Course Title: Science Work Experience 1
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Science Work Experience 1
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
ONPS2543 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
135H Applied Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2016 |
ONPS2543 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
171H School of Science |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 2 2018, Sem 1 2019 |
Course Coordinator: Dr Joel van Embden
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2839
Course Coordinator Email: joel.vanembden@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 3.2.07
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment, by email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
You must have completed at least 144 credit points (3 semesters) of your undergraduate Science degree.
You must have an appropriate location (approved activity) and supervisor for your science work experience organised before enrolment can be approved.
Course Description
This course will extend your science knowledge and skills gained in your previous study. Moreover, it will allow you the opportunity to apply these in a real-work setting.
You will undertake a work experience of at least 100 hrs with an organisation related to your area of study, either individually or (upon approval) in a group. This placement or activity may be local or international. You may use RMIT resources as necessary to find a position in an organisation relevant to your area of study.
You are advised to keep a journal indicating your activities during your placement and reflect on how this experience relates to your coursework experience. You will work safely, ethically and in a manner in keeping of your profession.
Please note that you must have your placement or approved activity organised and a local RMIT supervisor in place prior to enrolment.
Guidance on approved activities, WIL agreements and enrolment etc. can be sought from the course coordinator.
This course includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real workplace context. Any or all of these aspects of a WIL experience may be simulated.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course is a University elective for most Science degrees. It is designed to contribute to the following PLOs at Australian Qualification Framework (AQF):
PLO-1: Understanding Science.
PLO-2: Communication.
PLO-3: Personal and Professional practice.
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
CLO-1: Apply for, commence and successfully complete a work experience.
CLO-2: Prepare a risk assessment of your workplace or activity tasks and update it if and when the tasks change and obtain approval by your University and workplace supervisors.
CLO-3: Apply your skills in a workplace or activity, displaying technical skills suitable to your chosen discipline.
CLO-4: Display professionalism in your workplace or during your activity with respect to safety, ethics, teamwork, and communication and adapt your own behaviour to demonstrate professionalism.
CLO-5: Reflect on how scientific principles are applied in a workplace or activity setting and identify the similarities and differences between course work and your industry/ activity work.
Overview of Learning Activities
In this course you will be expected to find and apply for a work experience of at least 100 hrs with an organisation appropriate to your scientific discipline, utilising the various student support services available at RMIT.
You are expected to negotiate with the RMIT supervisor and the placement supervisor concerning the conditions, eg starting time and date, supervision, expected activities, and ensure necessary paperwork is completed. As an RMIT enrolled student, RMIT will provide insurance for your work experience.
In the workplace, you will be inducted into your expected activities and complete an OHS risk assessment of the expected tasks; this will be approved by both your RMIT and workplace supervisors. If the tasks change over the course of the work experience, you are expected to reassess your tasks and adjust your risk assessment accordingly.
You should also reflect and be able to comment on what you have learned at the conclusion of your placement/activity, particularly with reference to your course work and any similarities and differences between course work and industry work.
You will write a summary report and/or reflection at the end of the work experience.
You will be expected to supplement your knowledge with additional readings of journal articles, industry magazines, organisational policies and procedures, as required.
Overview of Learning Resources
This is a ‘learning-by-doing’ course. As such, there is no set text book or required reading, however information and skills gained in previous courses will be called upon. You should access the RMIT library, the company’s resources and the internet to acquire information about technology and processes employed in your workplace.
Overview of Assessment
The course is assessed 50% within RMIT University and 50% from your placement supervisor with the following breakdown:
Assessment Task 1: Risk assessment(s) of the work experience tasks
Weighting (5%)
This assessment supports CLO 2
Assessment task 2: End of placement reflective summary
Weighting (30%)
This assessment supports CLO 5.
Assessment Task 3: Regular activity and reflective practice reporting to your RMIT supervisor
Weighting (15%)
This assessment supports CLO 3, 5
Assessment Task 4: Work Placement Supervisor assessment
Weighting (50%)
This assessment supports CLO 1, 3, 4.