BIO2021 : Employability Skills for Biologists (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Alison Graham
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 25 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
European Credit Transfer System |
Aims
To offer students the opportunity to undertake a subject-specific work-related learning in a professional environment. Students will liaise with potential employers to proactively develop their employability skills and contribute to the ethos of the host organisation. The ability of students to critically reflect on their personal skills development will be enhanced.
Outline Of Syllabus
In Semester 1, students will:
• attend induction sessions outlining module aims and operation
• attend Careers Service Workshops
• attend a tutorial on CV and covering letter preparation
• make applications for positions with preferred placement providers
• attend interviews as requested
• start using e-Portfolio to record and reflect on progress
• secure a placement position
A list of placement opportunities from committed providers in the region will be offered to the students.
They may approach alternative providers both in the region or elsewhere (the latter requiring blocked placement attendance during the Easter Vacation), subject to approval by the Module Leader.
During Semester 2, students will:
• agree all placement activities, work schedule, overall timeline and deliverables with the provider and Module Leader, before completing a Placement Plan
• use e-Portfolio continuously to record progress and reflect on experiences
• complete at least 35 hours of direct work with the provider
• research the background, objectives and operations of the provider
• present a 15-minute Reflection Presentation to peers and staff
• submit a final Reflective Report
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Presentation and attendance at other presentation sessions. |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Placement plan (1,000 words) |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Introduction and Careers Service sessions to underpin career development |
Placement/Study Abroad | Employer-based learning | 1 | 35:00 | 35:00 | Placement work at providers premises |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Reflective report |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 8:30 | 8:30 | Presentation preparation. |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | e-Portfolio introduction. |
Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 4 | 1:30 | 6:00 | Tutorial follow-up. Preparation of CV and letters. Careers literature. |
Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Lecture follow-up |
Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 3 | 0:30 | 1:30 | Interviews |
Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Preparation for interviews; research on providers |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Tutorials. CV preparation and placement support. |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 0:30 | 1:30 | Careers Service workshops (compulsory attendance) |
Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 7 | 0:30 | 3:30 | Regular use of e-portfolio |
Total | 100:00 |
Jointly Taught With
Code | Title |
---|---|
MST2104 | Marine Research and Employability Skills |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Initial teaching sessions provide training and support to students in developing the skills required to approach providers and undertake the placement constructively from a career development perspective. These sessions will introduce students to: the operation and assessment of the module; the theory and practice of career development; and how to interact professionally with providers outside the University environment.
Reflective thinking is introduced and students are expected to continually record activities and reflect on their experience. Tutorials are provided throughout the module to support students in completing all the tasks required.
Achieving a placement position and undertaking the placement work provides students with a context within which to apply reflection and critical analysis of their situation and activities
Further teaching sessions give students the insights required to prepare the Reflective Report after critically reflecting on the placement experience as a career development opportunity. Assessed work links to the Graduate Skills Framework throughout.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral Presentation | 15 | 2 | A | 15 | Placement activities and reflection |
Other Assessment
Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Written exercise | 2 | M | 15 | Work placement plan (1000 words) |
Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 30 | Assessment by placement provider |
Report | 2 | M | 40 | Placement report ( |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
Description | When Set | Comment |
---|---|---|
Prof skill assessmnt | M | Careers Workshops Record of Attendance Form |
Written exercise | M | Health and Safety Checklist |
Written exercise | M | Record of Activities Form |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Written exercise | 1 | M | CV and covering letter |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Formative assessment of the CV and covering letter sets the level of professionalism required in interacting with providers and for the summatively assessed elements.
The Work Placement Plan will be discussed with the placement supervisor to support students in developing timely and deliverable objectives to be undertaken during the placement and to set personal goals for the development of graduate skills.
The oral presentation requires students to briefly summarise their placement activities and reflect on their personal and professional development. Both this and the Reflective Report should draw extensively on e-Portfolio (or other diary) entries to demonstrate learning and development and on the original goals set out in the Work Placement Plan. Feedback from the oral presentation should feed into the Reflective Report.
Reflective Report provides an opportunity for the student to reflect on their professional development. It requires critical reflection on personal and professional development in relation to the Graduate Skills Framework and employability.
Evaluation by the provider encompasses all activities from initial interview to completion of agreed work, including workplace competence, overall impact, and evidence of learning and development.
In addition students will undertake Pass/Fail assessments as follows:
Careers Workshops Record of Attendance Form
Students need to attend three 'Careers Service' workshops of their choice and submit the form confirming their attendance at these workshops.
Health and Safety Checklist
Before students commence their placement, they need to complete and submit a 'Health and Safety' checklist their placement provider has signed.
Record of Activities Form
Students have to complete a 'Record of Activities' form countersigned by their placement supervisor to show the number of hours of direct engagement with the provider.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BIO2021's Timetable