Foundation Units

A commitment to context-based learning is a major tenet of the educational philosophy of the staff of Student Learning. An important manifestation of this philosophy is in their ongoing work with foundation units.

Foundation units explore major themes through the perspectives of various academic disciplines, at the same time as teaching students specific academic skills needed for success at university. Details on the six foundation units offered is available in the Murdoch University handbook.

The learning skills provided in foundation units were originally developed by the head of Student Learning, Associate Professor Lorraine Marshall. She and the staff of Student Learning continue to be involved in foundation units through their work with foundation unit students and staff, by teaching in these units and by producing materials for use by students and staff.

If you are a foundation unit student you can receive support for developing your learning skills in the following ways:

• attending workshops which are available for students dealing with the general and specific requirements of the learning skills in foundation units. For example, there are workshops specifically designed to support students in preparing reports and writing critical essays
• attending language support workshops for foundation unit students who speak English as a second language
• make an appointment for individual assistance slearn@murdoch.edu.au or 9360 2142.

Staff who teach foundation units are supported through:

• consultation for purposes of unit development and review
• workshops for tutors on teaching learning skills
• foundation unit induction program for new tutors
• workshops on marking essays.

Each member of the Student Learning team takes responsibility for one of the six foundation units liaising with the unit coordinator, supporting tutors in tutors' meetings, identifying the need for additional content specific support classes for students. From time to time staff in Student Learning also give lectures and run tutorials in foundation units.

Materials for foundation units

The Student Learning staff are also involved in producing materials to support the skills component in foundation units. Some of these include:

• The video Critical foundations: An introduction to foundation units at Murdoch University outlines the aims of foundation units and explains why they are compulsory for all first year students.

• A Learning Companion by Lorraine Marshall was developed so that students studying a foundation unit externally receive the same skills program as those studying internally.

• The videos From life to learning: Transferable skills for independent learning, Critical thinking in context and Collaborative learning: Working together in small groups were all produced specifically to support the skills requirement of foundation units.

• The video Journeys through first year university was produced to help students as they begin their university studies.