CL2PL-Work placement for Classicists and Ancient Historians

Module Provider: Classics
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Summer & Autumn Terms
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: To combine with any placement module in a different department, students must consult the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: CL2APL Academic Work Placement
Placement opportunity: Mini placement
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Eleanor Dickey
Email: e.dickey@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake a professional placement during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or 3 of study.

Aims:

This module aims to recognise and enhance the employability of students. It aims to enable students to:

• Gain experience of the job application process through self-organised placements.


• Increase employability through being able to demonstrate experience in the professional sector and enhanced ‘soft skills’ (e.g. communication, time-management)


• Extend knowledge of career options and help identify future career path(s) matching their aspirations.


• Develop communication skills in a variety of formats 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students who complete the module successfully will:

• Gain understanding and insight into the professional work environment.


• Gain knowledge of recruitment processes and/or speculative applications (may involve CV, covering letter, interview)


• Evaluate the success and usefulness of the placement and think critically about how the work carried out has contributed to the work of the placement provider


• List examples of soft skills acquired and developed whilst on placement


• Practise presenting their ideas in non-traditional formats (screencast and journal), and gain experience in the use of those formats.

Additional outcomes:

Students may also develop:

• Experience in placements relevant to graduate careers and their areas of interest for future career


• Appreciation of the internal and external factors that impact upon a company or organisation


• Self-confidence within the professional work environment


• Identification of a future career path(s)

Pre-placement teaching will provide insights into different career ideas and allow students to explore what might be the most appropriate way forward in terms of securing a placement relevant to their career interests.

Outline content:

Students are expected to secure their own placements; these should involve at least 40 hours of work over a period of at least 5 days, and longer placements are encouraged.  Placements are to be completed during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 study.  Placements may be paid or unpaid.  Ample advice and support on securing placements will be available from the Careers Service.

Students who do not secure placements by the end of summer term will be asked to transfer to another 10-credit module instead.

Students must attend the lectures in summer term in order to discuss possible placements; each placement must be individually approved by the module convenor, with all necessary legal, health and safety documents completed prior to commencement.  Students will not be able to take up placements without these initial meetings and the completed paperwork.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

An initial briefing and follow-up meeting early in the summer term preceding the placement will give advice on how to secure a placement, and develop skills writing CVs and covering letters.  Later in summer term there will be a briefing on the assessment.  The necessary paperwork must be completed by the end of summer term.  The assessment is due at several points over the summer, depending on the timing of the placement itself.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	2
Practicals classes and workshops	2
Placement	40
Guided independent study:	56
Total hours by term	100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. a journal written while on the placement of at least 2000 words.  This is due on the first weekday after the end of the placement (date to be agreed with student and placement provider); deadline extensions are not normally possible) (35%)



2. Three screencasts detailing the purpose of the placement and work undertaken.  The screencasts should also have a reflective element considering the student’s personal and skills development during the course of the placement, employer feedback (see formative assessment methods) and thoughts on future employment. Deadline extensions are not normally possible for the first two screencasts; normal extension policies apply to the third.

• Pre-placement screencast (3 minutes) due at the end of the summer term (15%)


• On-placement screencast (3 minutes) due on the last weekday of the placement (20%)


• Post-placement screencast (4 minutes) due 2 weeks after the end of the placement (30%)

Formative assessment methods:

Students will gain feedback on their CV and covering letter from the Careers Service and may also receive feedback from potential employers.  During the placement, students will be provided with tuition and verbal feedback through both formal and informal means.  At the end of the placement, the provider will be asked to complete a pro-forma personal skills summary.  This summary will detail the student’s strengths and achievements and comment on their overall performance and development of relevant skills whilst on placement (including self-management, professional conduct, communication and technical skills).

Students will also have the opportunity of a one-to-one session with a Placement Coordinator or Careers Consultant.

Listed under Autumn term above are two one hour lectures and two one-hour workshops held in the summer term of Part 1, 56 hours of guided independent study held in the summer term of Part 1, and also 56 hours of guided independent study and 40 hours of placement to be completed over Summer preceding commencement of Part 2 study.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

It is not possible to retake this module in the same format.  If a student fails the overall module, the student will be asked to re-submit the screencasts but the mark will be capped at 40% according to University rules.  

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 21 September 2021