Units
Postgraduate Workplace Learning
Unit code: KKN320
Contact hours: Between 90 and 100 hours duration
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
It is important that Creative Industries professionals gain real work experience in order to link university study with professional practice. Students need to equip themselves not only with skills and discipline knowledge but also with understandings and experience in order that they may function and flourish when they enter the workplace. This elective unit is offered during postgraduate courses so that students are able to apply appropriate, transferable skills to a workplace or professional context.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
| 2013 Summer | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
It is important that Creative Industries students gain real industry-based experience in order to link university study with professional practice. Students need to equip themselves not only with skills and discipline knowledge but also with understandings and experience in order that they may function and flourish when they enter the workplace. This capstone unit is offered during postgraduate courses so that students are able to apply appropriate, transferable skills to a workplace or professional context.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Internships may be undertaken with an established commercial business or as service to the community through a charitable or not-for-profit organisation. Work internships are broadly defined as work within an organisation in a clearly defined role, work on a project as part of a multi-disciplinary team or work within a freelance environment. The key characteristic of a work internship is the involvement of a third party (Industry Partner), who contributes to the evaluation of your internship. Internship postions are normally unpaid. Where you accept an offer of a paid position, you will not be covered by QUT insurance. You are required to complete between 80 and 100 hours in an internship.
1. All students are responsible for finding their industry internship
Take the necessary preparatory steps in the weeks prior to the Semester.
The Transitions team and academic supervisors provide limited assistance.
2. You may not use an existing employment position as an Internship
If remaining in the same employment position, you must undertake substantially new duties.
The Industry Partner must email your academic supervisor an outline of how your new role differs from the existing position.
3. View selected internship positions on the CI Transitions Hub:
http://tiny.cc/CITransitionsHub
4. If unable to secure an internship by Week 4, you must seek advice from the Unit Coordinator with the likelihood of withdrawing from the unit.
Aims
This unit aims to provide you with:
· Experience in applying discipline knowledge and skills in the context of professional practice in order to strengthen discipline-specific learning and specialisation.
· An understanding of professional communication protocols, professional conduct and ethical considerations in workplace
· A critical understanding of the role of reflection on learning and self-evaluation in professional environments
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Apply your understanding of professional networking within Creative Industries to successfully secure an internship.
2. Identify, synthesise and integrate relevant discipline-specific theories, concepts, skills and practices in an internship role.
3. Apply professional communication protocols in a variety of contexts and modes.
4. Analyse ethical issues arising in a professional context.
5. Critically reflect on and evaluate your professional practice through oral, written and visual media.
Content
This unit addresses content such as:
· Developing a CV, cover letter and portfolio
· Finding and applying for a Internship
· How to prepare a proposal including aims and objectives, timelines and workplace's Occupational Health and Safety policies
· Professional identity and conduct in the work place, workplace health and safety, intellectual property
· How to observe and reflect on your internship experience
· Responding to ethical issues arising in the workplace
· Analysing and evaluating the internship experience
· Incorporating relevant course theories and readings
· Reviewing and presenting internship experiences to peers and Industry Partners
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
In this unit, the following approaches are employed to support your learning:
· Academic support (Transtions Coordinator and Academic Supervisors)
· Liaison with Industry Partner supervisor and academic supervisor to maintain relationship and ensure appropriate internship is identified
· Self-assessment and reflective practice (on-line blog, critical review)
· Reflective assessment based on actual experience and observation
Assessment is designed to address multiple aspects of professional practice, the variety of internships undertaken across the Faculty and the breadth of discipline-specific experiences.
Assessment
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.
Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please see the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Description: Half way through the internship (45 completed hours) schedule a meeting with your Industry Partner to discuss your performance. You may use the end-of-Semester Industry Partner Evaluation (IPE) form provided as a guide. The Industry Partner is not required to complete the feedback form at this stage. In addition, all Summative assessment items provide for succinct feedback to students on their progress.
Learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 0%
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Summative assessment will be based on a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Summative assessment comprises the following three items. In order to pass the unit you must complete all items at a Satisfactory level.
Assessment name:
Preparation for Internship*
Description:
Completion of necessary documentation before you commence your internship, including a CV, a cover letter and the aims of your proposed internship role. Additionally, you will complete an online career module and submit a certificate of completion.
*Assessment 1 includes completing the necessary insurance cover information. Therefore, you may not begin your internship until you have completed Assessment 1 and it has been marked and approved by your academic supervisor. Any work hours undertaken by you prior to successful completion of this assessment item will not be credited towards the required 80-100 hours of the internship.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 5
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Early Semester
Assessment name:
Industry Partner Evaluation
Description:
(Formative and Summative)
Evaluation by the Industry Partner of your performance and learning in the workplace.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End Semester
Assessment name:
Critical Review
Description:
(Formative and Summative)
Includes portfolio and oral presentation.
You will critically reflect on your learning during the internship and upon completion of the internship present the outcomes of your evaluation in a learning portfolio and an oral presentation. The portfolio must demonstrate an understanding of the relevant industry processes as they relate to your internship role and show evidence of your application of course-acquired knowledge and skills. You must present your work in an appropriate discipline-based format.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 4, 5
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Required readings: Required readings for this unit will cover management styles, communication at work, reflective practice, professional ethics and workplace issues and will be compiled and made available for download from the Course Materials Database.
Book Portion
Gardner, H., Csikszentmihalyi, M., Damon, W.. (2001). The Conditions of Good Work - chapter 2
Grace, Damian and Cohen, Stephen.. (1998). Chapter 1 : Ethical Reasoning in Business
Hutton, Miriam. (1989). Learning from Action: A Conceptual Framework
Locker Kitty. (1997). Job interviews, follow up letters and calls, and job offers
Boud, David. (2001). Using journal writing to enhance reflective practice
Smith, Elizabeth A. (2001). The role of tacit and explicit knowledge in the workplace
Recommended readings: As this is an advanced-level third year unit, you are required to identify and draw on relevant literature and examples of practice from your CIF discipline.
Risk assessment statement
Students must submit the Proposal, make themselves aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace and are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate.
Students should address intellectual property and conflict of interest considerations with the prospective industry partner before commencement of the work internship.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 20-Nov-2012
