Empowering Students to Develop their

Employability by Applying their Course Learning in a

ModuleAnne Nortcliffe, Jacky Stallard & Matthew

Love

Introduction

• What is graduate employability?• What does this mean for the module learning?• What does this mean for the module assessment?• What does this mean for the module structure?• What was student feedback?• What were the course leader’s thoughts?• What were the outcomes?

What is graduate employability?Task: What do employers want?

• 5 mins• Split into groups with 3 or 4 members• Look at and discuss the (employability)

key skills cards• As a group identify and agree the top ten

key skills• As a group organise these top ten key

skills into a list 1 to 10.

Top Ten –UK Source:: Targetjobs, The top 10 skills that'll get you a job when you graduate,

http://targetjobs.co.uk/work-experience/articleview-1a_388.aspx , 2009

• Commercial Awareness• Communication• Teamwork• Negotiation and Persuasion• Problem Solving• Leadership• Organisation• Ability to meet deadlines• Ability to work under pressure• Confidence

Top Ten –USASource: National Association of Colleges and Employers: Job Outlook 2005-Student Version,

http://bapp.cba.ksu.edu/skills.html

1. Communication Skills (Verbal and Written)2. Honesty / Integrity3. Interpersonal Skills (relate well to others)4. Strong Work Ethic5. Teamwork Skills (work well with others)6. Analytical Skills7. Motivation / Initiative 8. Flexibility / Adaptablility9. Computer Skills10. Detail Oriented

PMCD Module

5 mins

In your groups match Employers Top Ten Skills to the Module Learning Outcomes (on the desk)

Module LOs• discuss the need for project management for information systems

projects, and cite examples of apparent successes and failures of industry-based projects.

• be aware of legal social ethical and professional issues relevant to their course of study.

• select a sequence of steps for the development of Information Systems, matched to given situations and organisational requirements.

• compare and contrast modern project management techniques and tools that are used within industry and organisations to resolve typical scenario problems (including Prince2 Project Management methodology and specific project management software for example Microsoft Project)

• describe organisational structures and team structures commonly found in IT organisations, and select appropriate structures to meet example strategic requirements.

• discuss the factors affecting working as a professional in relation to their career development as an IT professional,

How are the students going to learn these learning

outcomes?

• 2 mins• In pairs

– Reflect on the module learning outcomes– Ask each other what kind of exercise would

help students to meet • The module learning outcomes?• All graduate attributes?

• Audience ideas

Assessment for LearningPlacement Development A, B. & C 20%

Business Case and Tender for University Attendance Monitoring System 80%

• Group Assessment 50% • Business Case and presentation wk 19• Business Proposal and standalone presentation wk 39• Group weekly management sheets wk 39

Peer assessmentIndividual mark derived from group grade and self/peer

assessment:-

Ind=Grp*(1-((AveGrpPeer-IndAvePeer)/MaxPeer))

• Individual Assessment 30% wk 41• Reflective Professional Personal Development (PPD) and Individual Weekly

Activities Sheets • Career Plan Opportunities Reflection

Or Sacked Group Members 80%• Hard and Onerous Individual Assessment 80% wk 39

Why choose as case study:Attendance Monitoring System

• Real-life• Relevant• Timely• Accessible (captive!) clients

– varied vested interests– paying and non-paying– conflicting requirements

What learning will the students need to support this

assessment?• 5 mins• In pairs

– Discuss the assessment and identify what key learning the students need to support this assessment

– Identify any questions that need answering

Module Sessions Sem 1Week Lecture Seminar

10 Introduction Belbin exercise

11 Project Lifecycle Learning Roles exercise

12 Requirements eng’ Requirements exercise

13 Requirements meeting for Attendance Monitoring System

Requirements analysis of requirements for Attend’ Monitor’ Sys’

14 Project Methods (I) Case Study - MRP15 Project Methods (II) Case Study - Swanwick16 Business Cases (I) Cost Benefits

17 Business Cases (II) Estimates

18 Guest Lecturer Assignment Workshop19 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS20 Project Planning (I) Presentation Feedback21 Project Planning (II) Assignment Workshop (proposal

preparation)

Module Sessions Sem 2Week Lecture Seminar

27 Why do projects fail? Business Strategy

28 Risk Analysis Risk Assessment

29 Future Proofing No session

30 Staffing Small Projects Finding staff (2 HOURS)

31 Staffing Large Projects Myers Briggs exercise

32 Building Project Teams SWOT analysis

33 Conflict Management Case Study

34 Project Ethics Case Study

EASTER

37 Project Communication Communications exercise

38 Guest Lecturer Assignment workshop

39 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

40 Presentation feedback

Student Feedback - comments

"Enjoyed the module overall, didn't agree with the Belbin group construction, would prefer to do our own groups"

"Project Management has been a very interesting module and given me an insight of how a company may communicate with each other and how the workload affects everyone in the company."

"Would have been useful to have audio recordings/screen casts of lectures made available on BlackBoard; missed one session due to placement interview and felt the learning experience provided by the slides was inferior to actually being in the lecture"

Student Feedback - survey resultsunderstanding of project management

The module assessment inspired me to take initiatives in my learning

The module assessment has helped me develop my knowledge and understanding of my career options in IT projects

The module assessment has helped me enhance my personal and employability skills

Student Feedback - survey resultsunderstanding of project management

The module assessment has helped me develop my knowledge and understanding of project management

Interviews with guest clients helped me develop my understanding and learning of client side of project management

Student Feedback - survey resultsunderstanding of project management

The module assessment gave me an insight to planning IT projects

The module assessment gave me an insight to costing IT projects

Course Leader's reflection• Previous module approach

– retention on the module– pass rate– deliver, database coursework and exam– 2012 placements:

• BSc Computing 13/18• BSc Computer Studies 0/4

• This year's approach: assessment for learning– 2013 placements so far:

• BSc Computing 15/31• BSc Computer Studies 5/11

Example of Students' Output

http://vimeo.com/64546761

password="project"

Conclusion

Increased students'• engagement in learning of project management

through assessment for learning as opposed to the traditional LTA approach

• understanding of IT project management• awareness of potential career opportunities in

IT projects