Glossary - Keele University
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Media, Communications & Culture

Glossary of Useful Terms

Many terms and titles at University are very different from those used at school, for instance most members of staff prefer to be addressed by their first names, below is a list of terms you maybe unfamiliar with.

Programme Director: This is the person responsible for the overall running of Media, Communications and Culture. People tend to hold this position for two years when another member of the MCC staff will take over. Prof Malcolm Crook is Programme Director for 2010 -2011. Email: m.h.crook@keele.ac.uk

Tutors:  these are the people who give lectures, design and convene modules, and organise and run seminars and workshops. Some modules have a main lecturer (who is usually the module convener) and other tutors who deliver specific classes on specific weeks.

Personal Tutor: on arrival, all Keele students are allocated a personal tutor with whom you will have an initial meeting with in your first two weeks at Keele. Your personal tutor looks out for your individual needs and offers basic pastoral care and academic advice. S/he will be a member of staff from one of your dual honours degree programmes.

Course Administrator: this is the person in the Humanities Office who is responsible for the administration of the course. Our course administrator is Vicki Norman . Email:  v.norman@vis.keele.ac.uk

SSLC: this is the Staff Student Liaison Committee: an important forum for students to give feedback on the running of the course. It is a chance for elected students from Levels I, II and III to meet with staff, usually twice a semester. If you are interested in being a student representative on the SSLC please contact Joe Andrew Email:  j.m.andrew@keele.ac.uk

Module: a module is another name for a course unit. You are typically expected to take four modules per year, two in each semester.

Semester: The year at Keele is divided into two semesters. The first semester typically runs from the end of September to the end of January, the second from February to June.

Lecture: In general, lectures tend to be formal settings with a lecturer providing commentaries which students are expected to take notes from although many members of staff have different delivery techniques.

Seminar: a seminar is usually a smaller, more intimate group than a lecture. They also tend to be more interactive.

Workshops/Lab Slots: In MCC these consist of practical work and lectures in the multi imaging studios, television studio and photographic studio.

Consultation Hour:  All MCC staff have designated hours during the week when students are free to come to the tutors office and talk about any issues. These hours are usually displayed on the tutors office door and in the course handbook as well as the relevant module handbook.

Student Handbook: This can be found on the MCC web page and you will also be given a hard copy at your first meeting with us. This is an important document as it contains everything about MCC and the School of Humanities. It has sections on staff research interests, how to keep in touch, the library, the university computer centre, student welfare, what we expect of you and what you can expect from us, the degree structure, module documents, programme requirements, assessment, submissions, marking, study abroad, and how to do well on the course.

Module Handbooks: These are more detailed documents about specific modules which again are available on our home page but you will also get a hard copy in the first session of each module.

Blackboard: This is the virtual Keele Learning Environment (KLE) used by Keele to provide every member of staff and each student with a personal teaching and learning workspace that can be accessed through the Internet. It gives students access to information, activities and resources associated with the modules they are studying. These might include, for example, lecture notes and slide sets, pictures and other materials together with active features such as discussion groups.

As well as traditional modes of assessment like essays and exams you will be asked to submit a portfolio of work and/or a workbook.

Portfolio: a portfolio is usually a selection of exercises and tasks which you have been asked to complete throughout the semester for a particular module.

Workbook: a workbook is a document usually associated with practical work, which shows the development of your idea, working methodology and a critical evaluation of your own working practice. A more detailed explanation of these are given in the appropriate module handbooks.