Students are required to complete 175 hours in a professional planning placement to a satisfactory standard in order to pass this course. This assessment task involves:

1. Completion of 175 hours in a professional planning placement: Students are required to download and complete the 'GEOP461 Log Sheet' available on iLearn. The log sheet needs to be filled in throughout the semester. The Log Sheet needs to be signed by the workplace supervisor and emailed to the Unit Convenor before Friday 14th June.
2. Satisfactory performance as evaluated by Unit Convenor and Workplace Supervisor:  The Unit Convenor will evaluate performance drawing on a workplace evaluation survey completed by the work place supervisor.  DUE WEEK 12.

This is a hurdle assessment and therefore students will need to pass it in order to pass the course. Students should maintain regular contact with the Unit Convenor and let the convenor know as soon as possible if problems with the work placement arise. 

Part A: Presentation       

SUBMISSION: In class presentation (2-5pm) and submission of slides online via iLearn by 12pm

MARKS:  Part A is worth 15 marks 

This assessment task requires you to make an oral presentation on your placement project. The presentation should be engaging and professional. It may be made using Power Point or another format that you think would be appropriate. Topics to be covered include:

• A project description, aims, objectives and expected outcomes
• A summary of the objectives of your partner organisation
• Discuss how the project will be managed 
• Discuss any challenges you will need to overcome which relate to your workplace relationships, your skill set or networks that may affect the success of your project or future career (this should inform your reflective journal) and
• You will be required to answer questions on your project. 

You may include images, graphs and other legitimate material if they add value to your presentation. You will be required to submit your slides online via iLearn for assessment by 12pm on Tuesday 9th April.

Tailoring your presentation to meet the time limit is an assessable element. Time limits will be confirmed via iLearn.

Part B: Written Report   

SUBMISSION: Online via the GEOP461 iLearn site by 12pm on Tuesday 9th April

MARKS:  Part B is worth 15 marks 

To accompany the oral presentation you are required to submit a 1000 word written report that addresses the topics above and has the following headings:

• Project Description, aims and objectives
• Partner Objectives 
• Expected outcomes
• Project Management 
• Challenges and their management 

Detailed assessment criteria and an information guide can be found on the iLearn site for this course.

SUBMISSION: Turnitin via the GEOP461 iLearn site

You are required to prepare a 2000 word project implementation plan on your placement project which will include addressing the following:

• Project definition and overview:
  • background and context
  • aims and objectives 
  • intended outcomes
  • key stakeholders
  • communication plan
  • identify specific deliverables
• Project management:
  • identify the critical tasks that will need to be done to assist in the completion of the project and the dates they need to occur in the form of a timeline/gantt chart 
• Resources
  • identify required resources 
• Risk management
  • identify the likely risks effecting project completion (e.g. time, resourcing, information gaps, ethical issues, communication?)
  • how will you develop strategies to manage these risks?
• Monitoring and Evaluation
  • how will you monitor the progress of the project against your plan (e.g. weekly task list, schedule regular meetings?)
  • how will you assess whether the project outcomes have been achieved?
• A tailored CV 
  • demonstrate you are an appropriate person to undertake the project.
• Skills Check
  • reflect on the skills you are hoping to learn by completing the project.

An information guide which includes detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.

You must keep a reflective journal throughout your placement and write up weekly entries reflecting on your work placement and workshop participation. A Reflective Journal is a record of your thoughts and experiences. It is essentially a learning tool, designed to help you make the most of your placement and does so by encouraging you to:

• identify the key elements of what you have learned/experienced both in class and on placement;
• evaluate these experiences;
• plan future activities which build on these experience; and
• make connections between what you learn at university and its application in the workplace.

The format that your journal entries take is entirely up to you. As suggestions your journal entries may be:

• reasonably full records of (and reflections on) the sorts of activities and experiences you had in your host workplace on a particular day or set of days (e.g. if you participated in a meeting or focus group with important stakeholders, or attended a conference session on a subject related to your project) and during the workshops in class.
• other entries might focus on a particular issue or dilemma – e.g. if you experienced a particular ‘event’ or were confronted with a situation that raised tricky or otherwise interesting questions. Maybe a picture or photograph completely sums up the emotions you felt when you went through this experience and this may be included in the submitted journal.
• yet other entries might record your experience in learning a new skill or otherwise doing something for the first time during your placement or in class. You might reflect on what you have learnt from your supervisor or peers during class.
• a significant idea or insight into how to improve the organisation you are in or how you feel your career should develop.

In other words the journal is an important aid to making the most of your placement and to identifying issues that have a special relevance to you and your professional, academic and personal development. 

ASSESSMENT TASK

SUBMISSION: Turnitin via the GEOP461 iLearn site

The Reflective Journal you submit for assessment must be an edited and ‘tighter’ version of your weekly reflective journal and should not exceed 2,000 words in length. As part of your submitted journal you are required to reflect on the key elements of what you have learned/experienced both in class and on placement; discuss your plan for future activities which build on these experiences; and make connections between what you learn at university and its application in the workplace.

Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.

There are five scheduled workshops throughout the semester. Each workshop is worth 2 marks (i.e. 2% of your final unit grade). Students who substantially contribute to the workshop by participating in in-class activities and discussions will be awarded the full 2 marks. Partial marks will be awarded for less substantial participation.

Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.