module specification

The Work Experience is continuous work throughout the both spring and autumn semesters at level 5.
Students during the work experience will be required to achieve objectives and deliverables set by their industrial supervisors at the workplace agreed with the student and the module leader. At the workplace industrial supervisors will negotiate with the students working objectives, the activities needed to meet those objectives and the deliverables required.
They will use a Work Experience Assessment Profile to assess student performance in delivering the required objectives and will provide crucial feedback on key skills development.

Successful completion of Level 4 

The aim of the module is to provide an opportunity for students to gain a useful experience of the working environment and apply the knowledge and skills that they gained at university in the work place. It enables students to further enhance their knowledge and skills by undertaking work-based tasks and related activities in Computing, Information and Communications Technology, Multimedia, Games, E-Learning, Business Information Technology and Mathematics and deliver agreed objectives within deadlines. It enables them to become more aware of issues which impact on organisations and through reflection, encourages them to make a more informed choice about their career and their prospects of finding employment in their chosen area.

The learning outcomes will be developed in the subject-based context of the work experience. A learning agreement, produced before the work experience begins, will specify the way in which the outcomes will be developed and how they will be evidenced. Suitable work experiences will offer students a range of learning opportunities appropriate to their academic level, career aspirations and will be, wherever possible, related to their subject specialism. The work experience will enable the student to build on previous experiences and learning gained within their academic course and elsewhere. It will provide learning opportunities for enhancing student’s abilities and allow for the development of learning outcomes and attributes in Level 5.

Various issues such as interview skill, effect team working, report writing and legal, ethical and professional issues etc. will be covered.

Students will be able liaise with clients/customers, as well as prepare, send, receive and deal with relevant documents;

Students will be able to work on tasks such as technical support, user support, computer operations, helping to construct and configure computer networks for communicating users across networks, asset creation, multimedia and games design, database design and web design;

Students will be able to work on routine and non-routine activities using technical tools and utilities;

Students will be able to assist and support teaching in primary and secondary education;

Students will be able to assist in accounting functions.
 

During work experience, students will have an opportunity to gain further knowledge and enhance their skills through learning new techniques, their practical application and re-enforcement. Such techniques may include the use of appropriate tools and methodologies, application design and development and support strategies. These techniques can be learnt and applied with training and employer guidance and help.

During work experience, students will write their reflective journals on the webLearn.

Four university based sessions (20 hours) will be arranged to cover various issues such as interview skill, report writing and legal, ethical and professional issues etc.

Familiarisation of rules and regulations, standards, department work practices, manuals, user guides and work specifications will play an important role in achieving objectives and deliverables.

On completion of the module, students will be able to:
• [LO1] describe how an organisation functions and the inter-relationships between different functional areas;
• [LO2] demonstrate knowledge and understanding of computer systems and related activities;
• [LO3] apply key skills and other related skills effectively across the spectrum of their work;
• [LO4] work independently and/or as a member of a team in the process of managing projects;
• [LO5] learn additional industrial knowledge and technical skills relevant to applications;
• [LO6] satisfy an employer by producing the work of the required standard on time;
• [LO7] critically reflect on their progress and career prospects;

During the work experience, the industrial supervisor and the visiting tutor will assess student’s work using a Work Experience Assessment Profile form. They will assess the students’ suitability of employment, the nature of the work being undertaken and how well agreed objectives are being met. At the end of the students’ employment period, industrial supervisors will be expected to complete the Work Experience Assessment Profile form. Students will be required to produce a report of their work experience which will be formally assessed and by the visiting tutor.

A Work Experience Report Form will be completed by the visiting tutor and will summarize student achievements taking into account the student report and comments received from the employer on the Work Experience Assessment Profile form.

Assessment criteria include evidence of skills attainment in:
• the deliverables achieved at the workplace;
• the overall management of activities/tasks at the workplace
• the nature of work undertaken at the workplace
• the roles and responsibilities undertaken at the workplace;
• working within a team;
• report writing.

Learning Manager Meetings: in order to pass this module, students must attend at least with their Learning Manager (one in Autumn and one in Spring) in order to reflect upon, discuss and plan their approach to learning and organisation of their study.

1) John Mongan, Noah Suojanen, Eric Giguère (2007), Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job (Programmer to Programmer) (2nd Edition). (John Wiley & Sons: Indianapolis, IN, USA) ISBN-10: 047012167X, ISBN-13: 978-0470121672.
2) Anthony Manning, Clare Nukui, Andrew O'Cain (2006), Team Working: University Foundation Study Course Book: Module 4: Team Working (Transferable Academic Skills Kit (TASK)). (Garnet Education: Reading) ISBN-10: 1859649181; ISBN-13: 978-1859649183.
3) M J Quinn (2005) Ethics for the Information Age, ISBN 0-321-19434-9
4) ACM Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2011) http://www.acm.org/about/se-code (accessed 19 September 2011)
5) IEEE Code of Ethics (2011) http://sites.ieee.org/ny-monitor/?page_id=628 (accessed 19 September 2011)
6) David L. Goetsch, (2004), Effective Teamwork Participant. (Publisher: Prentice Hall) ISBN-10: 0131193929; ISBN-13: 978-0131193925