Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
Course Code: MIET7524C
Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice
School: 360T Education
Campus: Brunswick Campus
Program: C5290 - Diploma of Education Support
Course Contact : Robyn Blaikie
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4838
Course Contact Email:robyn.blaikie@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Armen Dickranian armen.dickranian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494
Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9183
Nominal Hours: 120
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
No specific pre-requisite and co-requisite.
Course Description
This course describes the knowledge and skills required to evaluate own work, continuing self-development and effective supervision within an ethical code of practice
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCORG428A Reflect on and improve own professional practice |
Element: |
3. Operate within an agreed code of ethics or practice |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Assess own practice against identified agency objectives or code of ethics, using a range of valid evidence |
Element: |
1. Reflect on own practice |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Undertake self-evaluation in conjunction with supervisors and/or peers |
Element: |
2. Ensure continuing self-support and supervision |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify a range of support networks both within and outside the organisation |
Learning Outcomes
Develop the knowledge and skills required to evaluate own work, continuing self-development and effective supervision within an ethical code of practice
Details of Learning Activities
Learning Activities
This unit is part of Diploma of Education Support program. You will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of face to face teaching, Directed Study and you are expected to participate in professional placement. It is highly recommended that students attend at least 85% of class time as crucial learning activities, assessment task preparation some assessment tasks are completed in class. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. Directed Study is a very important part of your program. An outline of your Directed Study will be given by your teacher and is published in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.
The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities: 

Group discussion 

Research assignments

Guest speakers

Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios

Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentations
Individual and group projects - Completing the projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency. 

Professional placement
Teaching Schedule
Teaching Schedule
Program Dates: Mon 10th February – Friday 28th November 2014
Term Breaks: Mon 21st April – Fri 25th April; Mon 23rd June – Fri 11th July; Mon 22nd Sept – Fri 3rd Oct 2014
Public holidays: Mon 10th March (Labour Day); Fri 18th April (Good Friday); Mon 9th June (Queen’s Birthday); Mon 3rd November (RMIT holiday); Tues 4th November (Melbourne Cup)
This unit will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. Should the teaching schedule change students will be advised via blackboard.
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
Semester 1
Week 1-4
Relevant legislation and agency guidelines and codes of ethics or practice standards
Applying knowledge, skills and ethics relevant to current industry and professional standards
Principles and techniques of personal goal setting, measuring performance and time management
Establishing a personal development plan
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 5-8
Identifying personal behaviour, self awareness, personality traits
Policies, plans and procedures of organization for professional learning
Work methods and practices to improve personal performance
Discussion, Q&A activities,
Assignment – Research/Q&A/Oral Presentation
Week 9-11
Learning style/s and how they relate to the individual
Personal development opportunities and options
Functions of supervision – educative, administrative and supportive
Applying knowledge, skills and ethics relevant to current industry and professional standards
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 12-15
Working with an awareness and sensitivity to conflict, culture and context
Analysing culturally different viewpoints in regards to personal development and professional practice
Negotiation, communication and decision-making skills
Applying skills in negotiation, communication and decision-making
Discussion, Q&A activities, Oral presentation
Progress interview
Week 16-18
Negotiation, communication and decision-making skills
Applying skills in negotiation, communication and decision-making
Reflecting on experiences improving own professional practice
Discussion, Q&A activities
Evidence of practical experience reflecting on & improving own professional practice; e.g Observation/Demonstration
Semester 2
Week 1-4
Demonstrating understanding and implementation of relevant procedures related to improving own practice
Eliciting, analysing and interpreting feedback
Assessing the effectiveness of own skills development
Developing and maintaining professional networks
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 5-8
Managing or seeking support to manage complex ethical issues
Relating to people from a range diverse backgrounds and abilities
Relating to people with a range of abilities
Recognising the effect of values, beliefs and behaviour in work with clients
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assignment – Research/Q&A
Scenarios
Week 9-12
Reflecting on own practice
Demonstrating understanding of own limitations
Seeking specialist advice/further training where need is identified
Ensuring continuing self-support and supervision
Discussion, Q&A activities
Oral Presentation
Week 13-15
Assessing own practice against identified agency objectives or code of ethics
Recognising the effect of values, beliefs and behaviour in work with clients
Reviewing professional development processes and procedures
Issues impacting on improving own professional practice
Discussion, Q&A activities
Progress interview
Week 16-18
Seeking specialist advice/further training where need is identified
Reviewing professional development processes and procedures
Issues impacting on improving own professional practice
Review folio of final assessments e.g : Assignments 1 and 2, Evidence of practical experience; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Third party, Folio – Presentation (oral and written)
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT
There are no set texts in this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through handouts, our online systems and access to facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources. It is recommended that you bring:
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Brunswick Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
Overview of Assessment
You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning
• Assignments and projects
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• Review of products produced through work-based or course activities
• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
An assessment policy summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures see http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment
Assessment Tasks
Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice 

• Oral or written questioning 

• Assignments and projects 

• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise of documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files 

• Review of work produced through work-based or course activities 

• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer 

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CC – Competency credit
CA – Competency achieved
NYC – Not Yet Competent
Please note:
Assessments tasks may include other Units of competency from the program.
All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.
Assessment Matrix
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency.
These are available from the course contact person (stated above).
Course Overview: Access Course Overview