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Reaping the benefits of work-based learning:

supporting psychology students to make the most of WBL opportunitiesJim Adams, Catherine Coulson, Pauline Fox, Jo Lozinska, Maddie Ohl and Nick Scott

HEA Psychology Network Student Employability event18 June 2010

The team …

Jim Adams Blended Learning Unit

Catherine Coulson Psychology (Year 3)

Pauline Fox Experiential Learning Module Leader

Jo Lozinska Careers and Employment Service

Maddie Ohl Work of Psychologists Module Leader

Nick Scott Psychology (Graduate Diploma)

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Session outline

• Work-based learning in psychology at TVU– The Work of Psychologists module– Experiential Learning module

• WBL resources– Place to Place e-guidance resource– Work experience podcasts

• The student perspective

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Psychology WBL at TVU

• Students generally:– Start degree aiming for a career in a psychology

profession – Work part-time

• Time availability• Importance of relevant work experience

• Fitting WBL into the curriculum– Institutional factors– Curriculum design e.g. balance between subject

and WBL

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The Work of Psychologists module

• Shows how psychology graduates can use their theoretical knowledge and research skills in their working lives

• Looks at the application of psychology both through the discipline’s professions (e.g. Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Counselling Psychology) and also how this knowledge can be transferred to non-psychology related career options

• Encourages students to develop a realistic outlook to how their degree can further their career options 

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The Work of Psychologists module

• Includes:– Lectures on roles of British Psychological Society and

Health Professions Council– Outside speakers:

• Chartered Psychologists working in the professions • Psychology graduates who use their degree in a non-

psychology setting

– Career management component • An opportunity to review the skills and qualities employers

look for and how students can enhance their employability (CV, job application and interview techniques)

• Supported by central Careers and Employment service

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Experiential Learning module

• Year 3 module• Students arrange a work-based ‘placement’:

– Minimum 30 hours/paid or voluntary/existing or new – Supports personal development– Allows analysis of relationship between psychological

theory and practice

• Supported by:– Lectures, seminars and supervision sessions– Assessments that link to both WBL and psychological

theory and research

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Assessment 1: Progress report

• Students:– Contextualise the organisation e.g. government

policy, socio-economic issues affecting the organisation, organisational structure and management, clients/users/patients/customers

– Reflect on their experiences e.g. role, key activities, skills used and how these are linked to competencies employers expect to see,

– Plan how they intend to develop in the placement

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Assessment 2: Evaluation report

• Students:

– Analyse the relationship between psychological theory and practice at the placement and how this might be developed

– Write a feedback letter to the organisation e.g. what they have gained from the experience

Place to Place: e-guidance

• Specific to psychology students • Helps students to think about what skills

employers want and what skills they’ve developed through WBL

• Aims to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in linking placement learning to real employment and training opportunities

This work was supported by the Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning CETL, University of Plymouth.

Opening screen

Activity screen

Things students said …

• ‘I think it helped me to understand the importance of backing up my experiences and abilities with examples’

• ‘Supporting statement was great. I really liked it’• ‘Useful as I didn’t know what employers are looking for’• ‘It was reassuring to know that I’m on the right track’

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Place to Place

http://hermes.tvu.ac.uk/fhhs/p2p/

This work was supported by the Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning CETL, University of Plymouth.

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Work experience podcasts

• Supported by the HEA Psychology Network • Aim to:

– Highlight importance of work experience– Focus on benefits, challenges and practicalities of

work experience

• Feature interviews with:– Psychology graduates who carried out work

experience as undergraduates– Employers about how they perceive work experience

for graduates

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Interview with Clarissa ……

• Psychology graduate

– Some challenges of work experience

– Using work experience in job applications

Running time - 2mins:27secs

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The student perspective

Consolidatelearning

Applicability & relevance

Reflection

Is this the right choice?

Context

Evaluation

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Feedback, questions and comments, please