Students
PACE2001 – Professional Practice Placement 1
2020 – Session 3, Weekday attendance, On location at placement
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit convenor
Jennifer Ruskin
Contact via Email
4 Eastern Rd, level 2
By appointment
Placement administration
Co-op and internships team
Contact via Email
4 Eastern Rd, level 2
By appointment
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BProfPrac or BActStudProfPrac(Hons)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit offers an academic foundation for a professional experience in a workplace. Students will further develop their professional communication skills, understanding of professional ethics and application of reflective practice. Students will explore and develop project management skills based on their experience in the workplace, including the use of technology to support project planning and management. While students admitted to the Bachelor of Professional Practice have enrolment priority for this unit, a limited number of spaces are open to students enrolled in other degrees. This unit is a designated PACE unit and all enquiries regarding enrolment should be made to coopandinternships@mq.edu.au no later than 4 weeks before commencement of the study period. For background on PACE, making the most of placement experiences and support for non-Co-op students to find placements, visit PACEWISE on iLearn. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Assess your evolving professional identity in the workplace
- ULO2: Evaluate disciplinary knowledge, skills and attributes needed in the workplace
- ULO3: Identify strategies for addressing ethical issues that may arise in the workplace
- ULO4: Adapt content and mode of communication in the workplace based on the audience for the information
- ULO5: Apply reflective practice skills to explore how experiences in the workplace may influence your approach to your disciplinary studies
General Assessment Information
NOTE: THIS PACE2001 UNIT GUIDE IS FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING PLACEMENTS/INTERNSHIPS >100 HOURS
In order to complete the unit, students are required to complete the placement hours as agreed with their host organisation as well as the assessment tasks for the unit. Detailed instructions for each assessment task are available on iLearn. The instructions include information about content, submission methods, due dates and marking guides or rubrics. All assessment tasks must be submitted via links on iLearn. No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded marks for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission -20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
At the end of the placement, some students' host organisations may require them to present to their team, a broader team or a leadership group. The unit content is designed to prepare students for this possibility. This unit is a Professional Practice/Co-op unit with Fitness to Practice requirements. For more information about the performance expectations, see the policies and procedures section below.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning objectives and plan | 20% | No | 13 Dec 2020 |
| Online module certification | 30% | No | 4 Jan 2021 |
| Performance evaluation and reflection | 20% | No | 11 Jan 2021 |
| ePortfolio | 30% | No | 17 Jan 2021 |
Learning objectives and plan
Assessment Type 1: Learning plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: 13 Dec 2020
Weighting: 20%
Students consult with their placement supervisors (guided by a template) to develop learning objectives and activities for their placement. Learning objectives should be relevant to the tasks, responsibilities and expected outcomes of the placement.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Assess your evolving professional identity in the workplace
- Evaluate disciplinary knowledge, skills and attributes needed in the workplace
- Apply reflective practice skills to explore how experiences in the workplace may influence your approach to your disciplinary studies
Online module certification
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: 4 Jan 2021
Weighting: 30%
Students engage with three online modules and reflect on how the module content applies in practice and/or in their studies.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify strategies for addressing ethical issues that may arise in the workplace
- Apply reflective practice skills to explore how experiences in the workplace may influence your approach to your disciplinary studies
Performance evaluation and reflection
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: 11 Jan 2021
Weighting: 20%
Workplace supervisors evaluate student performance on placement using a rubric. Students reflect on their supervisor feedback and their own performance evaluation.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate disciplinary knowledge, skills and attributes needed in the workplace
- Apply reflective practice skills to explore how experiences in the workplace may influence your approach to your disciplinary studies
ePortfolio
Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 17 Jan 2021
Weighting: 30%
Students identify three areas (skills, attributes, etc.) they have developed while on placement and include both an artifact and description of their development in each area in an ePortfolio.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Assess your evolving professional identity in the workplace
- Evaluate disciplinary knowledge, skills and attributes needed in the workplace
- Adapt content and mode of communication in the workplace based on the audience for the information
- Apply reflective practice skills to explore how experiences in the workplace may influence your approach to your disciplinary studies
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Textbook
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.
Other Recommended Reading
Students need to be familiar with accessing academic sources from the library. Useful reading includes both recommended journals in the relevant discipline area and research on experiential learning in the work place.
Technology Used and Required
Microsoft Office suite (or equivalent), including in particular word processing and presentation software. Email (student email address) and iLearn (https://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/) are both required for the unit. Students should be able to access research databases through the library. They may find referencing software helpful.
Prizes
Students of PACE units are eligible to apply for the prestigious Professor Judyth Sachs PACE prizes. See the following link for information and the application process: http://students.mq.edu.au/courses/professional_and_community_engagement/pace_prizes/.
Unit Schedule
The class is run in internal mode. Because many of the unit hours are conducted at work placements, the unit is delivered via three seminars and three online modules. Students are responsible for checking iLearn and/or email for updates to the seminar dates, times or locations.
| Week | Day and time | Location | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tues, 1 Dec, 6-9pm | 12 Second Way, 430 | Orientation |
| 2 | Tues, 15 Dec, 6:30-8pm | 12 Second Way, 430 | Check-in seminar |
| 4 | Complete by Mon 4 Jan | Online module | Project management, professional ethics and theory & practice |
| 5 | Tues, 12 Jan, 6-9pm | 12 Second Way, 430 | Becoming a professional |
Note for Co-op students: during the week of 15 Feb 2021 (time and day TBC), Co-op students will complete brief presentations about their placement experience to partners of their Co-op discipline.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Fitness to Practice Requirements
This unit is a Professional Practice/Co-op unit with Fitness to Practice requirements. Therefore, Co-op student enrolment in this Course is governed by both the Academic Progression policy and General Coursework Rules 9 and 10. The General Coursework Rules may supersede the Academic Progression Policy. Students undertaking this placement are required to demonstrate they are fit to practice and compliant with any mandated or accreditation requirements specified in the Handbook.
Fitness to Practice is the demonstration of the required professional knowledge and behaviours for students to practice safely and properly throughout any placements and to meet the core learning outcomes.
Students enrolled in this unit must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Macquarie University Code of Conduct, the expectations of relevant professional bodies, standards of partner organisations, and guidelines and policies specified by the course. Students must demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and attributes expected of student practitioners appropriate to their stage of learning and practice.
If a unit convenor or placement supervisor assesses a student’s professional conduct as unsatisfactory at any time during the unit, the student will be required to attend a performance review meeting. The student may be given an opportunity to improve their performance. In some cases, they may be withdrawn from the placement. If a student enrolled in a Co-op degree is unable to improve their performance to an acceptable standard and is withdrawn from a placement, they will be excluded from the Co-op degree and unable to re-apply. If the student meets the academic progression requirements of the Academic Progression Policy, the student may be able to continue with another degree program.
Fitness to Practice for Co-op is demonstrated across 3 domains:
- Behaviour: Students are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times both in the classroom and on placement and reflect the behaviours, ethics and attitudes expected of the profession interpreted for the student context (see rubric for Performance Evaluation assessment task on iLearn).
- Cognition: Students must demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding both in their discipline and in professional practice consistent with the Bachelor of Professional Practice (or other course if relevant) fitness to practice standards
- Communication: Students must demonstrate communication skills consistent with professional standards interpreted for the student context (see rubric for Performance Evaluation assessment task on iLearn)
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.