Learning from Work Experience in the Social Sciences
Module title | Learning from Work Experience in the Social Sciences |
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Module code | SSI3017 |
Academic year | 2021/2 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Lauren Stentiford (Lecturer) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 1 | 9 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
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Module description
This module is designed to help you gain a relevant work placement and to use your work experience as an opportunity for personal and academic development. The module will give you the tools to reflect critically upon your placement. You will also be encouraged to continue to reflect on the skills that you develop during your placement and to consider how all of this relates to your degree studies. You will be expected to search for your own work placement, although you can request support in this process from module employability officer.
The module aims to enable learning from the whole experience of work including a focus on how people learn from work, and more generic workplace skills and knowledges. These include: understanding organisational structures and practices, personal development planning, and lifelong learning through reflection and critical analysis. In addition, the module will provide a series of workshops, including an opportunity to interact with careers advisors and participate in a reflective writing workshop.
Module aims - intentions of the module
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 increase knowledge and understanding of a range of professions.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of what your placement organisation does; how it is managed, the culture of the organisation and what might influence this.
- 2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the experiential learning process and ability to critically reflect on and evaluate learning from work experience, and to do so through the application and use of relevant theoretical frameworks
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 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
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Identify the specific skills needed in relation to particular job/career opportunities, and demonstrate an ability to present 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. Demonstrate ability to communicate and present yourself effectively in CVs, applications and interviews, and communicate information and ideas clearly and critically.
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
- Personal Development and Academic skills review
- Preparing for work after university
- Preparing for assessment
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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10 | 100 | 40 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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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 |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Description of a critical work incident and a plan for reflection | 500 words | 1-2, 4-5 | Written |
Personal action plan | Equivalent to 500 words | 5-6 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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60 | 0 | 40 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Individual presentation | 40 | 1500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length | 1, 3-5, 7 | Written feedback and grade |
Reflective logs | 60 | 2,250 words | 1-2, 4, 6 | Written feedback and grade |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Individual presentation | Written script for a presentation (1500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length) | 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 learning resources - Basic reading
Bolton, G. and Delderfeld, R. (2018) Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development, 5th edn., Los Angeles: Sage.
Cascio, W. (2000). Managing a Virtual Workplace. The Academy of Management Executive (1993-2005), 14(3), 81-90.
Cottrell, S. (2015), Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. London
Edgell, S., Gottfried, H. and Granter, E. (eds.) (2016) The SAGE Handbook of the Sociology of Work and Employment, London: Sage.
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.
Illeris, K. (2009) Contemporary Theories of Learning. London: Routledge.
Kolb, D. (2014) Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development. New Jersey: Pearson Education..
Mehta, K. & Shah, V. (2019). Global Business: Virtual Workplaces and Collaborations. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 9(4).
Moon, J. (2006), Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development. Abingdon: Routledge.
Neugebauer, J. and Evans-Brain, J. (2016) Employability: Making the most of your Career Development. London: Sage Publications.
Noon, M., Blyton, P. and Morrell K. (2013) The Realities of Work: Experiencing Work and Employment in Contemporary Society, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schon, D. (1991). The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Useful materials on many aspects of learning from experience are also available online at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Suggested journal resources include:
- Journal of Education and Work
- Work, Employment and Society
- Gender, Work and Organisation
- Reflective Practice
- Work and Occupations
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 6 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 14/03/2017 |
Last revision date | 03/09/2020 |