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The University of Edinburgh

The Moray House School of Education

Board of Studies

12 March 2015

Sport Science: Workplace Attachment 3

Brief description of the paper This is a request for approval of a new year 3 option ‘placement-like’ option course for BSc Applied Sport Science. These types of course were discussed at SUGSC and consequently lead to this development which is agreed in principle by DUGS. There is demand and interest in this kind of opportunity. Action requested For approval Resource implications Does the paper have resource implications? Yes; these are minimal If ‘Yes’, in which section(s) of the paper are they described? RATIONALE Risk assessment Does the paper include a risk analysis? Yes, our degree is less competitive without this type of proposed course If ‘Yes’, in which section(s) of the paper is it set out? RATIONALE Equality and diversity Have due considerations been given to the equality impact of this paper? Yes Freedom of information Can this paper be included in open business? Yes If no, please indicate why the paper must be withheld, and for how long (eg until decision is publicly announced):

Its disclosure would substantially prejudice a programme of research

Its disclosure would substantially prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs

Its disclosure would substantially prejudice the commercial interests of any person or organisation

Its disclosure would constitute a breach of confidence actionable in court

E

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Its disclosure would constitute a breach of the Data Protection Act

Other (please give further details)

Any other relevant information Originator of the paper Dr David Saunders: programme Leader Applied Sport Science

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Sport Science: Workplace Attachment 3 Proposal for new course DESCRIPTION

This workplace attachment allows students the opportunity to observe, and evaluate how knowledge in the sport and exercise sciences is utilised in an applied or professional environment outside the university. The attachment involves students having a regular, direct involvement in delivery of sport and exercise related activities or services in a workplace outside the university environment. The types of activity can include performance sport through to exercise and physical activity for health. This teaching and learning is based around a position statement about work placements produced by The British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) which is the professional body for the sport sciences. BASES define work placements as "curriculum-based work related learning opportunities, integral to a programme of study (undergraduate and postgraduate), embedded within a framework of clearly defined learning outcomes, opportunity for assessment, reflective practice and achievement of academic credit”. LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of how evidence and knowledge forms the theoretical basis for sport or exercise implementation in an applied or professional setting

2. Use software to generate and maintain an online, analytical log throughout the workplace attachment

3. Critically review the implementation of knowledge, evidence, skills and practices evident within an applied or professional setting

4. Reflect on personal ability to work effectively and implement skills and practices relevant to the sport and exercise sciences, within an applied or professional setting

RATIONALE

The commonly asked question at our open days is “do you offer a placement”? Increasing numbers of our competitors offer ‘placement-like’ opportunities. If our entry requirements increase it is essential we remain as competitive as possible and offer this type of placement-like opportunity. We have made very substantial efforts in recent years to facilitate volunteering opportunities for our students in sport and exercise environments. Many of the types of activity we are seeing students engage with, are entirely appropriate to connect to this type of workplace attachment with its reflective approach to assessment.

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Whilst scoping the potential value and feasibility of this course we have had feedback from recent graduates of our programme and they state that this is an excellent idea. They also correctly point out that this could offer an excellent means of reducing the pressure on students arising from the drive to become involved in volunteering whilst at university. We have had some feedback from some providers of these pre-existing volunteering opportunities are highly supportive of the idea and identify this will be mutually beneficial. Our programme team and our external examiner are all supportive of this proposal. This is an option course and there will be no regular teaching contact. Therefore the workload is relatively light touch and this will reduce the burden on the limited number of other option courses we have currently. The resource implications are very small. In recent years a number of staff have left/retired and this has generated a profound vacuum of option courses particularly in year 3 of Applied Sport Science. This is damaging because interest in the sport and exercise sciences is expanding and diversifying. It is essential we redress this balance and refresh the programme with courses the current applicants and students are definitely interested in and have an appetite for. EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Students are ALREADY INVOLVED in exactly the kinds of activities we are interested in using for the basis of this course. The following examples span sport, exercise and physical activity and are entirely appropriate for addressing the learning outcomes:

1. Exercise and activity for young people with anxiety http://www.waveproject.co.uk/

2. Exercise-based falls management programme for older people

http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/older-adult-activities/older-adult-sportexercise-activities/steady-steps

3. Physical activity and lifestyle interventions for weight management in

children http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/getgoing/

4. Sport for people with disabilities

http://www.communitysporthub.co.uk/disability-sport/high-flyers-and-jump-in-48

5. Coaching at Hibernian Football club

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6. Performance analysis for Heart of Midlothian FC

7. Coaching for the active schools programme

http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/schools/active-schools/

8. Performance analysis for Scottish Rugby Union

9. Personal training for individuals http://www.mikeheatliepersonaltraining.com/

10. Athletics coaching for Edinburgh Leisure

11. Coaching for Youth Sport Edinburgh

http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/sports-union/news-events/youth-sport-edinburgh

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CCAM Record

Sport Science: Workplace Attachment 3 (Course code not assigned)

School Moray House School of Education

Summary This workplace attachment allows students the opportunity to

observe, and evaluate how knowledge in the sport and exercise

sciences is utilised in an applied or professional environment

outside the university. The attachment involves students having

a regular, direct involvement in delivery of sport and exercise

related activities or services in a workplace outside the

university environment. The types of activity can include

performance sport through to exercise and physical activity for

health.

Normal Year Taken Year 3 Undergraduate

Course Level

(PG/UG) UG

Visiting Student

Availability Not available to visiting students

SCQF Credits 20

Credit Level (SCQF) SCQF Level 10

Home Subject Area Sport

Other Subject Area

Course Organiser Dave Saunders

Course Secretary Sarah Fraser

% not taught by this

institution

Collaboration

Information (School

/ Institution)

Total contact

teaching hours 30

Any costs to be met

by students

Students may need to apply for membership of the Protecting

Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme)

Pre-requisites

Co-requisites

Prohibited

Combinations

Visting Student Pre-

requisites

Keywords sport exercise science placement attachment external

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Fee Code (if

invoiced at course

level)

Proposer Dave Saunders

Default Mode of

Study Assessment

Default delivery

period Semester 1

Marking Scheme to

be employed Common Marking Scheme - UG Honours Mark/Grade

Taught in Gaidhlig? No

Course Type Placement

Special

Arrangements

Before students resister for this course they will need to have

initiated contact with agencies and discussed potential ideas

with the course organiser. The attachment can include

volunteering type activity.

Components of

Assessment

1 x analytical logbook of workplace activities, for example

recorded as a blog (30%)

1 x 2000 word reflective report (70%)

Exam Information

Syllabus During semester 1 students will have initiated contact with an

external agency and agreed a pattern of regular weekly contact

equivalent to 2hrs per week for 10 weeks. This can include

regular volunteering type activity, for example involvement in

structured programmes of coaching for sport teams, provision of

exercise classes for patient groups in the community etc. A

proposal of the work will be discussed with an academic

member of staff and agreed by all parties (student, agency &

university) before any work can be considered suitable for this

attachment. Under normal circumstances It is anticipated that

work should begin before the end of semester 1. If for any

reason by the end of semester 1 there are concerns about the

progress and adequacy of the work, students can transfer to a

different course for semester 2.

Students will be allocated a supervisor from among our

academic staff and this will depend on the nature of the work.

Supervision will involve regular scheduled meetings and this

will be the only direct teaching contact. Students will keep and

organise a reflective logbook throughout the attachment period

and this will help inform the content of an assessed, reflective

report about the workplace attachment.

Feedback Informal Feedback - This takes place during any supervision

meetings throughout the semester. Your tutors will comment on

your understanding and may give you specific advice regarding

your progress. Such feedback is intended to help you

understand what your strengths and development points are, and

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to enable you to take informed responsibility for your learning

and progression.

Discussion forum - Throughout the course as a whole the

students are encouraged to use a discussion forum in LEARN.

Any questions posted by students about teaching, learning and

assessment are be responded to by the course tutors for

everyone to see.

Cohort feedforward - Detailed cohort feed-forward from

previous cohorts of students will be provided for all assessments

on this course.

Formative Feedback - At the start of this course all workplace

attachments involve submission of a proposal; this will involve

discussion and feedback on content and suitability. Secondly,

feedback on the content of the reflective log can be used to help

form the final report. In addition students will arrange regular

meetings with their supervisor to review progress and their

reflective log. Students will gain valuable experience,

knowledge and also feedback on what they are doing from a

practitioner perspective.

Summative Feedback - All students will receive individual

written feedback on both the reflective log and the final report.

This will be based on the structure of the sections on the

assignment specification.

Graduate Attributes

and Skills

This course addresses 11 of the 21 graduate attributes developed

on the BSc Applied Sport Science degree

RESEARCH AND ENQUIRY

(5) Synthesize knowledge from various disciplines so as to

understand the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of

sport and exercise sciences.

(6) Develop logical arguments surrounding issues within sport

science, physical activity and exercise

PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL AUTONOMY

(7) Be independent learners who can take responsibility for their

own learning

(8) Be able to respond to unfamiliar problems by extrapolating

their existing knowledge and understanding

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

(11) Be able to engage in critical discussion demonstrating

listening skills, effective use of evidence and their own

experiences to articulate points and defend their own assertions

(12) Be able to initiate communication with non-university

agencies connected to sport and exercise

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PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

(14) Have developed their organisational, time management and

decision-making skills

(16) Be able to transfer knowledge and ideas between different

contexts within sport, exercise and health

(17) Be able to engage effectively with outside agencies to

foster or develop research, consultancy or support initiatives

TECHNICAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS

(19) Be able to design, deliver and analyse the effects of

training interventions in sport, physical activity and exercise

(21) Be able to present data and report research findings

according to standard scientific conventions

Study Abroad

Reading List Header Learning Resources

Reading Lists Lynch,C (2010) "Doing your Research project in Sport" Pub by

Learning Matters Ltd Exeter. ISBN number: 978-1-84445-164-

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Board L, M Pye, Doggart L, Caldow E, Knowles Z and Twist

C. The BASES Position Stand on Curriculum-based Work

Placements. The Sport & Exercise Scientist. Issue 4 Summer

2014 http://www.bases.org.uk/The-BASES-Position-Stand-on-

Curriculum-based-Work-Placements

Course description

This teaching and learning is based around a position statement about work

placements produced by The British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences

(BASES) which is the professional body for the sport sciences. BASES define work

placements as "curriculum-based work related learning opportunities, integral to a

programme of study (undergraduate and postgraduate), embedded within a framework

of clearly defined learning outcomes, opportunity for assessment, reflective practice

and achievement of academic credit.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of how evidence and knowledge forms

the theoretical basis for sport or exercise implementation in an applied or

professional setting

2. Use software to generate and maintain an online, analytical log throughout the

workplace attachment

3. Critically review the implementation of knowledge, evidence, skills and

practices evident within an applied or professional setting

4. Reflect on personal ability to work effectively and implement skills and

practices relevant to the sport and exercise sciences, within an applied or

professional setting

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