ITEC320 - Work Integrated Learning

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

ITEC100 Information Technology Professional Skills and Practices OR BUSN111 Working with Technology

Incompatible

BIPX301 Professional Experience

Unit rationale, description and aim

Work Integrated learning (WIL) is the term used to describe learning activities that allow students to apply their academic learning in a ‘real-life’ environment provided by a real industry partner or a University organisation working on a real project. WIL strengthens students’ essential job-ready skills and experiences and provide students with the opportunity to learn about workplace culture, prepare for the future world of work, develop professional networks and build their employability skills. WIL may be conducted on or off campus, face-to-face or online, and paid or unpaid. Each student is jointly supervised by an academic supervisor and a placement supervisor.

The aim of this unit is to enhance students’ professional knowledge, apply theory, practices and technical skills, and to develop their understanding of organisational and business culture and processes. Students will gain the confidence, knowledge and skills necessary to effectively prepare for a future career in the IT industry. Through work integrated learning, students will also get a clear understanding of the impact of IT on workers and working conditions.

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 - Explain the overall structure and operations of the organisation for which the work is conducted, its responsibilities to shareholders, employees, customers, and the general public, and the impact of IT on their workers and working conditions (GA2, GA5)

LO2 - Demonstrate an insight into the nature and complexity of the project work (GA4, GA5)

LO3 - Communicate professional skills, practices, ideas and issues effectively using appropriate verbal and written language (GA5, GA9).

LO4 - Apply both professional and technical skills as well as workplace policies and regulations to problem solving (GA5, GA6).

Graduate attributes

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

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

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

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

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

Content

Topics will include:

• Introduction
• WIL process and policies
• Compliance forms
• Assessment requirements
• E-portfolio and resume writing
• Interview
• Reflective practices and logbooks

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The unit has adopted a completely online mode. Students will have access to all primary learning materials online through LEO. WIL activities may have two forms: 1) real or virtual placements where students perform work activities related to IT at partner organisations, and 2) projects that require students to complete specific deliverables for internal ACU organisations or external organisations partnered with ACU. Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including WIL activities, online studies, and assessment tasks.

This unit takes an active learning approach to guide students in the development of knowledge associated with acquiring professional skills and work integrated learning. Students can explore the knowledge base underpinning work integrated learning, professional development and project management in a series of online interactive resources. By undertaking the individual activities and working through the resources, students will systematically develop the analytical, critical and reflective practices necessary to become effective reflective professionals. This unit takes an experiential approach to support students in developing the skills required to effectively manage a professional placement or work integrated project by sharing stories and insights and reflecting on experiences. This approach provides flexibility and facilitates the participation of students who are unable to attend classes while building in expert support for skills development.

SELT surveys are usually conducted at the end of the teaching period. Your practical and constructive feedback is valuable to improve the quality of the unit. Please ensure you complete the SELT survey for the unit. You can also provide feedback at other times to the unit lecturers, course coordinators and/or through student representatives.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The first assessment item is a specification report that describes what the project is about, its key milestones, stakeholders and benefits/significance, which needs to be endorsed by both the placement supervisor and the academic supervisor. The purpose of this task is to assess a student’s understanding of the project, its deliverables, and its execution environment. The second assessment item is a progress presentation where students will present their projects to a wider audience, including placement supervisors, academic supervisors, other industry and university representatives and staff members. The purpose of this task is to allow students to present themselves as if they are attending a job interview as potential employers may be present and watching. The final assessment item is a final report that needs to be confirmed by a delegate of the placement provider and marked by both the placement supervisor and the academic supervisor. The purpose of this task is to report the project work undertaken by the student including technical contributions, the significance of the project, and how the work has contributed to the objectives of the placement provider.

The assessments for this unit are designed to demonstrate the achievement of each learning outcome. To pass this unit, students are required to:

• obtain an overall mark of at least 50%
• attempt all three assessment items 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Academic Skills Unit. (2018) ACU study guide: skills for success, 3rd ed., North Sydney, Australian Catholic University.

Anderson, L. E. and Bolt, S. B. (2014) Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 4th ed. Prentice Hall: New Jersey.

King, Mary A. & H. Frederick Sweitzer 2014 The Successful Internship: personal, professional, and civic development in experiential learning, University of Hartford, Fitchburg State University Fourth edition. Brooks/ Cole Cengage Learning Belmont, Calif.