None.

This module offers you the opportunity to enhance your personal development by applying your knowledge and skills to appropriate placement activities within a workplace environment or the voluntary sector. A member of academic staff will be available to; (i) provide you with advice about identifying suitable workplace or volunteering activities; and (ii) provide guidance on the completion of the module assignments.

The purpose of the module is to increase your understanding of the applicability, beyond the classroom, of the knowledge and skills that you are acquiring as a geography student and provide you with the opportunity to learn from the wider community.

Many activities are possible but they will all broadly involve you contributing to a greater understanding of the contribution that your geographical knowledge and / or skills can make to contemporary society. Examples of activities could include:

- Employment by an organisation to carry out a small-scale research task
- Working with school science clubs as a STEM ambassador
- Outreach work designing interpretive science-based installations for display
- Volunteer work for a charity or local community based organisation

During this module, you will have the opportunity to gain experience of working with the following: recognised graduate-employing organisations; University led initiatives; or with recognised community based voluntary organisations as part of your overall undergraduate experience. Modes of engagement with organisations are negotiable allowing the flexibility of maximising the activities you are able to participate in.

You will be encouraged to use your initiative and demonstrate independence of thought when selecting and completing your placement activities. This module will also provide an opportunity for you to further develop transferrable skills such as understanding and working within workplace environments or the local community, using creativity and innovation to solve problems and enhancing your tools for effective team working skills, communication and organisation.

• A skills review providing an analysis of your transferable skills – addresses learning outcome 3
• Goals setting and review report – addresses learning outcome 3
• A Reflective learning diary recording what you are doing for your placement activities and what you are learning – addresses learning outcomes 1 & 2.
• EITHER an essay in which you reflect on the experience of participating in your collaborative placement activities OR a presentation during which you reflect on the experience of participating in your collaborative placement activities – addresses all 4 learning outcomes

You will be able to choose which of the two assessment formats you wish to use for the fourth assessed component.

Formative Assessment: small group meetings with a tutor will provide you with regular formative feedback and allow you to evaluate your progress and prepare your various assessment elements.

You will primarily be engaged in independent learning involving liaising with an academic tutor in planning, executing and reflecting on your placement activities. Academic staff will run sessions to provide general instruction on protocols e.g. accessing the Students Union Volunteering Service, time management, health and safety etc. and guidance on how to complete the module assessment. The duration and timing of the placement activity will vary as appropriate on an individual basis but will normally consist of 40 hours of placement activities.

It is envisaged that the placement activities could be concentrated into short intensive periods or be a more extended period such as, for example, one afternoon per week for ten weeks.

The equivalent of 8 x 2-hour whole group sessions will provide guidance on choosing appropriate organisations and activities, conducting a skills analysis, goals setting, keeping a reflective learning diary.

4 x 0.5-hour small group support meetings to review progress with placement activities will be held throughout the module to provide you with guidance specific to your chosen placement activities and the module assessments.

Bolles, R. (2018) What Color is Your Parachute? 2019. A Practical Handbook for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Ten Speed Press.

Brewis, Georgina. Russell, Jennifer and Holdsworth, Clare (2010) Bursting the Bubble: Students, Volunteering and the Community Research Summary, Institute for Volunteering Research and National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement
https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publication/bursting_the_bubble_summary_report.pdf

Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for Success: Personal Development and Employability. Palgrave

Kirton, B. (2011) Brilliant Workplace Skills for Students and Graduates. Prentice Hall

Reidy, J. (2006) Learning to work: students' experiences during work placement, Melbournes University Press.

Trought, F. (2017) Brilliant Employability Skills. Brilliant Business

Access to placement activities in a community-based organisation or a community setting, STEM focused activities within a local school, or work-based activities within an organisation.
Access to the Student Union Volunteering service: https://www.staffsunion.com/getinvolved/volunteer/

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the application of geographical and environmental knowledge and skills within a real-world setting.
Knowledge & Understanding;
Enquiry

2. Apply your geographical and environmental knowledge and skills to address real world tasks or problems. Learning;
Application;
Problem solving

3. Reflect on the goals achieved and the enhancement of your knowledge, skills and employability attributes through the application of your geographical knowledge and skills within a real-world environment. Reflection;
Analysis

4. Communicate effectively and appropriately.
Communication