WM163-15 Personal Skills for Professional Excellence
Introductory description
Personal Skills for Professional Excellence has been developed to equip students with the key skills to be successful at the University of Warwick, and in the work elements of their degree apprenticeship.
Module aims
This module aims to equip students with a set of skills for conducting effective and robust research independently, will learn to articulate complex issues and ideas in a meaningful context, underpinning solid academic writing skills. It will enable students to develop broader techniques and methods used for critical thinking and will cover and practice the key skills involved in successful team working. Students will also explore tools and techniques to develop their own understanding of themselves and awareness of their own personal biases. This module offers students the opportunity to plan and deliver student led group project using business related technical ideas and developing a strategy to present these to an audience. Students will learn to understand diversity at work, and will develop skills in working with a diverse group of people. Students will learn the skills that enable a thorough approach to work that enables the timely delivery of objectives. Students will learn to take notes appropriately. The students will practice using logical thinking and creativity in problem solving. The importance of data security and legislation will also be covered, along with introductory themes in information systems, including an understanding of business requirements.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Topics that will be covered include (but are not limited to):
- Organization Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Critical Writing and note-taking
- Effective use of Academic Literature
- Academic writing day
- Understanding your personality
- Working in a team
- Preparing and delivering effective presentations
- Becoming a great communicator
- Introduction to Requirements
- Data Security
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Arrange and conduct effective and robust research, using literature and other media, into IT and business-related topics
- Analyse elements of critical thinking in a variety of contexts including questioning, challenging and presenting a point of view constructively using academic skills.
- Give and receive feedback constructively to extract potential improvements and incorporate these into his/her own development.
- Work in teams to develop competence in communicating and respecting diversity while meeting common objectives.
- Developing competence in active listening, note-taking, introductory leadership, influencing and persuading others.
Indicative reading list
C. Wushow, “Fast- tracking your career soft skills for engineering &IT professionals”, IEEE Press, 2013, ISBN: 9781118521786.
A. Fasano, “Engineer your own success: key elements to creating an extraordinary engineering career”, IEEE Press, 2015, ISBN: 9781118886519.
Ruddock, B., 2012, “The New Professional's Toolkit” Facet. ISBN : 9781856048927 (online)
Peck, John, and Martin Coyle. 2012 “The Student's Guide to Writing: Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar, Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN-13:9781403997388
Lovell, Scott, “Critical Thinking: The Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Critical Thinking Skills, Becoming Better at
Problem Solving, Mastering Logical Fallacies and Avoiding Cognitive Biases” CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018 ISBN-10: 1727113888
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Research element
Students are required to undertake research in topics to enable the assessment of research skills - based on workplace ideas. Harvard referencing system will be taught, and used in assessment to gauge understanding. Discussions around originality, and robust research, will be covered in class, and assessed based on the chosen topic.
Subject specific skills
Develop robust and effective research skills, team working skills, develop the ability to articulate complex ideas, develop and enhance critical thinking skills including questioning, challenging and presenting a point of view, gain experience in working on team projects, gain experience in giving and receiving feedback, incorporating feedback into academic work, note-taking skills, logical thinking, develop active listening skills, persuading others, develop leadership skills and the introductory writing of requirements
Transferable skills
Communications skills, academic writing skills, critical thinking skills, learn to understand issues around diversity at work, time management skills, creative problem solving practice, media development skills and project management skills
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 24 sessions of 1 hour (16%) |
Practical classes | 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%) |
Other activity | 15 hours (10%) |
Private study | 89 hours (59%) |
Assessment | 16 hours (11%) |
Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Reading work provided
Independent research for the purpose of understanding
Identifying materials that enable personal mastery of the subject
Other activity description
Students should:
Watch Videos Provided
Engage with the Moodle Topic as requested
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
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Assessment component |
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Individual Student Research Video Assessment | 30% | 6 hours | Yes (extension) |
Individual Coursework – 5 minute video incorporating research on a technical and business related topic to be selected, underpinning the critical thinking and writing skills, robust research and referencing skills, demonstrating an understanding of ethics in business, persuasion, concise communications skills and using feedback to improve personal performance. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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Portfolio Assessment PSPE | 70% | 10 hours | Yes (extension) |
A portfolio assessment will be comprised of three evidential assets - a group presentation (20% Portfolio), Open book, individual online quizzes (10% of portfolio), and individual in class written assessments (40% of the portfolio) into a single combined mark. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
Feedback on assessment
There will be individual written feedback given on in-class exercises, feedback via Moodle for the online quizzes, and written as well as verbal feedback at the time of delivery of the presentation.
Pre-requisites
None
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of DWMS-H652 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Data Analytics) (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Year 1 of DWMS-H653 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Network Engineering) (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Year 1 of DWMS-H654 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Software Engineering) (Degree Apprenticeship)