Unit 50 Work-based Experience

· Aim Unit 50 Work Based experience

This unit aims to enable learners to experience the scope and depth of learning which may take place in a work-based context by planning, monitoring and evaluating the work experience.

· Unit abstract

A significant amount of learning can be achieved by carrying out practical activities in a workplace. Learning may be enhanced by taking a more formal approach to work-based activities – by planning, carrying out the activities and reflecting on the benefits of the activities to the business and to the learner.

This unit is designed to allow flexibility of study for part-time and full-time learners. It is expected that learners will be supervised in the workplace in addition to the supervision provided by their academic supervisor.

Learners will have the opportunity, supported by their supervisors, to negotiate and perform activities which will allow them to fulfil the assessment criteria for this unit. They will recognise the scope of what they have achieved by recording evidence from carrying out the activities. They will also gain maximum benefit by reflection on and evaluation of the work they undertake.

· Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit a learner will:

1. Be able to negotiate industry experience
2. Understand the specific requirements of the placement
3. Be able to undertake work experience as identified
4. Be able to monitor and evaluate own performance and learning.

Unit content

1         Be able to negotiate industry experience

Suitable organisation and location: types of establishments for placement eg industry-related work for a client brief at college, existing work environment, different departments within current employer’s business

Negotiation: methods of contacting organisations; methods of undertaking negotiations

Nature of duties: type of undertaking eg routine duties and tasks, project work, development of new procedures/protocol

Supervisors: roles and responsibilities of academic and industrial mentors

Expectations of learning: aims eg proficiency in new tasks and procedures, time- management and problem-solving skills, reflection, discuss progress with others, teamwork

Business constraints: consideration of possible limitations eg need to be fully trained, adherence to quality systems, health and safety considerations, supervision time, workload, customer satisfaction, limited staffing, cost of materials

2         Understand the specific requirements of the placement

Tasks: details of activities eg specific hourly, daily, weekly routine and non-routine tasks; breakdown of a project into stages; new procedures/protocol

Prioritise: reasons for rationalisation of the order of tasks; methods of prioritising work

Plan for the work experience: methods used to develop detailed plan with schedule of tasks, proposed dates for reviews, expected input from supervisors

Benefits to organisation and learner: advantages to business eg allowing more routine tasks to be carried out, allowing procedures/techniques to be developed, increasing responsiveness, identifying cost saving measures; advantages to learner eg understanding how a business operates, understanding importance of teamwork, learning new techniques, development of problem-solving and time-management skills

3         Be able to undertake work experience as identified

Carry out the planned activities: realisation eg carrying out tasks and project work according to relevant legislation, training and codes of practice; developing new procedures or protocol

Record activities in the appropriate manner: systematic and appropriate recording of relevant activities eg logbook, diary, portfolio, spreadsheets, data bases; list of resources

Revise the initial plan as required: methods used to review activities at the appropriate time to see if they meet requirements, make alterations as needed

4         Be able to monitor and evaluate own performance and learning

Evaluation of the quality of the work undertaken: meeting industry standards and evaluating own performance against original proposal; comments/testimony from supervisors

Account of learning during the work experience: details of experience gained eg new procedures, interpersonal skills, time management, problem solving, teamwork; details of evidence eg portfolio of evidence, scientific report, management report

Recommendations on how the learning experience could have been enhanced: alternative ideas eg different location, different brief, different time period, more/less support, better time management, better preparation

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

Learning outcomes   On successful completion of this unit a learner will:	Assessment criteria for pass   The learner can:
LO1 Be able to negotiate industry experience	research and evaluate suitable organisations that could provide industry experiencenegotiate with work and academic supervisors a proposal for the work experiencerecognise the business constraints on the work experience offered
LO2 Understand the specific requirements of the placement	agree and prioritise the tasks and responsibilities involved in the work experienceproduce a plan for the work experienceanalyse the benefits of the proposed activities to the business and the learner
LO3 Be able to undertake work experience as identified	fulfil specified requirements of placement conforming to all related codes of practiceproduce systematic records of work undertakenrevise the initial plan as requiredmake suggestions for improvement and review these with appropriate supervisor
LO4 Be able to monitor and evaluate own performance and learning	monitor progress against original proposalevaluate the quality of own performanceanalyse the learning which has taken place during the work experience using suitable reflectionsmake recommendations on how the experience could have been enhanced.

Guidance

Links

This unit has possible links with all units in the programme, especially the Personal and Professional Development and Employability Skills units.

This unit has links to the Management and Leadership NOS.