TG3PP: Professional Practice

Module code: TG3PP

Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr Geoff Wyeth, email: g.m.wyeth@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to develop professional skills through several key areas: 

• Work-based learning, in the form of design work undertaken for clients under supervision (‘Real Jobs’).  
• Careers planning and preparation, picking up on work completed at Parts 1 and 2 
• Presentation of practical work to prospective employers through a curated display (both physically and online through blogs or websites).  
• There is exposure to external design professionals at every opportunity. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Organise visual content: Create effective and engaging design solutions by demonstrating an understanding of how people process and react to graphic and typographic content. 
2. Evidence design decisions: Explain and justify design concepts and proposals through a range of written, oral and graphic media. 
3. Employ technologies appropriately: Select and harness traditional, current and emerging technologies and crafts. 
4. Prepare for professional contexts: Alone, in teams or with clients, work and communicate effectively across a range of configurations and environments. 

Module content

The module contains distinct strands to support different areas of career development. 

• A briefing session to explain the Real Jobs process and expectations 
• A briefing session on the end-of-programme Display of Work, including presentation of physical and digital material 
• A guest lecture series provides the basis for reflective thinking about industry and personal aspirations 
• Weekly group catch-up sessions to keep your design process moving forward, and learn from the experiences of other students 
• Self-scheduled one-to-one tutor meetings to discuss your Real Jobs 
• Tutor feedback time to help with final display of work 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through a series of briefings, guest lectures, and in-person check-in sessions. One-to-one time with Real Job supervisors is self-scheduled. Projects may involve group work, some of which may be assessed. 

Study hours

At least 50 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.

Formative assessment of Real Jobs is given through: 

• Regular scheduled catch-up meetings, including staff and peer feedback 
• Student-scheduled one-to-one supervisor meetings for detailed discussion and appraisal of work in progress 
• Client meetings, presentations, emails and phone calls to ensure they are meeting the client’s needs. 

Formative assessment of the Display of Work will include: 

• Briefing and Q&A sessions to discussion approaches to the task 
• Intensive days of tutors feedback during the days leading up to submission

Reassessment

Additional costs