Basic Module “Preparation for the Practical Semester”

Type of examination

The module examination is an outline of a planned study project.

Formal and content requirements

The outline should comprise 12,000 to 18,000 characters and follow the usual structure of a scientific paper. Project outlines usually describe studies designed to document and evaluate interventions with children and adolescents with learning difficulties. The text cannot yet report results; it should, however, explain the planned methodological approach, the expected results and any limitations of the project that can be anticipated.

Examination period

The formal examination dates (submission dates for the project outlines) are set up by the Examinations Office; the actual submission dates are determined by the lecturers. These are usually 1 March and 1 September.

Aim of the examination

The examination documents the ability to plan a small research project competently that can be carried out under the conditions of everyday school life and yields meaningful results.

Prerequisites for participation

According to the module handbook, there are no prerequisites for the module. Credit points are awarded for regular attendance of the profile seminar (Seminar Profilfach) and a passed examination.

Examination procedure

The project outline is prepared in the four-week profile seminar at the end of the lecture period and forms the basis of the study project in the practical semester. The module is coordinated by the Centre for Teacher Education; further information on the preparation for the practical semester is available on the ZfL website.

Assessment criteria

The grade very good is awarded for work that is markedly above the usual standard. The text is extremely logically structured, and its outline fully follows the usual structure of scientific papers. The prescribed length is met exactly. The reference list contains only relevant, high-quality publications. The relevance of the topic is derived and justified with impressive clarity. The introduction leads in an exceptionally stringent way from a general theoretical and empirical background to a specific research question, and the problem is formulated in a way that fits the current state of research very well. The target group, the instruments and the study design are described very precisely, and the chosen design is entirely appropriate. The text follows the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA, 7th edition) in every respect. The language is scientifically objective and free of spelling and grammatical errors.

The grade good is awarded for work that is clearly above the usual standard. The text meets most criteria for very good project outlines, with minor shortcomings in some places.

The grade satisfactory is awarded for work that meets an acceptable standard. The text meets several criteria for very good project outlines, with shortcomings in various places.

The grade sufficient is awarded for work that meets a just acceptable standard. In several respects the text falls more or less short of the criteria for very good project outlines.

The grade insufficient is awarded for work that does not meet an adequate standard. The text meets only low standards and does not fulfil the quality criteria described above.

The grade fail is awarded for work of a completely inadequate standard. None of the quality criteria described above is met acceptably.

Notification of results

The module grade is entered in KLIPS 2.0 by the recording deadline at the latest (30 April or 31 October).

Weighting

The module grade counts 8/120 towards the overall grade.

Resits

The examination can be repeated twice.