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2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

COMM5240M Work Placement

30 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Lee Edwards
Email: l.m.s.edwards@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

1. To gain experience of working in a media or cultural industry setting.
2. To apply the theoretical ideas gained on the other modules in the programme to a specific project or projects.
3. To develop reflexive awareness of the personal and professional challenges of working in the cultural, media and communications industries.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the professional processes in which the student has been involved during the period of work placement.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the ways in which their specialist programme knowledge can be applied to a specific workplace in the cultural, media and communications industries.
3. Reflect on the personal challenges of working in the cultural, media and communications industries, based on their own experience and those of others in your workplace.
4. Explain and analyse the value of the major theories associated with their area of study, to practice in the cultural, media and communications industries.

Skills outcomes
Ability to manage a practical project, in conjunction with the placement employer and relevant staff.

Ability to critically apply academic theories to a specific set of cultural, media and communications industries work practices.

Ability to develop critical academic, personal and practical reflexivity.

Syllabus

This module aims to give students approximately one month's assessed practical experience at a company or organisation within the media, communications and cultural industries. International students will be required to undertake the work placement within the limitations of their visa conditions. Students on the module will need to provide a copy of the visa to both the School and their employer as confirmation of those conditions.

During the course of their work placement students are expected to appreciate the practical demands of a working environment and to critically evaluate their experience. They will reflect on and apply the theories and concepts they have studied during their respective degree programmes to the professional environment. They will also reflect on their personal experience of the challenges, contradictions and tensions in the workplace.

Each student's experience will depend on the project(s) in which they are involved, their specific role(s) and the organisation or company where they work. They will, however, be involved in the development, implementation and execution of professional projects and productions in a variety of junior capacities; they will learn to work under pressure in order to meet industry deadlines, they will also be required to demonstrate the capability to work effectively within the professional industry environment and under the scrutiny of working professionals. This will enable them to become a reflective practitioner within their chosen field.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Placement	0	0.00	140.00
Seminar	2	1.00	2.00
Tutorial	2	0.50	1.00
Private study hours			157.00
Total Contact hours			143.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students are required to prepare industry-specific CVs of professional standard and need to apply independently for work experience. They will be supported in their search with a document setting out the steps to obtain a work placement, and a tutorial to help them complete the required paperwork once they have secured one. They will carry out 4 weeks of work experience in a programme-related industry and are advised to keep a placement diary as the basis for their reflective log (one of the summative assignments). They need to reflect on this experience using appropriate literature.

Independent learning will also include researching and evaluating academic theories from their specialist programme, as ell as other theories relevant to the project in which they are involved at the placement workplace.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Once students have found their placement position, the student’s programme leader will contact the employer to confirm the project on which students will work and the mentoring arrangements for the student while in the workplace. Once those conditions are confirmed, the Placement and Employability Officer will confirm arrangements in writing for all parties.

Students will have one tutorial with the placement module leader and one with their programme leader. The dates for the tutorials will be confirmed prior to the placement starting.
During their work placement they will be supervised by a designated mentor at the company or organisation where they are placed.

The Placement and Employability Officer will also be responsible for making contact with the employer once during the placement, to obtain feedback on the placement process.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	1 x 4000-4500 word academic report	80.00
Reflective log	1 x 1500-2000 word reflective log	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The re-sit for the module will be a new submission of the failed component(s), based on the feedback obtained from the first submission. For the academic essay, students will have to apply different theoretical perspectives to those applied in the original submission. For the reflective log, students will have to integrate new aspects of their work experience and reflect on them in light of different academic theories as compared to their first submission. The assessments will be marked by programme leaders.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 29/01/2015

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