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3. Undertaking your studies
3.1 Planning
Your module tutors will provide you with advice and suggestions to enable you to get the most out of your studies. Centres offer study skill sessions and support for groups and individuals. All tutors will be very happy to offer guidance. Always plan your timetable of work well in advance. This is particularly important if you are studying part-time and need to work around other commitments which vary in their intensity and demands on your time.
3.2 Learning resources
Allow plenty of time for researching and preparing each piece of coursework. Library resources will be in greatest demand the closer the deadline approaches. Do not wait until the last minute and then find that all the books are out! If something has been checked out by a fellow student, place a reservation request for it with the Centre librarian.
You should not just rely on the booklist for the assignments. Look around for relevant source materials by browsing along the library shelves and on appropriate websites. However, when using web resources evaluate them carefully to ensure they really do meet your needs and assist in responding appropriately to the task in hand (eg. are ‘academic’ rather than ‘popular’).
Do make good use of the free journals and online books from SCM, Canterbury Press, SPCK, IVP, Cambridge University Press and VLeBooks, which are available on the Hub: Hub Resources section of the YTEP Moodle site. Keep an eye out for new e-book titles being added though the year.
3.3 Referencing
Get into the habit of recording the bibliographical details and page numbers next to any notes you make from books, etc. Make a note of all the references you use. This will save you valuable time later, particularly as you may find that you cannot trace an item you have used if you have not made a careful note of the bibliographical details. You will gain marks for good organisation and referencing of material in your assignments. (See also sections 4.5 and 4.6 on Referencing under Assessment.)
3.4 Placements
If you are training for a licensed ministry, a placement in some form or other will be an integral element of your programme. YTEP’s Placement Policy in Appendix B explains the purposes of placements and sets out minimum requirements of Centres in terms of their design and oversight, and student support and assessment.
3.5 Research and dissertations
If you undertake a dissertation or independent learning project as part of your programme you will need to get your proposed research project approved in advance, to ensure that you satisfy YTEP’s ethical guidelines, including compliance with safeguarding procedures. Failure to do so could lead you to fail the module and even disciplinary action. Your module tutor will guide you through the prescribed process, including the submission of a proposal form to YTEP’s Student Affairs Sub-Committee (SASC). The full YTEP Research Ethics Policy and Guidance and the associated forms are set out in Appendix C.