Contemporary Issues in Work & Employment : Assessed Learning Portfolio

Word length:             3,000 words (+/-10%) plus a non-assessed reflective statement of no more than 300 words.

OUTLINE

The assessed learning portfolio is meant to be directed towards prospective employers to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the contemporary business environment. The aim of the portfolio is to provide a critical, research informed summary of the topics covered in tutorials in semester 1 of the module. The tutorial topics represent examples of ‘grand-challenges’ of our time in relation to the contemporary landscape of work and employment.  You will be required to provide a summary of each topic and a more in-depth review of one of the topics of your choice.

WHAT IS A LEARNING PORTFOLIO?

A portfolio is a structured collection of evidence, reflection and critical analysis designed to support and document your learning and development towards the intended learning outcomes of the module. A portfolio is based on a selection rather than just a collection of student’s work – you choose from a range of material provided on the module and the three topics covered in the tutorial to provide a critical, research informed summary of the subject-matter.

WHY A LEARNING PORTFOLIO?

Learning portfolios are suited to the development and assessment of integrated and broad understandings of subject areas including generic skills/attributes (e.g. critical thinking, creativity, communication, as opposed to focusing solely on disciplinary knowledge in individual subject areas).  Students are rewarded for the tutorial work undertaken as the portfolio represents a form of continuous assessment. The portfolio ensures your understanding of the three core themes assessed in semester 1 and is linked to important employability skills. 

HOW CAN THE PORTFOLIO ENHANCE MY EMPLOYBILITY SKILLS?

As soon to be graduating students, prospective employers would expect you to demonstrate your understanding and breadth of knowledge in relation to some of the key challenges facing the modern business world.  As such, the development of a learning portfolio represents a ‘real-world’ task and integrates important employability skills including the,

• Ability to synthesise evidence and information in a clear and concise manner.
• Critical analysis is central to this task as you are required to evaluate a range of research and evidence in your assessment of the topic.
• Application of your academic knowledge to contemporary examples and illustrations – bringing in the real world to your evaluation.
• Ability to manage your time effectively rather than completing the assignment in one go – by basing the assessment on the tutorials it will allow you to effectively manage your learning and time throughout the year.
• Reflecting on practice – consider how you learn, what are your strengths and weaknesses and focus on areas for further development and how these can be applied to the practice of management.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A LEARNING PORTFOLIO?

The assessment portfolio is based on the three core topics covered in semester one of the tutorial programme:-

Topic 1 – Job quality in the contemporary workplace: Assessing the evidence

Topic 2 – Emotions at work: Evaluating skills and the management of emotions

Topic 3 – Creative work: Analysing the realities of work in creative industries

You will have a choice of one topic to focus on but will also be required to write a summary of the two other tutorial topics.  It is advised that you spend no more than 2,000 words on one topic and no more than 500 words each for the other two topics (with an overall total of 3,000 words (+/-10%).

To aid this task each tutorial outline provides a list of questions compiled with the aim of helping you to frame the content of the portfolio.

The summary of 500 words for the two tutorial topics requires you to provide a brief synthesis of the subject and its relevance for the real word of work and business environment including drawing on contemporary examples and illustrations.

For the 2,000 word review of your chosen topic it is important to provide a more detailed review of the current research evidence and contemporary examples:-

• Research evidence – this includes undertaking the tutorial readings based on two research articles and further reading of the relevant research is also required to provide a critical assessment of the evidence.
• Contemporary examples and illustrations – to ensure this is a topical synopsis it is important to refer to media articles, websites, podcasts, reports (e.g. these may include Government Reports, or from think-tanks and research units e.g. the Resolution Foundation; Work Foundation; CIPD). As well as actual company examples.  You are welcome to provide an appendix which can include examples of employers and news related features.

• Reflective statement – a core attribute of a Cardiff graduate is to be a reflective practitioner – this requires you to consider the way you learn and your strengths and weaknesses. This should involve a 300 words maximum (not assessed) the statement should reflect on the following:-
• What did I learn from this exercise?
• What did I do well?
• What were the problem areas?
• Has the task enabled me to gain a better understanding of the topic, or provided a barrier to learning?
• Has the completion of the portfolio changed my understanding of the topic?
• What features have helped me to complete the task – what could be improved?
• As a potential future manager – what have I learnt from undertaking this task?
• Have I developed any insights into the workplace which I can use in future practice?

HOW WILL IT BE ASSESSED?

The criteria to assess the portfolio is based on 5 main areas:-

• Contextual understanding of the contemporary work environment – reflect on the economic, social and political context which helps us to understand and explain the three core themes addressed on the module.
• Conceptual understanding of core terms and debates – demonstrate your understanding, and awareness of core concepts and key debates relevant to the topic evaluated.
• Critical analysis of research material – demonstrates an ability to critically assess the topic – drawing on the research evidence and literature and adopting a critical assessment of the evidence used to support claims.
• Synthesis & overall understanding of the topic – demonstrates an ability to bring together the evaluation of the subject matter in a concise and clear way.
• Contemporary awareness and understanding – apply your knowledge and understanding to contemporary examples from the media and company examples to illustrate the topical nature of the subject-matter.

WHAT SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?

• The tutorial programme is essential for completion of the assignment – attendance is compulsory and feed-back and support is provided in class.
• A session dedicated to the assignment will take place in Week 9 (Tuesday 29^th November)
• Individual meetings with the module co-ordinator will be available to discuss your work.
• You are invited to submit a piece of work or plan based on one of the tutorial topics (approximately 500 words in length) to gain feed-back prior to submission of the assignment.

WHAT FEED-BACK CAN I EXPECT?

• Oral feed-back – the tutorial provides an opportunity to discuss and debate the core themes and debates relevant for the assignment. The tutorial programme provides a list of questions to guide the completion of the assignment.
• Formative feed-back – you will be provided with the opportunity to submit one topic of your choice and get feed-back on this draft before you submit the final piece of work.

• Written Feed-back – you will be provided with written comments on the assignment. Based on the assignment criterion. The written feed-back will focus on 3 areas of strengths & 3 areas for improvement.