1. Interactive study guides with built in application exercises serve to reinforce and supplement prescribed textbook
2. Prescribed textbooks are the basis and primary source of information in the programme.
3. Study guides include:
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Explanatory notes.
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Assessment tasks.
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Self-assessment exercises designed to test the student's knowledge and progress.
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Solutions to exercises.
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Subject content additional to the prescribed textbook(s).
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References to additional reading.
4. DVD-based Lectures:
Lectures in key subjects have been recorded on DVD and provided to students to assist them in mastering subject content.
5. Formative Assessment Tasks:
Formative assessment tasks are compulsory with the aim of assisting students to participate actively in the programme.
In conjunction with the exercises provided in study guides, at least one comprehensive formative assessment task provides a comprehensive test of the students' learning experiences.
Formative assessment tasks are designed in such a manner that they not only test the theoretical understanding of the material by the student, but also their ability to apply the theory in practice. Students may apply for a remark.
6. Feedback on Formative Assessment Tasks:
When formative assessment tasks are assessed, lecturers are required to provide specific written feedback to students. The specific feedback is supplemented by general feedback in tutorial letters.
7. Summative Assessment Tasks:
Each subject will have at least one summative assessment task.
8. Tutorial Letters:
Subject-specific tutorial letters constitute in many ways an extension to the study guide. It provides generalised feedback on formative assessment tasks, while assuring relevance through updating course material with recent research findings or articles. It is also a supporting mechanism in the student's preparation for summative assessment.
9. Newsletter:
The geographical distribution of our students makes it essential to facilitate some form of contact between them. The “New Horizons”, our newsletter issued twice per annum, is one of the mechanisms we use to promote informal contact and discussion between students. In the newsletter, students are provided an opportunity to air their views on issues affecting them, and debate is encouraged.
10. Online Support:
Southern Business School provides extensive online support through the Google Apps for Education platform, which has been designed using sound pedagogical principles. The platform provides each student with a private Southern Business School email address (student number@sbs.ac.za), which makes for very effective communication with students individually as well as in groups (such as a specific programme or subject). Each student is divided into at least a programme group, a number of social groups and a subject group for every enrolled subject, and the SBS group consisting of all current students. The subject lecturer, who can communicate directly with all the students in his or her group, leads the subject group. In addition, each group has shared resources where students can draw from a pool of relevant documentation, such as tutorial letters, articles and other valuable resources. Surveys and live chat opportunities further enhance the capabilities of this system.
In addition, students are provided with free Google Apps, which include word processing, spreadsheet, design and other software needed to complete any assignment.
It is compulsory for all students that register for any programme to have access to a computer and the Internet.
Students are encouraged to email lecturing staff with their questions or queries. Students are encouraged to use the Internet as a medium for research and use the SBS library service and online sources, such as Sabinet and Ebsco.
11. Smart Board:
Smart Board transmissions are conducted twice per annum to various centres countrywide and in Namibia. Lectures are transmitted live and students can interact with the lecturer discussing problem concepts.
12. Telephone:
The contact details of lecturers are provided in the study guides. Students are encouraged to contact them.
13. Personal Contact:
Students are encouraged to visit lecturers by appointment. Because our students are spread over a wide geographical area, we aim to combine distance education techniques with personal contact where possible (such as email and MySBS).
14. Study Week:
A study week is held in April and September of every year in South Africa and Namibia respectively. The study week is an important additional mechanism for student support.
The study week allows students to:
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Ask general queries.
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Meet with their fellow students.
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Confer on contentious issues.
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Find explanations for problematic study content.
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Form study groups.
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Have the opportunity to meet their lecturer and other staff members at Southern Business School in person.
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Enhance their educational well-being.
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Receive examination guidance.
15. Opportunities for Feedback:
Feedback is encouraged, not only through the various mechanisms listed above, but also through:
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Evaluation of study week presentations and lecturers.
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MySBS.
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Facebook.
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Administrative surveys conducted on MySBS.
16. Administrative Services:
Core administrative services, such as enquiries, admissions, progression, fees and graduation are carried out efficiently and effectively within a student-centred ethos. It is supported by an integrated learner management information system that is efficient, accessible, comprehensive and user-friendly.
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