EXSC399 - Industry Experience

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

(EXSC198 Physiological Bases of Exercise OR EXSC225 Physiological Bases of Exercise ) AND EXSC205 Industry Experience Preparation AND ANAT100 Anatomical Foundations of Exercise Science

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

To be a competent professional, the knowledge and skills students have gained throughout their degree 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 a 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 expertise relevant for the exercise and health industry. The aim of the unit is to provide an authentic learning experience in which students can integrate evidence-based learnings in applied professional settings, in order to critically reflect on your career path through feedback from your supervisor towards development as a professional.

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.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate professional practice knowledge, skills and attributes for employment opportunities in health and exercise science (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9) 

LO2 - Design and implement an evidence-based professional practice service which integrates knowledge, skills, and attributes of health and exercise science (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9) 

LO3 - Critically reflect on feedback from a variety of sources including placement supervisor(s), peers, and self to improve your professional practice in a work context (GA3, GA4, GA7, GA9, GA10) 

LO4 - Demonstrate competency of professional practice in a health and exercise science work context. (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA5, GA7, GA10) 

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

This unit requires the completion of a minimum of 140 hours of industry experience placements. Content delivery is arranged as required to support these placements and the underpinning theoretical components (as introduced in EXSC205 Industry Experience Preparation). This content includes: 

• application of principles and practices in health and exercise science  
• professionalism in work contexts 
• Critically reflection of competency, based on a variety of feedback 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

EXSC399 Industry Experience commences at the start of semester 1 and closes at the end of semester 2, allowing time to complete the minimum 140 hours of practicum experience in the field. Learning and teaching strategies include: 

• Authentic learning and case-based learning through application of knowledge, understanding and skills of course learnings under the supervision of a qualified professional in a professional workplace environment for a minimum of 140 hours 
• Active learning 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 professional and the integration of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the University’s Mission 

These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively during practicum placements.  

Assessment strategy and rationale

You will have a variety of assessment activities to demonstrate completion and achievement of the learning outcomes for the unit. This unit draws upon on both internal opportunities and placement experiences to facilitate continual reflection upon a student's professional practice and skills, promoting their professional growth. The assessment strategy aligns with the concepts of job-readiness, actively doing the job of a professional and continuing professional development.

The Professional Portfolio: enables students to assemble a professional portfolio for an industry job and prepare relevant documents in preparing for a mock interview. This task will enable students to understand the job market and to prepare high-quality documents in preparation for applying for professional industry roles

Design and implement an Evidence-Based Service: Students will design and implement an evidence-based service for a client/cohort through practical application experiences. This activity will enable them to practice and explore different service delivery methods through simulated and practicum experiences with feedback provided by supervisors, staff, and peers.

Professional Development: Being life-long learners is critical in ensuring that students remain contemporary and is often a mandatory part of professional practice accreditation requirements. This task will enable students to reflect upon their strengths and opportunities for them to improve upon and develop professional practice activities to address these areas.

Competency Assessment: Competency as an exercise professional is evaluated by supervisors while on placement and within the unit of study. Students will receive feedback from supervisors, staff and peers on their professional practice skills and attributes. They will have the opportunity to demonstrate their professional practice skills through recorded and simulated experiences. Critical reflection and integration of feedback is essential as part of professional practice within the unit.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

ACU Assessment Policy. https://www.acu.edu.au/handbook/handbook-2022/policies-and-general-information/assessment---policy-and-procedure .

ACU Catholic Intellectual Tradition last updates 28/6/17 http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/our_university/mission_and_profile/catholic_intellectual_tradition 

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (2020). Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (11th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams.

Coombes and Skinner (2014) ESSA student manual for health, exercise and sport assessment. Mosby and ESSA.