MFC4003 - Professional Development

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This is a professional development module with weekly sessions, with special reference to the creative industries. In the first semester students will develop, understand and demonstrate teamworking skills through creative challenges, taught sessions, profiling and self-understanding. They will work on team presentation and pitching skills, and the ability to develop a professional persona through attitude, commitment and effective communications. This continues throughout the year, culminating in a sustained ‘presentation’ of professionalism and work ethic during the Integrated Assessment Period. In the second semester students will be introduced to enterprise and sector analysis, especially where relating to being an independent creator. Solo presentation and pitching skills will be addressed. The emphasis changes from semester one from the details of getting employment and being an effective employee in the creative industries to the creativity and skills needed to start, maintain and grow their own production streams as independent creators.

Overall this module is designed to develop ‘soft’ or ‘people’ skills which the creative industries value and, in general, results in good professionals with an industry relevant work ethic and enquiring minds and who are engaged in the world around them.

These skills are evidenced and can be assessed in other modules consisting of group or teamwork, production or work which requires presentation or professional communications. They form a key part of the final assessment block which contains the Integrated Assessment Period at the end of the year.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures with breakout spaces
Hours: 28
Intended Group Size: Cohort

6 workshops
Hours: 12
Intended Group Size: Groups of no more than 16 (IT labs)

Individual support and consultancy
Hours: 2
Intended Group Size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 258

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 sees students creatively address a small team brief which is given early in the semester. It is through this they can demonstrate active understanding in the structure and dynamics of working within a team. It is expected that students present as a team, with dialogue and interaction, as well supply appropriate visuals and handouts.

Assessment 2 sees students individually assessed on a pitch, where they have worked up a piece of work they are doing in another module as the formation of a business startup or portfolio show for freelancers. Students are expected to 'sell' the idea and support it with their presented portfolio.

Assessment 3 is solely on their performance as a young professional during the Integrated Assessment Period. They will be awarded marks for demonstrating the qualities which are valued in the sector over the entirety of the 4 weeks. The idea is for students to have a working, industry workplace and be able to 'stretch' their professional ‘muscles’ in a relatively safe and supportive environment, before they go on any external placement.

Early Assessment: there will be a formative assessment within the first 4 weeks and this will help unpack the assignment details for the 1st assignment as well as guide and inform student preparation and help introduce the University grading system.

Formative assessment is given for every assessment and throughout the module. The team presentation has a dress rehearsal in front of the tutor (where possible) and all of the marking panel, and direct feedback can be given before the final assessment is actually marked. During assessment two, students will be able to feedback to each other in small group exercises and will receive guidance on their subjects as they are working them up. Finally, during the Integrated Assessment Period, students are working with tutors on a large project in a working environment which mimics the real work, and receive constant formative guidance during the entire assessment.

Assessment:

001 Peer Adjusted Team Presentation; 1 min per team member; end semester 1 30%
002 Individual Pitch and Portfolio; 5 min; end semester 2 30%
003 Individual PLA Performance; Graded during PLA; Placement period 40%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Elric Williams
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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