CL2APL-Academic Work Placement

Module Provider: Classics
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: CL2PL Work placement for Classicists and Ancient Historians
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Emma Aston
Email: e.m.m.aston@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module allows students to undertake academic work placements for credit. Students on the module undertake an academic placement offered by a member of staff in the Department and related to his/her own research (or teaching). This allows students to gain experience and understanding of the work of research and teaching professionals.

Aims:
This module aims to give students insight into the work of academics, and to equip them with key research skills of relevance to their remaining undergraduate work and also to any postgraduate study they might undertake.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students who complete the module successfully will:

• secure an academic placement by applying with a formal letter;


•  contribute to a research, or Teaching and Learning, activity under the guidance of a member of staff;


•  evaluate the success and usefulness of the placement

Additional outcomes:

Students will:

• gain significant experience of the work of professional academics;


• boost their own research skills;


• enhance their organisational abilities.

Outline content:

In each year, a small number of academic placement opportunities will be offered by staff. Students wishing to take CL2APL apply to work on one of the projects by writing a formal letter of application to the relevant member of staff. If several candidates present themselves for one placement, an informal interview may be arranged.  Placements are carried out in the summer term after the exams period, or over the summer vacation; it is expected that most students will complete the placement in the summer of their first year of study. Placements involve the student in assisting the lecturer with a current research task or Teaching and Learning activity. Projects may include (depending on availability):

• contributing to a publication or other research project by collating material and/or working on its analysis;


• helping to collate and arrange resources for an undergraduate module, current or planned;


• working on a project in the Ure Museum.

Should a student not secure a placement applied for, he/she will be instructed to select another 10-credit module instead.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

An initial briefing meeting in the Spring term will inform students about the academic placement opportunities on offer in the Department. Subsequent sessions will be held on how to apply for the placement (including writing a covering letter), on the presentations required for the student workshop, and on the writing of the final evaluation exercise. Placement supervision: Once a student has secured a placement, the member of staff providing it will provide the following: