Module SSI3017 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SSI3017: Learning from Work Experience in the Social Sciences
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to develop your personal management skills and experience of learning through work. You will be encouraged to research and reflect on a range of work-related ‘explorations’ - from the nature of an organisation and their role within it, to the employment practices of induction, health and safety procedures, self-appraisal and continuing professional development, linking this with their own personal development planning. The module allows you to fully explore the links between the skills developed and the knowledge and understanding gained from their degree discipline. By practising specific skills for employment the module aims to prepare you for the world of work beyond university and increase knowledge and understanding of a range of professions.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of what your placement organisation does; how it is managed, the culture within the organisation and what influences this. 2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the experiential learning process and ability to critically reflect on and evaluate learning from the workplace, and to do so through the application and use of relevant theoretical frameworks |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Critically and systematically reflect on the relationship between the learning and skills developed in your discipline, with the learning, skills and personal attributes developed through your work placement. 4. Systematically research the academic background to a key issue arising from your work placement and critically evaluate the issue in relation to the professional and scholarly literature |
Personal and Key Skills | 5. Identify the specific skills needed in relation to particular job/career opportunities, and demonstrate an ability to talk about these knowledgeably with reference to the work placement; 6. Critically reflect on and analyse your own personal management skills, identifying ways to improve through personal development planning; 7. Present yourself effectively in CVs, applications and interviews, communicate information and ideas clearly and critically in oral presentations. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Preparing for your work placement
- Personal development planning
- Learning from experience
- Reflection, reflective writing and preparing to write critical logs
- An introduction to employment policies and practices.
- Values and professionalism in the workplace
- Preparing CVs, applications and personal statements
- Personal Development and Academic skills review
- Preparing for work after university
- Preparing for assessment
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
10 | 100 | 40 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 10 | 10 x 1 hour workshops |
Placement | 40 | 40 hours work placement |
Guided Independent Study | 10 | Reflective journal kept during work experience |
Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation of tasks related to teaching and learning sessions |
Guided Independent Study | 20 | Planning and preparation for work placement and work placement activities |
Guided Independent Study | 50 | Completion of activities for assessment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Useful materials on many aspects of learning from experience are also available online at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/
Other Learning Resources
Suggested journal resources include:
- Journal of Education and Work
- Work, Employment and Society
- Gender, Work and Organisation
- Employment Relations Today
- Reflective Practice
- Work and Occupations
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Description of a critical work incident and a plan for reflection | 500 words | 1-2, 4-5 | Oral feedback in session |
Personal action plan | Equivalent to 500 words | 5-6 | Oral feedback in session |
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.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
60 | 0 | 40 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral presentation | 40 | 10 minutes | 1, 3-5, 7 | Written feedback on assignment cover sheet |
Reflective logs | 60 | 2,250 words | 1-2, 4, 6 | Written feedback on assignment cover sheet |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Oral presentation | Written script for an oral presentation | 1, 3-5, 7 | August/September re-assessment period |
Reflective log | Reflective log (2,250 words) | 1-2, 4, 6 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Bates, B. (2016) Learning theories simplified. London: Sage Publications.
Bolton, G. (2014) Reflective Practice 3rd Edn. London: Sage
Cottrell, S. (2015), Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. London
Eraut, M. (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence. London: Routledge.
Fanthorne, C. (2004), Work Placements – A Survival Guide for Students. Palgrave Study Guides. Macmillan, London.
Hatton, N. and Smith, D. (1995) Facilitating reflection: issues and research, Forum of education, 50, (1) 49-65.
Kolb, D. (1984), ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development.’ PHI, New Jersey.
Moon, J. (1999), Learning Journals: A handbook for academics, students and professional development. Kogan Page. London.
Mowrer, R and Klein, S. (2001) Handbook of contemporary learning theories. Erlbaum Associates.
Neugebauer, J. and Evans-Brain, J. (2016) Employability: Making the most of your career development. London: Sage Publications.
Schon, D. (1983). The Reflective Practitioner. New York: Basic Books.