This Level 6 optional module enables students to undertake a placement with an professional dance organisation in a career path of their choice (for example community dance teaching, teaching dance in schools, community dance management, dance event organisation, dance company management, dance company outreach). Initially students attend lectures at the University that will prepare them for applying for a placement, and then undertaking the placement successfully. With help and advice from the module tutor students then organise their own placement with a relevant organisation, company or venue. Whilst on work placement students must plan and manage a specific project, the focus of which is decided on with their placement host and is dependent on the type of placement (eg. education, outreach, dance event management, project management, marketing). The amount of time students spend in the placement will vary depending on the kind of activity with which they are involved. Students should complete a minimum of 40 hours on placement (and a maximum of 120 hours) during the year-long module.
In the early stages of the module, students are re-introduced to ideas relevant to professional practice through two hour lectures and presentations. With help and advice from the module tutor, students will organise their own placement with a relevant organisation, school, company or venue. The amount of time the student spends in the placement will vary depending on the kind of activity with which they are involved but students should undertake a minimum of 40 hours on placement (and a maximum of 120 hours) during the year. Interventions, in the form of group meetings, will also support the students whilst on placement (and in preparation for their assessments).
The module tutor will liaise with placement hosts to ensure suitable activities for and proper supervision of students in the workplace and both students and placement hosts will be provided with a placement handbook outlining their roles and responsibilities. Students take responsibility for ensuring that their placement responsibilities do not clash with or have a negative influence upon other aspects of their degree studies; a statement concerning this will be included in the placement host's handbook.
A number of key skills are developed as part of this module. The skills developed will be dependent on the type of work placement undertaken but may include self-awareness, research and information literacy, communication, numeracy, inter-personal, management and leadership, and creativity and problem-solving skills.
The module will make use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas for communication and dissemination of information between students and staff as well as making online learning materials available to all. Students should check this site on a daily basis for module information, timetables, sign-ups, updates and additional information and teaching materials.
All courses based in the Kingston School of Art offer students free access to the online video tutorial platform Lynda.com. This provides a wide range of subjects to choose from, many with downloadable exercise files, including software tutorials covering photography, graphics, web design, audio and music, CAD and Microsoft Office software, as well as courses on business and management skills. Some of these are embedded in the curriculum and offer additional self-paced learning, others may be taken at will by students wishing to broaden their employability skills in other areas.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Lecture / seminar | 14 |
Study abroad / placement | Placement | 40 |
Guided independent study | Independent study | 246 |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
During the planning and execution of the student's work placement project they will document their work in a project file. At the end of the placement this material is then organised as supporting documentation for a summary and critical evaluation of the project, which is submitted as the Professional Project assessment.
The Professional Project should include a Professional Reference written by the placement host. This additional document is used to support the assessment, and verification, of the Professional Project. The Professional Reference is external to the word count for the assessment.
Students will complete first drafts of set tasks during the course of study, and receive feedback on these before final submission. There will also be elements of formative assessment including a project proposal.
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
Demonstrate independent organisational and communicative skills in arranging a work placement. | Formative assessment in arranging a work placement |
Demonstrate self-motivation, self-management and professionalism in undertaking a work placement. | Professional Project |
Critically analyse an aspect or aspects of the organisation's work in relation to their specific aims, and relate to the wider context (for example, national policy, theoretical models or frameworks). | Professional Project |
Utilise and develop their own skills and knowledge in the context of a work placement. | Professional Project |
Critically evaluate their contribution to a professional workplace. | Professional Project |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Coursework | Professional project | 100 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
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