Unit rationale, description and aim
To be a competent Exercise Scientist, the knowledge and skills students have gained must be able to be transferred to a professional context, with increasing autonomy and confidence.
Professional practice provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and attributes of an exercise professional in a work context and gain the necessary experience under the supervision of qualified professionals, in order to begin the transition from learner to practitioner. Experiential learning through real-world professional experience will enable students to develop competence measured through professional standards set for ESSA Exercise Scientist accreditation. Students will apply knowledge and skills to operate effectively in an ethically responsible manner, communicate effectively and be able to integrate and apply their learning to help support client's needs. Students will critically reflect upon their professional practice through feedback from their supervisors. The aim of the unit is to provide an authentic learning experience in which students can integrate evidence-based learnings in applied professional settings, critically reflect on their career path, and work towards the ESSA Professional Practice graduate outcomes required for Exercise Science Accreditation.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Demonstrate the professional practice requirements...
Learning Outcome 01
Practice inclusively, respecting diverse backgroun...
Learning Outcome 02
Select effective communication strategies to suppo...
Learning Outcome 03
Demonstrate the application of discipline knowledg...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Planning, selection and approval process for professional experience placements
- How to record placement hours
- Preparing applications for placement, jobs and interviews
- Career planning
- Working with diverse populations - inclusive practice
- Cultural sensitivity
- Understanding scope of practice
- Preparing to receive and give constructive feedback
Assessment strategy and rationale
EXSC388 draws upon internal activities and placement experiences to facilitate continual reflection upon professional practice and skills, promoting professional growth. The assessment strategy emphasises job-readiness and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations as part of professional practice.
Assessment 1: Enables students to assemble a professional portfolio for an industry job to expand their job readiness skills in preparation for placement.
Assessment 2: Students must be able to interpret assessment data and to make informed judgements and practice inclusively to communicate results effectively to clients from diverse backgrounds, in a respectful and accessible manner. Students will demonstrate this via verbal and written communication strategies and reflecting on their practice.
Assessment 3: Following on Assessment 1, and classwork on working with diverse populations, students will sit a mock interview to expand employability and job readiness skills in preparation for placement and for future employment.
Competency as an Exercise Scientist: Hurdle task Students must demonstrate competency in the application of discipline-specific knowledge and skills within the scope of practice for an accredited exercise scientist through satisfactory completion of an internal placement.
Overview of assessments
To successfully pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of all learning outcomes, pass the hurdle task, and achieve a minimum overall mark of 50% in the graded assessments.
Assessment Task 1: Professional Portfolio&...
Assessment Task 1:
Professional Portfolio
Assemble a professional portfolio demonstrating knowledge of the skills and understanding required for a job in the field of exercise science.
20%
Assessment Task 2: Written and oral task Asses...
Assessment Task 2:
Written and oral task
Assesses demonstration of ability to make informed judgements to practice inclusively and communicate effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds through interpreting assessment data and communicating results in a respectful and accessible manner.
40%
Assessment Task 3: Oral examination ...
Assessment Task 3:
Oral examination
Utilise professional portfolio and complete an interview for mock industry-specific employment in a competitive opportunity, demonstrating knowledge of the skills and understanding required for a job in the field of exercise science.
40%
Hurdle Task* Internal Professional experience pl...
Hurdle Task*
Internal Professional experience placement
Competency as an Exercise Scientist
Demonstrate competency in the application of discipline-specific knowledge, understanding and skills within the scope of practice for an accredited exercise scientist through satisfactory completion of an internal placement. Supervisors will complete an evaluation of student’s performance.
*Ungraded
Hurdle task
*Students who fail the hurdle task on their first attempt will be provided one additional attempt to pass at a time referred to on the Learning Management System.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This first professional experience unit incorporates a learning and teaching strategy which reflects respect for the individual as an adult independent learner. Students are expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively during professional experience placements.
Learning and teaching methods include:
- Authentic learning and case-based learning through practical, supervised engagement in an internal placement of at least 60 hours, applying course knowledge, skills, and understanding.
- Active learning which will allow students to develop effective professional verbal and nonverbal communication skills by interaction with both clients and professionals in the exercise science field.
- Critical reflective thinking activities which will give a greater awareness of the scope of practice of an Exercise Scientist within ESSA’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice
In addition, completion of this unit will allow students to arrange and commence mandatory Professional Practice outcomes required for Accreditation through ESSA as an Exercise Scientist on the completion of their degree.