EXSC399 - Industry Experience

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

(EXSC198 Physiological Bases of Exercise OR EXSC225 Physiological Bases of Exercise ) AND EXSC205 Industry Experience Preparation AND ANAT100 Anatomical Foundations of Exercise Science

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

Professional practice is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills in a work context and gain the necessary experience under the supervision of qualified professionals. The aim of the unit is to provide students with an authentic learning experience in which they can integrate evidence–based learnings in applied settings. This unit allows students to reflect upon their professional practice through the integration of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the University's Mission. By undertaking this practicum, you will critically reflect upon your professional practice through feedback from your supervisor.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate professional practice knowledge, skills and attributes for employment opportunities in health and exercise science (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9) 

LO2 - Integrate and communicate knowledge, skills and attributes of health and exercise science sub-disciplines through professional practice experiences (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9) 

LO3 - Critically reflect on feedback from your supervisor(s) and evaluate professional development areas to improve your professional practice in a work context (GA3, GA4, GA7, GA9, GA10) 

LO4 - Demonstrate competency of professional practice in health and exercise science work context. (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA5, GA7, GA10) 

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

This unit requires the completion of a minimum of 140 hours of industry experience placements. Content delivery is arranged as required to support these placements and the underpinning theoretical components (as introduced in EXSC205 Industry Experience Preparation). This content includes: 

• application of principles and practices in health and exercise science  
• professionalism in work contexts 
• Critically reflection of competency, based on a variety of feedback 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

EXSC399 Industry Experience is a self-guided unit opening at the start of semester 1 and closing at the end of semester 2, allowing time to complete the minimum 140 hours of practicum experience in the field.   

Learning and teaching strategies include: 

• authentic learning and case-based learning through application of knowledge, understanding and skills of course learnings under the supervision of a qualified professional in a professional workplace environment for a minimum of 140 hours 
• active learning will allow students to develop effective professional verbal and nonverbal communication skills by interaction with both clients and professionals in the exercise science field. 
• Critical reflective thinking activities which will give a greater awareness of the scope of practice of an Exercise professional and the integration of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the University’s Mission 

These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively during practicum placements.  

Assessment strategy and rationale

In order to best enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. Assessment strategies include: a professional portfolio to assess  

application of learning to the assembly of a personalised professional skills and experience document; a reflective report to assess understanding and integration of learnings through reflection and critical thinking, with a focus on the ACU Mission ; completion of practicum hours and a Practicum Summary Report to enable reflection upon discipline -specific knowledge, understanding and skills(hurdle); demonstration of application of discipline-specific knowledge, understanding and skills as well as communication and professional conduct through a Competency Assessment Tool completed by the placement supervisor (hurdle).  

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

ACU Assessment Policy http://handbook.acu.edu.au/handbooks/handbook_2017/general_information/assessment_policy 

ACU Catholic Intellectual Tradition last updates 28/6/17 http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/our_university/mission_and_profile/catholic_intellectual_tradition