Week 1

Introductions: getting to know each other

1. Get to know your classmates and your teacher.
2. Think about AE4.
   1. In your notebook, write down:
      1. one thing you are excited about in AE4.
      2. one thing you are worried about in AE4.
      3. one question you would like to ask your teacher.
   2. Share your ideas with a partner.        
3. Log in to the discussion forum for this lesson.
   1. Post a short introduction about yourself.
   2. Respond to some of the other students’ posts.

1. Discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. What information did you want to know about AE4 before starting the course at UTS: Insearch?
   2. How did you find the information you needed?
   3. Have you ever used a subject outline before?
   4. What kind of information might be in a subject outline?
   5. Share your answers with the class.

2. Download the AE4 Subject outline and find the answers to the questions below as quickly as possible. Write the answers in your notebook.
   1. How many subject learning outcomes (course objectives) are there in AE4?
   2. How many hours a week are you expected to study at home, on average?
   3. Where can you find the full details of assessments?
   4. What is the weighting of the extended essay project? 
   5. What is the weighting of the group presentation project?
   6. When are the final exams?
   7. If you have problems with your studies and are stressed about your academic performance, who should you talk to?
   8. What does the Student Services Unit at UTS help you with?
   9. What are your teacher’s contact details?
   10. Who do you speak to when you think your attendance may be falling below 80%?
   11. When can you apply for special consideration?
   12. What happens if you submit an assessment late?
   13. What two things must you do to keep a high standard of academic integrity?

3. Discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. Does the subject outline have the kind of information that you predicted in question 1?
   2. Does it have the information you wanted to know about the course? 
   3. Do you have any questions about the course that the subject outline did not address? Write them down so you can ask your teacher.
   4. Compare the questions you wrote in 3c with another pair.
   5. Ask the teacher your questions.

4. Refer to the AE4 Subject outline and discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. What are the differences between the subject learning outcomes (SLOs) and the learning outcomes?
   2. How do you think the skills described in the subject learning outcomes (SLOs) will help you at university?
   3. Share your answers with the class.

5. Discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. What does academic integrity mean to you? 
   2. What is academic misconduct?
   3. Check your answers in the subject outline. Are your ideas about academic integrity and misconduct the same as the ideas in the subject outline?
   4. How can you make sure you maintain academic integrity?
   5. Why do you think academic integrity is important?
   6. Share your answers with the class.

6. Discuss this question with a partner.
   1. Which of these could you use the AE4 Subject outline for?
      1. Checking what you will need to be able to do for each language skill.
      2. Finding weekly homework.
      3. Learning about the kinds of activities you will be expected to do in class.
      4. Discovering which textbooks you will need to buy.
      5. Planning your time.
   2. Share your answers with the class.

7. Open the Calendar on Canvas. Discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. Which weeks have multiple assessments due? 
   2. Have you ever had to work on multiple assessments at the same time? 
   3. What strategies can you use to help you manage your time when you are working on multiple assessments? 
   4. Share your ideas with the class.

8. Discuss these questions with a partner.
   1. What is your personal goal for AE4? What would you like to achieve?
   2. You will need to do 15 hours of self-study per week in AE4.
      1. When will you do your self-study (for example every day after class, three days a week, at weekends)?
      2. Where would you like to study during these times (for example the HELPS centre, UTS library or at home)?
   3. How will you make sure you get enough sleep?
   4. What other commitments do you have (for example work, sport or family)?
   5. Click the + sign at the top right of the calendar to create a new event. Enter either a time for self-study or one of your commitments this week to your calendar on Canvas.

9. In lesson AE4 1 Planning and managing your time in AE4, you will learn about the self-access/independent learning centre, known in Sydney as the UTS: Insearch HELPS centre.
   1. Prepare questions you would like to ask about the UTS: Insearch HELPS centre.
   2. Post your questions in the Canvas discussion for this lesson. Do this before lesson AE4 1 Planning and managing your time in AE4.

1. Work in your notebook.
   1. Brainstorm a list of technology, apps and programs you have used for the following purposes.
      1. Learning/memorising vocabulary.
      2. Translating unknown vocabulary.
      3. Practising reading.
      4. Learning grammar.
      5. Practising listening.
   2. Choose one app or program that you think will be the most helpful for your studies in AE4. Write a brief description of the app and explain how it can be used to help with your studies.

2. Post your description from question 1b in the discussion below.
   1. Post a reply in the discussion below.
      Note: you must post before you can see other students’ replies.
   2. Read the replies from other students and choose one app that interests you. Post a comment to ask about any aspect of the app you would like to know more about.
   3. Respond to any questions that have been posted about your description.