Dear Diploma in Grade Student We apologize for the delay in

Dip in Gr R Teaching: Communication to 2

and 3

year students 3 April 2021 1/4

Private Bag X1290, Potchefstroom

South Africa 2520

Tel: 018 299-1111/2222

Fax: 018 299-4910

Web: http://www.nwu.ac.za

Unit for Open Distance Learning

3 April 2021

Dear Diploma in Grade Student

We apologize for the delay in communication due to challenges experienced with the registration

process. A backlog caused by the pandemic in 2020 hampered the registration process in 2021 and

also resulted in delays in the delivery of study material and student communications Nevertheless,

we welcome you to another year as student in the programme. I hope it will be a fruitful year despite

the challenging times in which we find ourselves. Although the NWU undertakes to accommodate

students who received their study material late, we want to appeal to all students to put in the extra

effort to make up for lost time. This will help to ensure students complete their academic year in time

so that they can either complete the qualification or continue with their next academic year in 2022

without losing valuable time.

STUDY MATERIAL

We realise that not all students have received their study material. If you have not yet received your

material, you can access study guides and the information booklet on the website in the meantime:

• For resources go to: http://distance.nwu.ac.za/downloads

• Use the username: Education

• Password: education

• Note the case sensitivity of these access codes

TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING COVID-19

Due to the pandemic, there is no face-to-face sessions this semester. This semester there will also

be no sit-down exam and it may also be the case in the second semester, depending on the Covid-

19 regulations. The exam papers of academic modules are again replaced with a final continuous

assessment referred to as the “Covid-19 assessment”. These assessments will be distributed to

students in due course. Students will be notified via SMS when these assessments are loaded onto

the website but it will also be distributed to students in hard copy.

Lecturers responsible for the respective modules will upload recordings of their presentations onto

the website according to the timetable. However, some lecturers may even upload the presentations

earlier if possible. Please view these recordings to make sure you know what is expected from you

in completing the module assignments, portfolios and Covid-19 assessments. It is evident that

students who do make use of this support mostly perform better than students who don’t. Repeating

a module is wasting students time and can be prevented if they make use of this support by the

lecturers.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU?

Keep in mind: enrolling in a Distance Learning (DL) Programme requires self-directed learning

from you as student.

Dip in Gr R Teaching: Communication to 2

and 3

year students 3 April 2021 2/4

Step 1: Information booklet

Study the information booklet that forms part of the study material. This booklet is also available on

the website and explains the programme outlay and provides all the necessary information to help

you regulate and plan your studies. Highlight the modules you are registered for and that you plan

to complete this semester. You will also find the timetable in this booklet. Although there are no face-

to-face sessions, presentations for each of these sessions will be placed on the website according

to the timetable. The timetable kicked off on the 6

of March 2021.

Step 2: Tutorial notes

If you have received your study material or were able to download it from the website, open the

tutorial notebook. NB! Study the introductory pages with care. Find the assignment letters for each

of your first semester modules. They are arranged in alphabetical order. Study these letters before

you view the recording of the first presentation so that you have a good idea of what the lecturer is

referring to during the presentation.

Step 3: Study the module content, complete and submit your assignments/portfolios for the

semester

First semester modules: Assignments of your first semester modules need to be submitted in the

first semester. The final continuous assessments (Covid-19 assessment) for first semester modules

are also submitted in the first semester. The arrangements for submitting and addresses for courier

or posting of assignments/portfolios are explained in the information booklet.

Keep in mind: There are three sessions for each of these semester modules that will be placed on

the website as indicated on the timetable. You need to view all three these presentations that are

placed on the website in the order they appear on the timetable. The Covid-19 assessment is usually

explained by the lecturer in the third session.

Identify the year modules: You also need to start working through the study guides and study material

of the year modules during the first and will continue these into the second semester. View the six

(6) presentations for these modules (3 per semester). Year module assignments are submitted in

the second semester. The final continuous assessment (Covid-19 assessment) for year modules

will also be submitted with your second semester modules in November.

NB! The study guides for each module and your own self-regulation and self-directed learning largely

replace the lecturer in a DL programme. Self-directed learning is even more important during this

pandemic where we cannot rely on face to face support and students therefore need to:

1. Work through the study guide of each module of the semester,

2. Study the assignment in each tutorial,

3. View the sessions of each module placed on the website, and

4. Do and submit your assignment before/on the due date.

5. Do and submit the Covid-19 assessments as soon as they are distributed to students (keep

an eye open for the SMS in this regard).

The email address of the lecturer for each module appears on the tutorial letter for the respective

module. Please contact the lecturer with specific information BUT ONLY AFTER you have worked

through the study material and still find you do not understand a specific aspect the assignment or

content.

NB Please do not contact the lecturer for issues such as registration, marks or to inquire if the

UODL received your assignments/portfolios. Find the list of contact details for different queries

attached below.

Dip in Gr R Teaching: Communication to 2

and 3

year students 3 April 2021 3/4

DUE DATES:

Due dates are only the final dates on which you may submit. Please try to submit as soon as

possible:

First semester:

Second semester

Assignments: 24 April

COVID and portfolio: 29 May

Assignments: 2 October

COVID and portfolios: 6 November

WIL ARRANGEMENTS

Please continue with your WIL portfolios as soon as you can. The same concessions as were

communicated to students last year, still apply namely

• Only 10 daily reflections in the reflective journal (also indicated as such on the PR24 –

attendance list)

• Only 3 lesson observations (RWIL111) and 3 lesson presentations (RWIL121, 211, 221,

311 and 321) (also indicated as such on the PR23)

• All WIL tasks still need to be completed and assessed by the mentor. NB Many students

fail their portfolios because there is no mentor rubric included or no mark assigned by the

mentor for the tasks. No student can pass without this mentor assessment.

Final formal WIL assessment of 3

year students’ practical competence:

Due to the pandemic NWU staff cannot visit schools for the final WIL assessment in the students’

classrooms. All Dip in Gr R students who are now registered for the RWIL311 and/or RWIL321 will

receive an SMS with the explanation of the alternative process for the implementation of the final

formal assessment of their practical competence. The link in the email will take you to the relevant

documentation that will require of the student to request the mentor to do the assessment on behalf

of the NWU. Different forms are used for the two lessons to be assessed by the mentor and the

mentor has to sign a declaration that he/she conducted these assessments.

NB: It is of utmost importance that this WIL assessment process is done in an ethical and honest

way. This process has been approved by the Department of Higher Education and, if not adhered

to, students may jeopardize their studies and may not be able to complete the qualification.

WARNING AGAINST PLAGIARISM

It has come to our attention that some students submit work (assignment and portfolios) that is not

their own work. These students are handed over to the legal office and, if found guilty, their studies

can be suspended and they may also be reported to SACE. Remember that this is your own

professional journey – make it a journey you and your loved ones can be proud of.

Remember that hard work pays off. Good luck and may you enjoy your studies.

Corné Kruger

Programme leader: Diploma in Grade R Teaching

[email protected].za

(Please find contact details on next page)

Dip in Gr R Teaching: Communication to 2

and 3

year students 3 April 2021 4/4

Please direct queries to the relevant department:

➢ General UODL inquiries: DistancePot[email protected]

➢ Gr R registrations: UODLGradeR@nwu.ac.za

➢ Assignment Department: 018 285 2699 / 018 285 2705 / UODL-Assign[email protected]

➢ Academic Records: 018 285 2074 / UODL-Aca[email protected]

For you academic record, please email: UODL-AcademicR[email protected] you will have

to pay R50 for a stamped record

For a free academic record (not stamped): visit http://diyservices.nwu.ac.za/formal-student-

doc-service?_ga=2.83349142.1086182865.1612162517-149109653.1580732345

to download it yourself. Your first password is either your ID number or passport number

followed by @Nwu, e.g. 12345667890123@Nwu If you forgot your password, visit

password.nwu.ac.za to reset your password.

➢ Finances: 018 299 2667/8/9 / PC[email protected]

➢ Study Material: 018 285 2095 / 018 285 2095 / UODL-studymaterial@nwu.ac.za

➢ WIL Practical Information: 018 285 2781/2/3 / p-wil[email protected].za

➢ To request a certificate [email protected].za

➢ Support on the website: You can access your Results / Proof of Reg / Academic Record /

Downloads etc at the following link: http://distance.nwu.ac.za/help

➢ Specific academic questions: Please contact your lecturer for modules that you need

academic assistance with, all of these contact details will be found in the tutorial for that

specific module.

➢ Retrieve a free academic record: http://diyservices.nwu.ac.za/

Your username is your student number.

The first time default password is your ID@Nwu example: 123456789@Nwu

Or http://www.nwu.ac.za/ - at the bottom of the page you will find the DIY services that will

take you to the application.

These sites work best in the FireFox browser if you use your phone.

Please explore the UODL website http://distance.nwu.ac.za/ . There are many resources placed on

the website to support you in your studies.

Do not type here

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15 November 2019