DA4033 - Professional Practice 1

Most of your learning on this Degree Apprenticeship module will be in your workplace. You will gain a theoretical understanding of the topics through live (online or face-to-face) university sessions and online resources such as recorded lectures, videocasts, podcasts, electronic books, journal articles and websites. Your involvement in construction quantity surveying tasks will enable you to put the theory into context, thereby cementing your understanding. You will agree with your Workplace Mentor a Module Learning Plan (MLP) designed to achieve the Module Learning Outcomes via a series of directed workplace learning activities, such as shadowing a colleague, visiting a site or producing a poster. You will be encouraged to share reflections on your own development of the seven professional behaviours identified in the Technician Apprenticeship Standard, and provide constructive observations and feedback to your peers.

Due to the nature of this module, there is a greater proportion of work-based learning (estimated at 120 hours) and a smaller amount of scheduled activity than for the technical modules. This is estimated at 4 hours of ‘Seminars’ (synchronous delivery, most likely all online via Blackboard Collaborate), 4 hours of ‘Lectures’ (asynchronous online delivery via Blackboard and Blackboard Collaborate), and 2 hours ‘Tutorials (1-to-1 support from your Workplace Mentor and Workplace Coach). The remaining hours in the Notional Student Workload for the module are attributed to independent learning, with the estimated ratio of tutor-guided to student independent learning at 1:1, as appropriate for a Level 4 module.

Your Module Tutor(s) will deliver an online module induction session and lead live sessions that enable you to interact with your tutor and peers. They will provide and direct you to essential and recommended online resources available via the University’s eLearning Portal and University Library. Outside of live sessions, they will provide advice and respond to questions via the eLearning Portal.

Your Workplace Mentor will support you in developing your Module Learning Plan. You will be provided with a guidance document that outlines the principles of workplace learning and provides examples of a large and diverse range of potential workplace learning activities. You may also discuss your Module Learning Plan with your Workplace Coach.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the Code of Conduct and conduct regulations, ethics and professional standards relevant to industry’s recognised professional bodies and how to apply them

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO2: Identify areas for improvement in your oganisation or sector and suggest innovative solutions

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO3: Identify own development needs and take action to meet those needs. Use own knowledge and expertise to help others when requested.

MLO4: Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of equality and diversity and demonstrate these attributes so as to meet the requirements of fairness at work

MLO5: Demonstrate the ability to work with others in a collaborative and non-confrontational way and help to avoid conflict and resolve issues that arise

You will be formatively assessed by the completion of the workplace learning activities identified in your Module Learning Plan. You will receive informal, often verbal, formative feedback from your Workplace Mentor, and sometimes from other colleagues and your Workplace Coach. You will also have the opportunity for formative feedback from your module tutor(s), particularly during the assessment guidance sessions.

Your summative assessment will provide you with the opportunity to translate your workplace learning into a coherent output that demonstrates that you have achieved the module learning outcomes.

This will be in the form of a 15-minute individual verbal presentation with visual aids such as PowerPoint Slides. The presentation should outline how you demonstrate (or plan to demonstrate) the seven professional behaviours identified in the Technician Apprenticeship Standard. The presentation may be made via either a live online session or a pre-recorded submission, with the possibility of face-to-face presentations if practical.

Having been introduced to presentation skills in the Academic Practice module and practiced them in the workplace, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a practice presentation and Q&A session in a small group, and exchange formative feedback on both the presentation content and your presentation skills.

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This module is an integral part of your Degree Apprenticeship programme, designed in collaboration with employers to meet the requirements of the Construction Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship Standard and provide a solid skills base for career progression and professional qualification in the construction industry.

Your will learn about and reflect on the development of professional behaviours as required by the Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship Standard. You will explore topics such as the Code of Conduct, ethics and professional standards, innovation, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), equality and diversity and working in teams.

You will gain theoretical understanding through university sessions and online resources but as a Degree Apprentice, you will do most of your learning in the context of your role in the construction industry via a series of workplace learning activities agreed with your Workplace Mentor.