PROF 1000 - Professional Practices

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019

This course examines the underlying assumptions, values, experiences and skills, forms of knowledge and broader contexts that impact on and inform students' professional practice approach. Using case studies as a starting point, students will explore some of the key issues of contemporary workplaces. Students will be required to draw on theoretical perspectives and ideas from contemporary research as well as insights generated through critical reflection, online discussions and collaborative problem-solving. This course introduces the various communication options available in a business context so that students can make appropriate choices in the workplace. Students will gain confidence in their ability to communicate by practising and receiving feedback on business communication skills. Through this critical enquiry process, it is expected that students will further develop their understandings of their own practices and change and develop aspects of these practices. It has a particular emphasis on building professional knowledge of working in a business environment and developing work ready skills in the areas of written and oral communication, intercultural communication, client service, problem solving and self-management. Students will develop strategies to communicate these abilities through career communication, including career documents and interviews. Opportunities for improving academic and workplace language proficiency are embedded in the course.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PROF 1000
    Course Professional Practices
    Coordinating Unit Professions Office
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 Hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Incompatible PROF 2000, PROF 2000UAC, PROF 2000BR
    Restrictions Preferable students do not undertake PROF 1000 Professional Practices and PROF 3883 Graduate Career Readiness in the same semester.
    Assessment Activities, presentation, group research paper and Individual report
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Sue Johnston

    For a list of Tutors, please see MyUni
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 apply business communication theory to solve workplace communication issues in order to establish and maintain professional relationships
    2 display reasoned decision making processes and self-management strategies leading to professional outcomes
    3 assess contemporary, professional career environment and, through self-reflection, generate relevant career plans and resources via a range of media
    4 express complex ideas accurately in written and spoken formats suited to the workplace contexts
    5 identify skills required to provide culturally and contextually appropriate customer service in a business environment
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,4,5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2,3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,4,5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2,3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Professional practices selected readings Cengage (2016) 
    Etext purchase link to be provided on course site
    Recommended Resources
    Communication Skills Guide
    This booklet can be downloaded from The Faculty of the Professions
    This is a free resource which advises on study skills and referencing.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures are provided in both online and oncampus mode. Students will attend one hour oncampus lectures in weeks 1, 6 and 12 and will view interactive, online lectures for topics 1 to 5 and 7 to 12. It is particularly important that students attend lecture 1 which will outline course requirements.

    Learning resources for each topic will be provided online. These include materials to prepare for tutorials.

    Students attend weekly two hour oncampus tutorials. In order to pass the subject, students must attend 80% of (10 out of 12) tutorials or provide evidence supporting an approved absence. Tutorials relate to the previous week’s lecture. Tutorials are an important component of your learning in this course. The communication skills developed in tutorials by regularly and actively participating in discussions are considered to be most important by the School and are highly regarded by employers and professional bodies.

    Students will need to engage in six hours per week self directed study, group collaboration and assignment preparation (engaging with online activities).

    The etext, lectures and tutorials are connected by topic. Students are expected to read assigned readings before the lecture and tutorial.

    Tutors will negotiate replacement tutorials for students whose tutorials occur on public holidays.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course, of private study outside of your regular classes.

    Be aware that if there are certain skills that you need to improve significantly, you may need to spend more time doing private study than the guidelines suggest.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Learning Activity Learning Activities Summary Related Learning Outcomes
    Lectures Online and face to face lectures introduce the course topics. 1,2,3,4,5
    Workshop discussion Students come prepared to class, they read the assigned materials and are ready to actively participate in class. The lecturer discusses key issues for each topic, provides examples and opens the floor for discussion and interaction. 1,2,3,4,5
    Case studies/PBL Workshop tasks are case studies and applied activities 1,2,3,4,5

    Learning Activities Schedule

    Topic Readings Learning Activities
    Week 1 Contemporary trends in professional practice: Communicate in today’s workplace Course etext pp. 1-30 ‘Live lecture’

    Workshop 1: Introduction
    Week 2 Professional priorities: organisation, planning and development. Preparing your "Personal Professional Pitch". Course etext pp. 31-68 Workshop 2: Communicate in today’s workplace
    Week 3 Interpersonal communication 1 – self-awareness, EI, assertiveness and communication styles Course etext pp.69-84
    Course etext pp. 91-96
    Course etext pp. 116-138
    Course etext pp. 161-168
    Workshop 3: Professional priorities
    Week 4 Interpersonal communication 2 – nonverbal communication, listening and questioning Course etext pp. 146-160
    Course etext pp. 193-218
    Course etext pp. 84-91
    Workshop 4: Interpersonal communication 1: EI
    Week 5 Interpersonal communication 3 –managing negotiation, conflict and difference in the workplace Course etext pp.168-182
    Course etext pp. 103-116
    Workshop 5: Interpersonal communication 2: nvc and listening
    Week 6 Organisational communication events: Effective team development, decision making and meetings Course etext pp. 219-326 ‘Live lecture’

    Workshop 6: Interpersonal communication

    On-Line Learning Module - Indigenous Perspectives in the Professions
    Week 7 Organisational communication events: Presentations Course etext pp. 327-351 Workshop 7: Teams and decision making
    Week 8 Writing and researching professionally: Research and problem solving (including mediated communication) Course etext pp. 352-411 Workshop 8: Presentations
    Week 9 Report writing, business correspondence and workplace documents Course etext pp. 412-490 Workshop 9: Research and problem solving
    Week 10 Client communication Course etext pp. 491-542 Workshop 10: Report writing and correspondence
    Assessment: Statement paper - Meeting process documentation and reflective writing
    Week 11 Career communications – planning and relevant documents, including social media Course etext pp. 543-577 Workshop 11: Client communication
    Week 12 Career communications – interviewing Readings ‘Live lecture’

    Workshop 12: Career communications
    Assessment: Report – Career communications
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Due
    Weighting Length Learning Outcome
    Academic and Professional Writing Overview (incl. Harvard Referencing) - Online learning and quiz Week 3 Complete/In-complete 1.5 hours (approx) 4
    Weekly activities - 1 activity to be submitted from a choice of 3 (individual) Varies 20% 750 words 1,2,3,4,5
    Workshop Presentation (Pairs) Varies 20% 10 minutes 2,4
    Research paper - Meeting process documentation and reflective writing (collaborative and Individual components) Week 10 30% 1500 words 1,2,4
    Participation and Personal Professional Pitch (PPP) - Participation in workshops, pre-workshop preparation and PPP. (Individual) Ongoing at each workshop 5% N/A 2,4
    Indigenous Perspectives in the Professions -Online learning module and quiz Week 8 Complete/In-complete 2 hours (approx.) 1,2,5
    Formal report on graduate attributes sought by employers (individual) Week 13 25% 1000 words plus appendices 2,3,4
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment detail is provided on the course site at the beginning of semester.
    Submission
    Retain a copy of all assessments.

    Written assessments should be submitted electronically through TurnItIn on MyUni. Do not make multiple TurnItIn submissions. Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments which do not have signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.