Academic study skills: learning styles, lecture preparation, time management, note taking, group working, academic reading, digital skills, academic thinking, paraphrasing, referencing, academic writing, proofreading, working with numbers and data, acting upon tutor feedback.

Types of assignment: starting an assignment, identify command verbs, academic poster, exam, report, essay, presentation, literature review, dissertation, reflection.

Careers within the industry: Explore the career options within the UK, Europe and Worldwide, job roles within zoological industry, job roles within ex-situ and in-situ conservation, job roles within education, entry requirements, salary expectation, importance of networking and building contacts.

Professional industry skills: communication with co-workers, managers and customers/clients where appropriate, teamwork, independent work, problem solving, public speaking, time management, working to deadlines, working efficiently, professional conduct within the workplace. Customer service and dealing with the public.

Work placement: Determine personal objectives, demonstrate initiative in selecting and securing relevant employment, respond to the demands of preparing for and attending an interview, negotiate and agree an action plan with a supervisor and/or an employer, develop industry skills, gain new experiences and add to work skills for CV.

Work experience reflection: Reflection of experience gained, contribution of work experience to career development and personal skills development.

This module will be assessed by three elements.

NOTE: In order to achieve this module the students must provide evidence of having completed at least 50 hours of work experience for this module (mandatory element 0% weighting). However, it is recommended that students complete up to 150 hours in order to gain a solid level of experience, sound development of skills and sufficient opportunity to add depth and detail to the assessments.

The first assessment will be in the form of a 1500-word equivalent portfolio that demonstrates a range of academic skills, such as planning an assignment, research skills, different methods of presenting information and referencing (40%) LO’s 1 and 2.

The second assessment will the completion of a 750-word work experience logbook that evidences a minimum requirement of 50 hours of industry experience (with an expectation of up to 150 hours) and Continuing Professional Development opportunities such as conferences, seminars and training events (10%) LO’s 3 and 4

The third and final assessment will be a 10-minute presentation, plus 5 minutes for questioning reflecting upon the work experience placement and learning opportunities (50%) LO’s 3 and 4.

The module will also involve a range of formative assessment techniques to assess learning and progress throughout the module including self, peer and tutor evaluation, targeted questioning and critical analysis of techniques and skills.

Although this intended as a face to face delivery module, there is opportunity and expectation that there is flexibility in the delivery of the theory elements and use of online and remote learning will be available as required

This module will be delivered via classroom sessions (60 hours over 2 semesters) that will deliver theory via a range of methods such as traditional lectures, group activities, guest speakers, individual tasks, questioning, role play, modelling, kinaesthetic activities, short research tasks and tutorials and seminars to develop underpinning knowledge and understanding.

This module also requires students to complete a minimum of 50 hours (expectation of 150 hours) of combined industry experience and Continuing Professional Development opportunities such as conferences, seminars and training events (though this is outside of the overall teaching hours for the module, the placement assessment is attached to this module)

On top of this it is expected that students will partake in at least 90 hours of independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions (20hrs), extending classroom notes via extended reading and research (20 hrs), completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks (20hrs) and researching, planning and producing assignments (40 hrs).

Technology enhanced learning: All module material will be made available electronically on a Microsoft Teams based virtual learning environment. This will include the ability for students to access some lectures remotely - either live or via asynchronous delivery of voiced over slides, screen capture demonstrations or in house produced training videos. This will also allow formative tasks and in class exercises to be completed and reviewed live. It will allow the linking of technology based supplementary material including, but not limited to, journal links, live seminars and conferences, you tube videos, animal live webcams at zoos and wild areas, online software such as Google Map layers and MINITAB. Use of collaborative learning platforms and interactive learning, progress and assessment tools and the internet in general will also be used to enhance learning. The college has bookable laptops for student use in all teaching blocks for students that do not have their own hardware to access this material in classroom based sessions. Students will also have their own ProPortal page that can be used to monitor and track their pastoral and academic progress, career development and personal targets and is managed by the tutor through ProMonitor.
Work placements are logged and tracked through Grofar, within which, students, tutors and placement mentors can communicate and track learning.

1. Demonstrate academic thinking, research, analysis, evaluation and academic writing skills within the context of the programme of study and personal progression.

Learning
Enquiry

2. Identify the range of learning resources available, and apply judgement in locating, selecting and integrating them to present textual information and articulate academic arguments in a range of formats and/or media.
Communication Application

3. Work in a professional context and develop industry skills effectively according to individual action plans and objectives.

Problem solving
Application

4. Reflect on the value and relevance of work placement undertaken.

Reflection
Communication

ITC Facilities with internet access
Staffordshire University Library
Well-equipped classroom facilities
Rodbaston Animal Zone
~150 hectare managed college owned estate of mixed arable and livestock farmland, ancient woodland, wetlands, ponds, pools and grasslands
Appropriately equipped laboratory
Virtual Learning Environment
Learning Support Centre
Industry Links
Employer Links for Work Experience opportunities

Essential Reading
Cottrell, S. (2019) The study skills handbook. - 5th ed. Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan.

Recommended Reading
Hopkins, D and Reid T. (2018) The Academic Skills Handbook. Los Angeles. Sage Publishing.
Jarman, K.H (2013) The art of data analysis: how to answer almost any question using basic statistics. Wiley
Pears, R and Shields, G. (2019) Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide (Macmillan Study Skills). Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan.

Websites:
Staffordshire University library guides
https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)
https://biaza.org.uk/careers/

Association of British Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK)
https://abwak.org/careers/

Lantra
https://www.lantra.co.uk/jobs

National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-categories/environment-and-land