Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSI2001: Learning from Work Experience in Social Sciences

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 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 your role within it, to employment practices, self-appraisal and continuing professional development, linking this with your own personal development planning. The module allows you to fully explore the links between the skills developed and the knowledge and understanding gained from your degree discipline. By practising specific skills for employment the module aims to prepare you for the world of work beyond university and to increase your knowledge and understanding of a range of professions.

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. 1. Demonstrate understanding of what your placement organisation does; how it is managed, the culture of the organisation and what might influence this.
2. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the experiential learning process and some ability to reflect on and evaluate learning from work experience.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Critically reflect on the relationship between the learning and skills developed in your discipline, with learning and skills developed through your work placement.
4. Systematically research the academic background to a key issue arising from your work placement.
Personal and Key Skills5. Identify the skills needed in relation to particular job/career opportunities.
6. Analyse your own personal management skills, identifying ways to improve through personal development planning.
7. Demonstrate ability to communicate and present yourself effectively in CVs, applications, presentations and interviews.

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
Description of a critical work incident and a plan for reflection500 words1,2,4,5Written
Personal action planEquivalent to 500 words5-6Written

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
60040

...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
Reflective logs602,250 words1-2, 4, 6Written feedback and grade
Individual presentation401,500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length1, 3-5, 7Written feedback and grade
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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Reflective logsReflective logs (2,250 words)1-2, 4, 6August/September re-assessment period
Individual presentationWritten script for a presentation (1500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length)1, 3-5, 7August/September re-assessment period