FDY3008 Investigation and Innovation Project Assessment Brief | AU

FDY3008 Assessment Brief

As part of the formal assessment for the module Investigation and Innovation Project, you are required to submit the assessment that is described in this assessment brief.

Learning Outcomes of FDY3008:

After completing the module, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate good communication skills with appropriate use of digital media.
• Conduct a defined investigation on a topic relating to the subject area by selecting, organising and presenting information from a range of good quality sources.
• Develop and evidence project management skills, reflecting on the process of conducting the investigation.

Graduate Attribute 2: Contextually Innovative.

Solve given and clearly defined problems, carry out predefined and possibly innovative approaches and check and understand how the solution has solved the problem, reflecting on the solution achieved. All learning outcomes must be met to pass the module.

Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.

FDY3008 Guidance

Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in (see referencing section for more information).

You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.

You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Maximum word count: 1200 words

Please refer to the full word count policy which can be found in the Student Policies section here: Arden University | Regulatory Framework

The word count includes everything in the main body of the assessment (including in text citations and references). The word count excludes numerical data in tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. All other printed words ARE included in the word count.

Students who exceed the wordcount up to a 10% margin will not be penalised. Students should note that no marks will be assigned to work exceeding the specified limit once the maximum assessment size limit has been reached.

Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.

FDY3008 Key Information About This Module’s Assessment

The AU Foundation has decided to award a number of grants to allow students to contribute towards the successful achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. To apply for this funding, you will identify and investigate a problem affecting people that is important to you. You will decide on what your problem is with guidance from your lecturer, and then you will design an innovative solution to the problem.

Your proposed solution will be small-scale – it will be something that you could actually make happen, within a small budget of £1,000 or €1,200.

Think of yourself as a changemaker, how can you make a small but positive contribution to the world?

There are two separate assessment tasks for this module, each with its own assessment brief, that you will need to complete to pass:

Assessment 1 – Poster (worth 40%):

Describe your solution, explain its link to the world’s wider problems and explain and evaluate your solution. Use the poster to convince the AU Foundation to fund your project.

Assessment 2 – Project (worth 60%):

Describe, and reflect on, the process of carrying out your project. Use the project to reflect on the skills you have developed and consolidated during the module.

You need to complete all tasks on both assessment briefs to achieve the full range of marks available. Your work for these assignments must be submitted separately to the correct iLearn submission portal. If you are unsure which portal to submit your work to, please check with your module lecturer.

This assessment brief explains what you need to do for Assessment 2 – Project.

materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.

FDY3008 Project Assessment Brief

In this assessment task, you will:

Describe and reflect on the process of carrying out your project. You should use the notes you have made in your project diary to help you write this project.

You will do this by:

Completing a written project of 1200 words

Your preparation for this task will require you to take part in two in-class activities:

In week 4, in class, you will informally discuss your chosen problem to other students in your group and with your lecturer. They will give you some feedback on your problem, which will be useful to you. You will discuss how you used this feedback for this project.

In week 6, in class, you will informally discuss your chosen solution to other students in your group and with your lecturer. They will give you some feedback on your solution, which will be useful to you. You will discuss how you used this feedback in this project.

See the next page for what you should include in your project.

materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.

Include The Following Information In Your Project:

FDY3008 Structuring Your Project

Use the section subheadings given in the table above. There is no need to include a contents page.

Final Submission

Assessments submitted late will not be accepted.

Please submit your portfolio as a Word document. A template is provided on the module iLearn site. Please use the template, as it will make sure that you include all the evidence asked for.

You must ensure that the submitted assessment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assessment s which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is available on the A-Z key information on iLearn.)

Assessment Support

We strongly encourage you to engage with our assessment support options as you work through your assessment task(s):

• View the week 10 iLearn lesson ‘General Assessment Advice and Guidance’ (for information about resits, extensions and extenuating circumstances)
• Book a tutorial with a Foundation Year lecturer
• Academic Skills Team – book an appointment with a tutor here
• Academic Skills Team – book a workshop
• Academic Skills Team – view resources
• For support with English Language visit the English Language Hub

Formative Feedback

In weeks 4 and 6 you take part in a discussion that allow for verbal formative feedback to be given by your lecturer and your peers.

In week 4 you will discuss your chosen problem, explaining why it is a problem and what SDG it links to. You will be expected to provide some data to support your case.

In week 6 you will discuss your planned solution, explaining why you believe this to be a logical and workable solution. You will be expected to provide some data to support your case.

FDY3008 Referencing Guidance

You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide-ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvard system. Follow this link to find the referencing guides for your subject: Arden Library

Using AI

Please refer to the referencing guides for guidance on how to reference any use of artificial intelligence in the  writing of your assessments. You can access the referencing guides here: Arden Library

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the deadline for the assignment?
   Please check the ‘My Assessment’ tab of your module on iLearn for the assignment deadline.
2. What do I include on the first page of my assignment?
   Include a cover page. Download the cover page template on iLearn under the ‘My Assessment’ tab. Complete it and add it to the first page of your assignment.
3. Do I include my name?
   No, do not include your name. Include your STU number on the cover page.
4. Do I need to answer every task in the assignment brief?
   Yes, you must attempt every task.
5. How do I submit my assignment?
   Submit your assignment as a Microsoft Word document to the submission portal on iLearn under the ‘My Assessment’ tab of the relevant module.
6. What file format should my assignment be?
   Upload your assignment as a Word document (.docx).
7. Do I include the word count on the cover page?
   Yes, provide the exact word count of your final submission.
8. What exactly is included in the word count?
   The word count includes all text in the main body of the submission. This includes titles, headings, subheadings and in-text citations.
9. What exactly is not included in the word count?
   The cover page and reference list are not included in the word count.
10. How is my work assessed?
    A lecturer will assess your work using the Assessment Criteria on pages 10-12. Read these criteria carefully to understand how your work is assessed.
11. Can I apply for an extension?
    Yes, you can apply for a 7-day extension. If you need longer, you will need to apply for extenuating circumstances. Access extension forms under ‘E’ of the A-Z key information on iLearn.