Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM883DA: Systems Thinking in Theory and Practice

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The Systems Thinking in Theory and Practice module will help apprentices meet a range of skills (S1, S2, S3, S4, S7), knowledges (K1, K2, K3) and behaviours (B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B8) implicit in the IATE Systems Thinking Practitioner standard.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of critical systems heuristics, and critical and reflective perspectives on the method’s applicability, limits, and benefits as they pertain to system modelling and interventions.
2. Evidence a critical and detailed understanding of the applied critical systems heuristics method.
3. Analyse different options for designing a complex, ethical, and reflective systems intervention regime, inclusive of and evidencing critical consideration of different intervention methods.
4. Gather and analyse of a range of soft system data to deliver interventions, change and impact
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Evidence a holistic and comparative understanding of the critical systems heuristics method within the wider school of soft systems methods.
6. Evidence a well-developed theoretical and practical understandings of the evaluation of systems interventions
Personal and Key Skills7. Demonstrate reflexive skills and behaviours for critical self-reflection, personal development, and system design.
8. Explore and reflect upon personal biases, ethics, and beliefs as they pertain to systems and professional practice

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Self-reflective: ‘Delineating our PBL as a system’.1000 words4,7Masterclass two, orally and discursively

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay – boundary critique502,000 words1, 2, 3, 7, 8Written
Essay – systemic modelling and evaluation502500 words2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay – boundary critiqueEssay – boundary critique1, 2, 3, 7, 8Next re-assessment period
Essay – systemic modelling and evaluationEssay – systemic modelling and evaluation2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Next re-assessment period