FIT5104 Professional practice - Semester 2, 2011

Students are introduced to the practical environment where theory of information management and systems is applied and helps prepare students for entry into the professional workplace. Through a fieldwork placement, students gain in-depth understanding of information agencies and the organisational environment in which they operate. It encourages analysis of links between theoretical concepts of information management, knowledge management and systems, to professional practice in the workplace. The unit evaluates issues in information management and information systems currently identified by practitioners, managers, researchers, organisations, and academics as being of professional concern.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Day)
• Caulfield (Off-campus)

Contact Hours

3 hrs lecture/wk

Workload

For on-campus students, workload commitments per week are:

• three-hour seminar (requiring advance preparation)
• a minimum of 3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

• You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks for assessed tasks in newsgroups/discussion groups.

Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions, however, you should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5015

Prerequisites

Only available to students in the Graduate Diploma of Information and Knowledge Management or students in the Library, Archival and Recordkeeping Systems specialisation or the Corporate Information and Knowledge Management specialisation in the MBIS or MBIS Professional. Entry to this unit is subject to approval. The unit should be undertaken after other core units of the specialisation have been completed.

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will:

• evaluate professional literature and knowledge in relation to practice;
• analyse current issues relating to the information industry;
• apply theories and practice of their selected specialisation to the workplace;
• demonstrate practical skills at a professional level in an information agency or information-related functional area, as well as an ability to interact effectively with work colleagues and clients;
• assess career opportunities within the information industry and develop a personal career plan;
• evaluate the role in professional practice of ethical codes, professional literature, professional networks and professional associations.

Graduate Attributes

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%; Supervised professional placement and host supervisors report (PGO grade)

Teaching Approach

• Seminars
  Seminars will involve presentations by unit lecturers, guest speakers and students. Students will be actively involved in the seminars which will address a range of professional issues.
  
  All students undertake professional placements (see below). A one-day seminar will be held in early December for students to discuss their placement experiences and identify related professional issues. This seminar will replace two of the usual weekly seminars. Special arrangements will be made for off campus students if they are unable to attend the December seminar. More information on this seminar will be circulated at the start of the semester.
• Work-integrated learning or industry-based learning
  This teaching approach is experiential learning with active learner involvement in a practical environment. Reflection is used to conceptualise the experience.
  
  Professional placement
  
  This unit involves a 15 day placement supervised by an information professional in a library, archive, records or information management and systems workplace. This teaching approach involves experiential learning with active learner involvement in a practical environment. Reflection and reporting back to a one-day seminar in early December (see above) are used to conceptualise the experience. Off campus students are encouraged to attend this seminar if they live locally. If this is not possible, they will develop presentations about their professional placement which will be presented to the seminar on their behalf.
  
  Setting up placements
  
  Placements are made following negotiations between Monash staff and appropriate institutions with qualified supervisors. They also depend on the availability of placements at the times required (see below) with due consideration of the student’s interest and level of study achieved at the time of placement. Students can discuss possible placements with host organisations, but the final arrangements must be made by Monash staff.
  
  Objectives
  
  The aim of the placement is to provide an opportunity for students to gain a broad knowledge of the organisation, systems and services of an institution and to gain general work experience. In addition, in some instances, students undertake specific tasks or projects.
  
  Timing
  
  The placement usually occurs in the two periods between: June and July, or at the end of Semester Two, i.e., late November- early December. Placements can be deferred until January-February 2011, if necessary, but this delays assessment. Part-time students may have a special need for a different schedule, e.g., during school holidays, but they must try to work within these broad dates. Flexible arrangements involving part-time work to make up the 15 days are possible if host organisations can accommodate this.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

• Graded assignments with comments
• Other: Informal feedback on progress in seminars and via email for OCL students.

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

Recommended Resources

Herman Tavani, Professional ethics, 2006, 2nd edition.

Current journals, newsletters, professional listservs and websites appropriate to the student's professional specialisation.

Examination material or equipment

Details will be provided via the Unit Moodle website.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Assignment 1: Professional Placement Presentation

  Description:

  Students will report and reflect on their  professional placement in the form of a presentation. You should provide a brief overview of the role of your host organisation, the services it provides, its organisational structure, staff numbers (including type of staff), style of management, and opportunities for professional development. You should also provide a brief overview of the various activities and projects that you were engaged in. The main focus of your presentation should be on identifying 3-4 core professional contemporary issues, based on your observations and work experience. Presentations will be made during the end of year one-day seminar, which will be no later than 13 December 2011. Alternative arrangements will be made for off campus students where necessary. Note that the host supervisor also completes a report on the professional placement – PGO (Pass Grade Only).

  Weighting:

  25%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Assessment will be based on how well information is presented and the professional placement is reflected upon.

  More details will be provided via the Unit Moodle website.

  Due date:

  6 December 2011, date to be confirmed.

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 2: Participation in Seminars and Discussion Forum

  Description:

  Students will be expected to contribute to seminar and online discussions of the topics covered in the weekly seminars, including Q&A sessions with guest speakers. On campus students are expected to attend and partiipate in all seminars. Off campus students will contribute questions and commentaries online. A unit blog will be established to facilitate the discussions. More details will be provided on the Unit Moodle website. 

  Weighting:

  25%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Assessment will be based on how well students contribute to discussions.

  More details will be provided via the Unit Moodle website.

  Due date:

  Weekly according to timetable advised on Unit Moodle website.

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Professional Placement

  Description:

  This unit involves a professional placement equivalent to 15 working days, supervised by an information professional in a host organisation. It is assessed at Pass Grade Only (PGO) and is a required component of the unit. The basis of the assessment is a report by the host organisation. Details of placement requirements and the report pro-forma are available via the Unit Moodle website.

  Weighting:

  PGO

  Criteria for assessment:

  Assessment is based on completion of the placement, undertaking the work progam negotiated by Monash staff with the host organisation, and the host organisation's report. Monash staff monitor the placement, including site visits as needed.

  Due date:

  As arranged for individual placements.

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  50%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Assignment submission

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Referencing requirements

Referencing requirements will be advised via the Unit Moodle website.

Other Information

Policies

Student services