Modules

Module title: Professional Practice
SCQF level: 10:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: BMS10107
Module leader: Janis MacCallum
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Biomedical Science
Prerequisites

Research skills appropriate to science; critical thinking skills; ability to acquire and interrogate primary literature sources; communication skills
2020/1, Trimester 1, FACE-TO-FACE,
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: FACE-TO-FACE
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Janis MacCallum
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
The module will be taught using a number of lectures, tutorials and workshops aligned with your needs in preparing for the project module in tri 2, and for professional practice. In these, a number of topics will be covered, some of which will be core to this module, and others from which you will be able to choose depending on your needs for project work and future professional practise. It is anticipated that a problem-based learning approach will be taken for many of these.

Core workshops will ready you for beginning to work on your project, formatted around both generic research methodology, and useful skills allied to project work, whilst other workshops will support the assessments and potential future professional destinations or areas of interest (LOs 1, 2).
Additionally, a number of employability skills will be developed in this module, including: Ability to compare scientific and ethical positions; Ability to translate research findings; Time management, planning; Personal development and reflection; Critical reading and writing. (LOs 2,3,4)
Formative Assessment:
The weekly workshops will expose you to various aspects of professional practice which will be relevant both in your project work and in future work. These will incorporate formative opportunities to discuss and practise, for example, methodological and ethical aspects of scientific work, as well as aspects of thinking and planning, risk assessment and quality assurance. This will include opportunities to refresh basic research methods in class or virtually, and pick up additional advanced research skills. You should reflect upon skills developed within prior modules in your programme in order to incorporate appropriate improvements into your current working practise. Formative assessment opportunities will therefore be integral to these weekly workshops. Examples of the types of formative assessment which may be used include; critical analysis of an ethics submission document; creation of a group risk assessment for a task; planning a timeline for a research project; writing in a lab book using GLP guidelines; an in-class ethical debate. These will feed into different elements of your summative assessment. In particular formative work on skills reflection via blogposts which can be academic-, peer- and self-reviewed will feed into a summative final grouped blogpost incorporating changes made. Additionally, this will link with the second summative assessment where reflection of skills will underpin articulation of competency in applying for a job of choice.

Summative Assessment:
One component of assessment for this module will therefore be a final submission of grouped blogposts reflecting on skills and attributes. This will count for 50% of the module marks (LO 1, 2, 3) and comprise 3x 500 word blogs (a total of 1500words).
The remaining 50% of the module will be assessed via submission of a CV and covering letter (1500 words in total) as part of a job application (from a list of choices) requiring you to draw from workshop materials, and reflect upon your prior learning and future professional practise. (LO 2, 3, 4).


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 35
Independent Learning Guided independent study 165
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Reflective Log 50 1, 2, 3 Combin 11 HOURS= 00.00, WORDS= 1500
Report 50 2,3 & 4 CV and 13 , WORDS= 1500
Component 1 subtotal: 50
Component 2 subtotal: 50
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

This module will prepare you for undertaking your project work in the following trimester and additionally allow you to build on areas of your employability in preparation for presenting yourself to the professional world. Topics being covered will include; risk assessment and ethics; time management and project planning; scientific methodology and consideration of limiting factors; use of data in the workplace; critical writing and referencing; advanced communication skills; quality processes; interpersonal and interview skills; how a business is run; project management and consultancy; teaching as a destination; public engagement and outreach; policy and conservation. The blogposting assessment will encourage you to reflect upon your skills using a reflective communication approach and provide practise in self and peer assessment; this will also underpin the job application assessment, which will entail providing evidence of and articulation of skills and attributes for a chosen future profession.
Learning Outcomes for module:

LO1: Critical appraise qualitative and quantitative research methods, ethical process, quality, risk assessment, health and safety as they may pertain to professional practice.
LO2: Demonstrate evidence of skills competency through engagement with a number of skills workshops as they relate to your project and professional area.
LO3: Reflect upon prior learning.
LO4: Communicate learning and skills in a professional and targeted manner.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Contact your module leader
 

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