Unit rationale, description and aim

Professional practice experience is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner, providing opportunities for the application of knowledge, understanding and skills in a work context.

Students will work through online modules which prepare them for all aspects of professional experience placements including regulations and exercise science accreditation practicum requirements and all processes involved in organising, recording and reporting placement experiences. ACU Pre-Placement Requirements must also be completed as a hurdle for this unit.

The aim of the unit is to prepare students for professional practice experience placement opportunities (work integrated learning) in EXSC388 and EXSC389, categorising professional skills and attributes, career planning and determining professional skills and attributes required for professional practice in the Exercise Science industry.

2027 0

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

(EXSC126 Physiological Foundations of Exercise Science OR BIOL125 Human Biology 1 ) AND NUTR101 Introduction to Nutrition AND EXSC187 Growth, Motor Development and Ageing

Incompatible

EXSC205 Industry Experience Preparation , EXSC218 Internship Preparation for Coaching and Prescription

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 compliance with standards required for...

Learning Outcome 01

Demonstrate compliance with standards required for Professional Experience and ACU Work Integrated Learning placements
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3

Understand the scope of practice and career option...

Learning Outcome 02

Understand the scope of practice and career options for exercise science, sports science and exercise physiologist students and graduates in various work contexts
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1

Classify elements of risk and risk management whil...

Learning Outcome 03

Classify elements of risk and risk management whilst on a Professional Experience placement and in the workplace
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1

Relate the ESSA code of Professional Conduct and E...

Learning Outcome 04

Relate the ESSA code of Professional Conduct and Ethical practice to professional experience placements and the workplace
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC6

Content

The unit aims to prepare students for structured professional experience placements in host organisations, approved by the Professional Experience Coordinator, in branches of exercise and sports science in which students might seek employment after graduation.

Topics include:

  • Purpose of compliance in professional practice and work integrated learning
  • Understand requirements and processes for organising and undertaking professional practice experiences in a variety of Exercise and Sports Science settings
  • Explore risk management in exercise science and workplace contexts
  • Exercise and Sports Science Australia Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice
  • Career planning and determining relevant skills and experiences for successful practicum

Assessment strategy and rationale

In order to best enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate capabilities, online modules have been designed to meet ACU-specific and discipline-specific professional practice requirements. Each online module includes a hurdle task quiz which must be completed correctly to ensure that the student has read and understood each step in the practicum process, as a prerequisite to EXSC388 Professional Experience 1. The assessment tasks allow students to prepare for future professional experience placement experiences and apply knowledge from across the unit. Additionally, the assessment tasks are assessed against a standardised marking guide.

Overview of assessments

To pass the unit, students must pass every hurdle task by the deadline indicated on the Learning Management System.

Hurdle Task 1* Compliance for Practicum

Hurdle Task 1*

Compliance for Practicum

Weighting

Hurdle*

Learning Outcomes LO1
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC3

Hurdle Task 2** Quiz Assesses knowledge of the E...

Hurdle Task 2**

Quiz

Assesses knowledge of the Exercise Science scope of practice

Weighting

Hurdle**

Learning Outcomes LO2
Graduate Capabilities GC1

Hurdle Task 3** Quiz Assesses elements of risk a...

Hurdle Task 3**

Quiz

Assesses elements of risk and risk management. relevant for professional practice

Weighting

Hurdle**

Learning Outcomes LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC6

*Hurdle Task 1 - Students who fail hurdle task 1 on their first attempt will be provided one additional attempt to pass at a time referred to on the Learning Management System.

**Online hurdle tasks 2 and 3 quizzes have unlimited attempts. Students who fail the hurdle tasks will be provided additional attempts to pass up until the deadline referred to on the Learning Management System.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit is offered in a mixed-mode, supporting student learning through an active-learning strategy. Learning and teaching methods include self-directed online learning and lectures. It is designed to provide students with access to the knowledge and understanding, resources and preparatory requirements necessary for organising and completing meaningful professional experience placements. This method will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate capabilities of the unit. Learning and teaching methods will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate accordingly.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

ACU Inspire Toolkit https://inspire.acu.edu.au/evidence-toolkit

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

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

Careers advice and content provided by the ACU Careers and Employability unit

Exercise and Sports Science Australia - Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards for Accreditation and Guide. https://essa.org.au/Web/Resources/Standards/aes-professional-standards.aspx

Exercise and Sports Science Australia - Accredited Exercise Scientist Scope of practice. https://essa.org.au/Web/Web/Accreditation/Staying-accredited/scopes-of-practice.aspx?hkey=b3317a19-fc62-401f-86fe-26c605b572af

Exercise and Sports Science Australia -  Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice: https://www.essa.org.au/Web/Web/Resources/Standards/code-of-professional-conduct-and-ethical-practice.aspx

Exercise and Sports Science Australia - Continuing Professional Development Standards. https://www.essa.org.au/Web/Web/PD/PD-opportunities/Find-PD.aspx?hkey=7e6a836a-74e7-47e0-9e8f-dd961b83a737

Exercise and Sports Science Australia - Practicum Standards. https://essa.org.au/Web/Resources/Standards/Practicum-standards.aspx

Kolb, A., & Kolb, D. (2018). Eight important things to know about the experiential learning cycle. Australian educational leader40(3), 8-14.

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