Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

New graduates entering the workplace face challenges in applying their theoretical knowledge to 'real world' contexts, and in negotiating the multi-skilled nature of work, which requires broad abilities such as flexibility, creativity and problem solving, interpersonal skills, inter-cultural awareness, self-awareness and self-management skills. Psychology in the Community (PYB207), a capstone unit, has been designed to provide final-year undergraduate psychology students with the opportunity to further develop these skills in a workplace context by undertaking relevant workplace experience, and integrating this experiential learning with their formal studies.

Your participation in this units requires acceptance into a workplace approved by the unit coordinator. You will be responsible for arranging your own work placement, which may be a volunteer organisation from a pre-negotiated register of organisations maintained by the School of Psychology & Counselling, or another organisation which has been approved by the unit coordinator - with the aim of accommodating the diverse career interests of psychology students. The workplace component of the unit is supported by preparatory workshops and activities, and exercises designed to promote critical reflection on your workplace experience. You will be expected to demonstrate a self-directed and proactive approach to your learning.

All students are strongly encouraged to apply for a Blue Card (suitability for working with children and young people clearance) before the commencement of semester as this clearance is required by most of our host organisations. It is your responsibility to have obtained this clearance prior to commencing your placement.

Aims

The aim of this unit is enable you to develop your work-literacy and work-readiness, by providing opportunities to apply psychological knowledge in workplace contexts, supported by activities that promote critical reflection on your learning and workplace practices. Your participation in this unit requires you to establish, conduct, and complete an approved period of volunteer work or placement. This unit also aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop as reflective professionals through the on-campus, workplace, and assessment activities.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate your ability to apply psychological principles to solve practical and applied problems in a work environment through critical, creative, and analytical thinking, and effective problem solving. (GC 1, 2, 3);


2. Demonstrate interpersonal and professional communication skills, and your ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team (GC 3, 5, 7);


3. Demonstrate personal development through the application of effective strategies for self-management, reflection and self-improvement with an ability to work independently and collaboratively (GC 4, 5 & 7);


4. Demonstrate an understanding of workplace contexts, including cultural diversity, professional, ethical and legislative frameworks, and workplace practices and culture, and your ability to contribute to professional interactions and discourse in a work place setting. (GC 6);


5. Engage in critical reflection and discussion regarding your volunteering role (GC 2, 3 & 5)

QUT Graduate capabilities (GC) developed:

1. Knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline or professional area


2. Critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problem-solving


3. Effective communication in a variety of contexts and modes


4. The capacity for life-long learning


5. The ability to work independently and collaboratively


6. Social and ethical responsibility and an understanding of indigenous and international perspectives


7. Characteristics of self-reliance and leadership.

Content

There are three broad areas of content in this unit, which are not mutually exclusive, and not necessary linear in their delivery. The first area focuses on your personal development and career planning. Through development of a student e-portfolio, completion of a resume, job application and interview, and participation in career development workshops, you will develop your personal and professional skills and a framework for future skills development and lifelong learning.

The second area focuses on work-integrated learning. You will undertake a workplace activity aimed at developing your professional skills, your understanding of workplace contexts, and the application of psychological knowledge in 'real world' contexts. Orientation activities, both in class and in the workplace, will prepare you for this experientially-based learning. Your workplace activities will be conducted under guidance from a workplace supervisor and the unit coordinator.

The final focus is on your construction of knowledge and understanding of what it is to be a practising professional. Through participation in workshops and debriefing activities, and the further development of reflective entries in your QUT Student Portfolio, you will create meaningful interpretations of the interactions between your personal, work, and academic environments, and critically evaluate your workplace experience and the translation of theory into practice.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit requires a high degree of commitment, initiative, and self-directed learning. The unit is structured around on-campus lectures and workshops, off-campus workplace activities, and self-directed online activities. Some work placements may include work after regular business hours and on weekends.

Formal lectures and workshops. Workshops at the beginning of semester will focus on skills and career development and your preparation for workplace learning. During these workshops you will form study groups in which you will work to prepare for your workplace experience. These groups will serve to provide ongoing interaction and peer support throughout the semester. On-campus workshops, mid-semester and at the end of semester, will focus on debriefing and critical reflection on your workplace training.

Workplace learning. Your workplace experience, completed off-campus in an approved organisation, will be supervised by a workplace supervisor and the unit coordinator. You will be expected to have undertaken background research into the organisation prior to commencing your placement, and to keep a workplace diary documenting your research, detailing your observations and experiences in the workplace, and progress towards achieving your learning goals. These observations will form the basis for reflection in the debriefing workshops and self-directed learning activities.

Self-directed learning activities. You will be expected to complete a range of self-paced online learning activities throughout the semester, including preparatory modules on workplace learning, exercises designed to help you critically reflect on your workplace experience, and the integration of your workplace experience into your Student Portfolio.

Assessment

Assessment for this unit includes both summative and formative components. Summative assessment items will be criterion-referenced. In line with the three broad areas covered in this unit and the associated learning outcomes, assessment will consist of three submissions.

In addition to submitting hard copies of your assessment you are required to electronically submit all written assignments through SafeAssign for content matching checks.

Assessment name: Professional Portfolio Part A
Description: This portfolio brings together the work you will undertake in preparation for workplace learning, including your current skills audit, a placement skills audit, your learning goals, and two entries in the QUT student portfolio. You will conduct a career search and prepare and employment application that includes a covering letter, your resume and responses to selection criteria. Your portfolio will also include a brief Workplace Health and Safety Audit.

Formative component: Feedback and discussion on your Skills Audit, Resume, and Employment "Interview" will be provided during preparatory workshops.
Relates to objectives: 3 & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Workplace Learning Report
Description: Weighting: Graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis by your workplace supervisor. You must receive a SatisfacorySatisfactory report on your workplace learning placement in order to be eligible to pass the unit.

Description: You will work collaboratively with your workplace supervisiorsupervisor to assess your progress and performance during your workplace-learning experience. Through participation in the workplace, mulitiplemultiple opportunities will exist for formative feedback.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Professional Portfolio Part B
Description: Your final portfolio will include four entries in your QUT Student Porfolioreflections and a resume which demonstrate your work in developing professional knowledge, skills, and abilities through participation int the workplace, workshops, and other learning activities in the unit; and participation in a brief poster session student conference during which you will present your portfoliothe outcomes of your placement to academic staff, industry contacts, and other students.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of 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

The prescribed text for this unit is:
Author: Sweitzer, H.F., & M.A. King (2008).The successful internship: Professional and civic development (3rd Ed). Belmont: Brooks/Cole.

The critical resource for this unit in the School of Psychology and Counselling Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Blackboard website, accessed via the "My Communities' section on the Blackboard homepage. Compulsory readings will be made available through the Course Materials Database on the Blackboard Site.

Risk assessment statement

During this unit you will be required to participate in an off-campus workplace, where you may be exposed to risks not encountered in a normal on-campus environment. When undertaking a work placement, you will automatically be subject to the Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures of the organisation. You are required by law to comply with these policies and procedures at all times. Measures to minimise risks include:

Appropriate preparation prior to commencing your work placement, including identification of the relevant WH&S policies and procedures, and arrangements for appropriate workplace insurance, either through your host organisation or through QUT's Careers & Employment Service
Orientation to the work organisation, including the completion of any required orientation processes or activities.
Adequate supervision while on work placement.

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: 03-Apr-2013