MA3SUP: Summer Placement Module

Module code: MA3SUP

Module provider: Mathematics and Statistics; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Summer / Semester 1

Module convenor: Mrs Claire Newbold, email: c.newbold@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): To take this module, you must be able to attend the pre-placement training run prior to the placement start date. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Mini placement

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module gives students an opportunity to gain experience applying for and completing a summer work placement / internship with an employer related to the student’s degree studies.  They will be able to reflect upon their strengths and weaknesses gained in this new learning environment and identify actions for personal growth. Towards the end of the placement, the students will exhibit their resilience in coping with constructive feedback from their employer.  When they return to UoR, having completed their placement the student will be able to effectively share experiences gained on placement by presenting to peers, academics and employers.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate the skills required to be successful in the workplace
2. Reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and identify actions for personal growth
3. Show resilience in coping with constructive feedback
4. Present with confidence to a range of stakeholders

Module content

The area of work undertaken on the placement will be related to the students’ overall programme of study. The day-to-day content of the work will be set by the placement employer and in agreement with the module convenor. The work placement should provide the student with invaluable first-hand experience as well as providing opportunities for independent problem solving and working in a team.

Students will organise their own mini work-based placement to take place in the summer vacation between parts two and three. This could be a work experience placement, paid work or volunteering that is related to the students degree subject.

Please note that the placement must be approved by the module convenor and compulsory pre-placement training must be completed prior to the placement commencing to aid transition into the workplace.

Based on the work experience gained, the student will deliver a self-reflective report following feedback from their employer and link their new and/or enhanced skills to the University of Reading graduate attributes.

Students will present placement highlights to peers and employers at a networking event in beginning of semester 1 and provide a more in-depth presentation to academic staff half way through semester 1.

Guidance will be given on effective self-reflection, structuring a self-reflective report and presenting in front of large audiences.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

At the beginning of the Summer, students will attend pre-placement training run by the module convenor to discuss the module aims, the process of finding a suitable placement, support through the application process and transition into the workplace. Thereafter, 1:1 meetings with the module convenor will be scheduled by the students to ensure:

• The placement is suitable
• Students understand what is expected of them for this module, the assignments and the importance of professional behaviours in the workplace
• All necessary health and safety, risk assessments and legal agreements are in place
• The placement employer has agreed to the terms of the placement and provides sufficient support, training and development to enable the student to develop and achieve their intended learning outcomes.

Students will be supported whilst on placement through regular communications from module convenor.

Throughout the following Semester 1, lectures will be timetabled to support the students in effective reflection and in preparing their assignment submissions.

Study hours

At least 7 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs