Workplace Learning for Geographers

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

The opportunity to develop your employability skills and potential in your degree is paramount as you may soon be entering the job market. In this module, you will develop your skills in career development and planning. You will undertake and reflect on 50 hours work experience. You will also complete a number of other tasks, such as attending employability events, creating a social media presence and interviewing someone about their working life.

Failure to complete a minimum of fifty hours of work experience will result in a zero grade for that portion of the assessment. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this module, and it is suitable for non-specialist students.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to prepare you to join the workforce by developing employability and career development skills.

As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

• Strategic thinking and problem solving in the workplace
• Know how to make professional applications, prepare a high-quality CV and cover letter, and improve your interview skills.
• Presentation practice to feel as comfortable as possible when delivering a talk and become a confident communicator.
• Reflective practice to build a portfolio about your work experience and created future employment plans
• People skills in communicating with peers, employers, and module teaching team
• Enquiring mind in pursuing further reading on topics covered in the module.
• Data management skills in collecting and recording data (e.g. reflections) and analysing
• Team work

The module requires you to undertake 50 hours of work experience, and you must be willing to carry out independent research, to use the Careers Service and to attend careers-related events.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Plan and set out clear goals that are to be achieved from the work experience
• 2. Reflect upon and evaluate the work experience and analyse what was learnt in terms of employability
• 3. Develop an initial career plan that evaluates and applies this experience and what you need to do to achieve your goals

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Research, analyse and evaluate the current job market
• 5. Apply your learning to produce examples of professional communications

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Manage your own learning time about the course
• 7. Work both cooperatively and independently

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

Introductory sessions and preparation for the workplace experience.

Introduction to how geographers engage with work and employment as an area of research.

Learning and reflecting on the experience with a review seminar.

Successful completion of the workplace experience.

Completion of a portfolio.

Completion of a reflective essay, which demonstrates what you have learnt during the work experience.

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to re-submit the relevant assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

If you have not completed the work experience you will be required to complete a further 50 hour placement.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Careers and Employment Service (CES)

• Careers and Employment Service Guide – available from CES
• AGCAS booklet – How to complete an application form -available from CES
• Making Applications – AGCAS booklet available from CES reception
• Making Applications – AGCAS booklet available from CES reception
• Making Wizard Applications – by Chris Phillips available to buy

Interviews

Careers and Employment Guide – from CES

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3865
• The Career Zone: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/

CVs and Making Applications

• CV Creator – www.ex.ac.uk/employability/cvcreator
• International and academic CVs: www.prospects.ac.uk;

click on ‘Jobs & Work’then ‘Applications & Interviews’ – useful power word list

• www.selectsimulator.com– practice online application form
• www.futuremorph.org– very helpful Science Council careers site

Interviews

• www.prospects.ac.uk– interview tips under the ‘Jobs and Work’ section
• www.bemyinterviewer.co.uk - online advice for answering hard questions

Work Experience

• www.futuremorph.org - Setting aims and goals

Teaching

• www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/careerplanning/sector/teaching/

Module has an active ELE page

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Book a practice interview with employers (check the web for details and dates www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/staff/ )
• DVD – Your Job is online -available to view at CES
• Video – Looking Good on Paper – available to see at CES
• DVD – ‘Making an Impact’ – available at CES

Key words search

Employability, careers, job application, work experience