy any prescribed textbooks? Can you recommend any further
reading material? 34
6.4 What do I do if I experience problems with the content of the study material? 34
6.5 I have not yet received my study material. Can you send it to me? 35
6.6 When do classes start at Unisa? 35
6.7 Do I have group discussions (that is, visits from lecturers at various
venues)? 35
6.8 When and where am I writing the examination? 35
6.9 When will the examination results be released? 35
6.10 Where do I find my examination results? 35
6.11 What do I do if I am not happy with my results? 36
6.12 How do I apply for my examination script to be remarked or rechecked? 36
6.13 When do the supplementary examination/ aegrotat examinations take place? 36
6.14 For which modules do I have to register now? 36
6.15 What is myUnisa? 36
6.16 What is satellite delivery? 36
6.17 What is RPL? 37
6.18 I want to transfer credits from another University. How do I do this? 37
6.19 What can a tutor do for me? 37
6.20 I want to work with other students. How can I do this? 37
6.21 What can I do if I am not a confident reader or writer? 37
6.22 What if I have received a CD or DVD and I don’t have the equipment to
play it? 38
6.23 What happens if I need a placement for Work Integrated Learning
(Teaching Practice)? 38
6.24 How much contact can I expect? 38
6.25 Where can I obtain financial aid? 38
6.26 What can I expect from the University? 39
7. COMMUNICATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY 39
7.1 By letter 39
7.2 By telephone 39
7.3 By E-Mail or SMS 39
7.4 In person 40
Annual Study Programme 43
3
, 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 A word of welcome from the Executive Dean
It gives me pleasure to welcome you as a student in the school of Teacher Education and I am
pleased that you have chosen this field of study. I hope that you will complete your studies
successfully and find them relevant to your chosen career. I also hope that your study experience at
Unisa will be both pleasant and stimulating.
This tutorial letter contains important information that will assist you in your studies in the school of
Teacher Education. Please read it carefully and keep it at hand when working through the study
material, preparing the assignment(s), preparing for the examination and addressing questions to
your lecturers.
At the outset it is very important to remind you that you must read all the tutorial letters you receive
during the year immediately and carefully. The information they contain is always important
and may well be urgent. They may also contain additional study material or information about recent
developments in education that is prescribed for the examination.
Enjoy your studies. I wish you all the best!
1.2 The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301
The purpose of Tutorial Letter 301 is to provide you with an orientation to open distance learning
(ODL), outline a few study skills that will enable you to become more independent as students and
answer some of the common questions asked by students. This tutorial letter introduces you also to
the whole programme. It helps you understand the approach, the aim, the outcomes, and the
structure of the programme; it also explains how we will be assessing the work you do.
1.3 Finding your way around the study package
During the course of the year you might receive additional tutorial letters numbered 302, 303, etc.
The 300 series of tutorial letters deals with issues that affect the whole programme. For each
specific module, you will also receive guiding tutorial letters numbered 101, 102 etc. Tutorial letter
101 for each module will outline the nature and purpose of that module and will include your
assignments.
You should immediately read Tutorial Letter 101 of all the modules for which you are
registered. It will also tell you which prescribed books, if any, you need to buy.
Note the submission dates of the assignments for all your modules. Then plan your study
programme in such a way that you will be able to submit all your assignments on time.
4
