PROF 2000 - Professional Practices II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2016

This course examines the underlying assumptions, values, experiences, skills, forms of knowledge and broader contexts that impact on and inform students' professional practice approach. Using case studies as a starting point, students will explore some of the key issues of contemporary workplaces. Students will be required to draw on theoretical perspectives and ideas from contemporary research as well as insights generated through critical reflection, online discussions and collaborative problem-solving. This course introduces the various communication options available in a business context so that students can make appropriate choices in the workplace. Students will gain confidence in their ability to communicate by practising and receiving feedback on business communication skills. Through this critical enquiry process, it is expected that students will further develop their understandings of their own practices and change and develop aspects of these practices. It has a particular emphasis on building professional knowledge of working in a business environment and developing work ready skills in the areas of written and oral communication, intercultural communication, client service, problem solving and self-management. Students will develop strategies to communicate these abilities through career communication, including career documents and interviews. Opportunities for improving academic and workplace language proficiency are embedded in the course.

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Course Details

Course Code	PROF 2000
Course	Professional Practices II
Coordinating Unit	Professions Office
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
Assessment	Assignments/reports/case studies/tutorial work as prescribed at first lecture

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Deborah Churchman

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

apply business communication theory to solve workplace communicationissues in order to establish and maintain professional relationships
display reasoned decision making processes and self-management strategies leading to professional outcomes
assess contemporary, professional career environment and, through self-reflection, generate relevant career plans and resources via a range of media
express complex ideas accurately in written and spokenformats suited to the workplace contexts
identify skills required to provide culturally and contextually appropriate customer service in a business environment

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 4, 5
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	2, 3
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	1, 4, 5
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1, 2, 3
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1, 5
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	1, 2, 3

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Professional practices selected readings Cengage (2016)
Etext purchase link to be provided on course site

Recommended Resources

Communication Skills Guide
This booklet can be downloaded from: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/professions/hub/pg/downloads/
This is a free resource which advises on study skills and referencing.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures are provided in both online and oncampus mode. Students will attend one hour oncampus lectures in weeks 1, 6 and 12 and will view interactive, online lectures for topics 1 to 5 and 7 to 12. It is particularly important that students attend lecture 1 which will outline course requirements.

Learning resources for each topic will be provided online. These include materials to prepare for tutorials.

Students attend weekly two hour oncampus tutorials. In order to pass the subject, students must attend 80% of (10 out of 12) tutorials or provide evidence supporting an approved absence. Tutorials relate to the previous week’s lecture. Tutorials are an important component of your learning in this course. The communication skills developed in tutorials by regularly and actively participating in discussions are considered to be most important by the School and are highly regarded by employers and professional bodies.

Students will need to engage in six hours per week self directed study, group collaboration and assignment preparation (engaging with online activities).

The etext, lectures and tutorials are connected by topic. Students are expected to read assigned readings before the lecture and tutorial.

Tutors will negotiate replacement tutorials for students whose tutorials occur on public holidays.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course, of private study outside of your regular classes.

Be aware that if there are certain skills that you need to improve significantly, you may need to spend more time doing private study than the guidelines suggest.

Learning Activities Summary

Topics
Contemporary trends in professional practice: Communicate in today’s workplace

Professional priorities: organisation, planning and development Course etext pp. 31-68

Interpersonal communication 1 – self-awareness, EI, assertiveness and communication styles

Interpersonal communication 2 – nonverbal communication, listening and questioning

Interpersonal communication 3 –managing negotiation, conflict and difference in the workplace

Organisational communication events: Effective team development, decision making and meetings

Organisational communication events: Presentations

Writing and researching professionally: Research and problem solving (including mediated communication)

Report writing, business correspondence and workplace documents Course etext pp. 412-490

Client communication

Career communications – planning and relevant documents, including social media

Career communications – interviewing Readings

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment 1
Weekly activities (2 activities to be submitted)
Individual
40% weighting
1500 words (total)

Assessment 2
Statement paper - Meeting process documentation and reflective writing
Collaborative/Individual
30% weighting
1500 words

Assessment 3
Formal Report on current graduate recruitment strategies
Individual
30% weighting
1000 words plus appendices

Assessment Detail

Assignment 1 Weekly activities
(2 activities to be submitted)
Total 40%

Six activities from Week 1 to 10 with details on the assessment page of the course site – Students select two to be submitted by the due date shown on the activity detail document on the course site.
To develop time management skills students can plan submissions around other study and work demands. Activities include responses to case studies, research activities, applied activities eg business documents.

Assignment 2 Statement paper, Meeting process documentation and reflective writing
Total 30%

Students work in groups to research one contemporary trend in the workplace and argue a point of view about its impact eg diversity, internationalisation, sustainability, contemporary management practices, outsourcing/offshoring, flexible work practices, contingent work, technology. The discussion is to be provided in statement paper. (50% group mark)

The group submit agendas/minutes of meetings based on ‘house style’ supplied templates and summary of group participation and decision making processes. Minutes must by presented in appropriate structure and language and summary must demonstrate an understanding of group processes. (20% group mark)

In addition, each student submits a reflective writing piece on their engagement with the process, identifying strengths and weaknesses and ways in which these will impact their performance in the workplace. (30% individual mark)

Assignment 3 Formal Report on current graduate recruitment strategies.
Total 30%

The recruitment strategies may include opportunities for graduates, contemporary career practices eg behavioural interviewing, group interviewing, internships, use of Linkedin, video interviewing and use of mobile platforms in recruitment, online profiles vs resumes, networking and the importance of breadth of experience. Students should include appendices with sample interview questions and answers, sample resume (student’s resume) and other relevant information eg Linkedin profile. The report should contain recommendations on career strategies for students.

Marks will be allocated to content and formal report format.

Submission

Retain a copy of all assessments.

Written assessments should be submitted electronically through TurnItIn on MyUni. Do not make multiple TurnItIn submissions. Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments which do not have signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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