Undergraduate Course: Learning from the lives of others (SHSS08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | School of Health in Social Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course offers practical real-life experience of assisting people with pressing needs improve their lives. Through personal engagement with individuals, students will simultaneously be making a contribution to the quality of others' lives in our local community and enhancing their understanding of situated individual experience and its consequences on health and daily living. Hands-on activity will be integrated with academic work to provide an innovative learning opportunity that will deepen appreciation of academic course materials while developing life and employability skills.
Students taking this option course will be introduced to a hosting non-profit organisation (NPO) in semester 1 where, with oversight from the course organiser, a package of work will be agreed. The precise nature of the work may vary according to NPO, but will involve supporting the work of the organisation, often through sustained personal contact with specified recipients of the organisation's services. This will involve the ability to establish supportive and friendly working relationships according to the requirements of the immediate context.
All necessary training, supervision and support will be provided by the NPO, but students will be required to maintain contact with a designated member of the course team. Alongside the practical work, students will undertake regular independent study activities of reading, writing and critical reflection designed to support understanding of the relationship between academic study of materials and actual life experience.
The timetable for the practical work involved in this course will be flexible, depending on student timetables and the requirements of the voluntary work undertaken. Although most work will be carried out independently, there will be six class meetings through the semester which will provide a formal point of contact and support towards achieving the learning objectives. These are a required element of the course.
Initial meetings between the participating student and the NPO will take place in semester 1, so that students are prepared and confident to start work at the beginning of semester 2.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Placement Study Abroad Hours 36,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
154 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
To enhance students' personal growth and employability through the development of skills such as effective communication; self-management in new and possibly demanding circumstances; problem solving; responsible commitment; working to a brief
To promote reflective and critical thinking
To work with respect and compassion
To develop civic responsibility
To develop understanding and awareness of others' experience of difficulty and its impact on identity and quality of life
To develop broader and contextually nuanced understanding of well-being and health issues in real-life contexts
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Assessment Information
Formative assessment:
Initial entries in a reflective diary (see below) (1000-1500 words) (mid semester)
Short piece of writing towards the summative written assignment (500-700 words) (late semester)
A short presentation (late semester)
Summative assessment:
A reflective diary describing in detail the work undertaken, including experience of training and the student's evolving thinking and appreciation of need in the relevant community. The diary will be illustrated as appropriate and include reflection on associated reading (2500-3000 words) (50%)
Written assignment (2500-3000 words) (50%)
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Marion Smith
Tel: (0131 6)51 3966
Email: marion.smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kirsty Gardner
Tel: (0131 6)50 3889
Email: Kirsty.Gardner@ed.ac.uk |
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