Unit Outline

This practicum unit brings together core fundamental exercise and sports science knowledge and skills and requires you to apply these to work in supervised practice. The unit aims to provide learning experiences that prepares you for practice. The focus is on professional experiential learning, including application of core theoretical knowledge and threshold concepts related to exercise science. You will further develop and apply practical skills around health-related fitness encompassing activities and clientele within the Exercise Science Scope of Practice. You will be empowered to successfully enter the workforce with the development of skills in writing curriculum vitae, job applications, and the development of effective interview and professional self-promotion strategies. Self-reflection on performance and assessment of performance against the key criteria required for recognition as an Accredited Exercise Scientist, are essential.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Demonstrate professionalism in various communication modes in Exercise & Sports Science practice settings.
2	Apply ethical and legal decision-making principles to prioritise client safety in Exercise & Sports Science practice settings.
3	Demonstrate safe and effective Exercise & Sports Science practice to facilitate client’s health and performance goals.
4	Reflect on and evaluate own practicum performance to plan for future professional development needs as a graduate Accredited Exercise Scientist.
5	Create a professional portfolio of evidence that demonstrates competency to practice using the key criteria required for recognition as an Accredited Exercise Scientist.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA233 and CXA234 and CXA203 and ESP368

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Reflection and PD Plan	See the MyLO site for the due date	25 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Case Report	Week 11	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Record of Student Engagement and Competency	Week 12	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Practicum	Week 13	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Reflection and PD Plan

Task Description:

In the PebblePad workbook Reflections and PD Plan tab, you are required to critically reflect on your performance in professional practice and link your experiences to the attainment of the ESSA Professional Attributes (within the Professional Standards) for an Accredited Exercise Scientist.

Reflections are due at regular intervals throughout your placements, and you will detail your experiences and personal reflections across your internal and external placements, and describe the most impactful learning experiences (e.g. the most insightful "lightbulb moments!") while on placement.

Following critical self-reflection and your supervisor’s feedback, you will identify areas of strength as well as areas that require further improvement. In the final reflection entry, you will use this information to create a Professional Development (PD) Plan, which details how the gaps you identified in your skills and knowledge can be addressed with further development, including specific details of a course or training program that could be undertaken to address this area of your practice.

Task Length:

As per PebblePad template

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate own practice using structured self-reflection as a mechanism to improve performance and operate within individual and professional strengths and limitations.	LO4
2	Act on constructive feedback from peers, clinical supervisors and academics.	LO3
3	Identify performance gaps to design appropriate future learning goals and strategies in a plan for ongoing professional development.	LO4
4	Communicate in an engaging and professional manner.	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Case Report

Task Description:

The assessment task requires you to develop and record a video presentation of a case report based on a client from your practicum experiences. The video case report must involve undertaking a client consultation to set health and performance goals, and complete health and performance pre-post testing. The video case report must outline the approach to client communication and depict how an evidence-based decision-making approach was applied to the design of your intervention/treatment program that supports client health and behaviour change.

Task Length:

8 minute recorded video presentation

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate professionalism in verbal and written communication to plan, and deliver exercise, and to support health behaviour change.	LO1
2	Use a structured decision-making process to devise, and revise values-centred goals for a client.	LO2
3	Use evidence-based practice to inform clinical decision making to complete health and performance testing and implement a safe and effective program for changing health behaviour.	LO3
4	Critically reflect on practice to ensure actions are appropriate, timely, in scope and incorporate principles of risk identification and mitigation.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Record of Student Engagement and Competency

Task Description:

You will complete one Record of Student Engagement (RoSE) form for EVERY placement site. One (1) RoSE Form will cover all UTAS-based practicum experiences and one (1) RoSE form for each (where relevant) external industry placement. Hours entered on these forms should match your Timesheet (see PebblePad) totals for each site.

The RoSE form for each practicum site will summarise the activities and hours in ESSA-required categories (exercise assessment, prescription and delivery, clinical exercise delivery, and other), and includes a reflection on how the learning experiences contributed to development against the Professional Attributes required for accreditation as an Exercise Scientist. Daily hours/task logging and reflection tasks are designed to help you write your RoSE forms.

As part of the RoSE form, activities completed must be linked to evidence that explains and validates the achievement of competency across all behavioural, skill and knowledge areas of exercise science practice, making clear links from the evidence to the AES Professional Standards, and all Unit ILO’s.

Task Length:

Completed on ESSA template

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide a range of evidence for the activities undertaken and to exemplify attainment of the Exercise Science professional standards and Scope of Practice.	LO2
2	Describe client work and activities undertaken comprehensively, succinctly and logically, using appropriate discipline specific terminology.	LO1
3	Reflect on the outcome of workplace situations in terms of what you learned about yourself and your ability to handle/complete a specific situation/skill.	LO4
4	Provide evidence that demonstrates safety in practice that aligns with the needs of relevant clients.	LO3
5	Evidence provided is engaging and professionally presented, suitable for an employment portfolio.	LO5

Assessment Task 4: Practicum

Task Description:

This Assessment Task is pass/fail and is a Hurdle Tasks for this unit, to ensure quality completion of practicum competency evidence and to ensure your safety to practice in the community as an Accredited Exercise Scientist.

You will undertake a minimum of one (1) Internal/UTAS and one (1) External/Industry placement, accruing a minimum of 140 hours practicum experience. Placement activities must relate to Exercise Science Professional Standards and Scope of Practice, with a minimum of 80 hours that directly involve exercise assessment, prescription and/or delivery services. This is to ensure quality completion of practicum competency evidence and to ensure your safety to practice in the community.

Practicum Part 1 - PEP Learning Contract.
One (1) PEP Learning Contract must be submitted for each placement site including Internal UTAS and External Industry placements. The aim is to ensure shared agreement between you and your site supervisors on learning goals and placement schedules. Each contract must be signed by the site supervisor and completed using the provided template.

Practicum Part 2 - Competency Assessment.
During each placement, formal assessments of competency are completed by your Supervisors using an online form, at: the mid-point (Interim Assessment) and completion (Final Assessment) of each placement. Internal UTAS placement is assessed with a Final Assessment only, by qualified UTAS unit staff and external industry placements are assessed at Interim and Final timepoints by qualified Industry practicum supervisors. You will meet with your external industry supervisor to complete these assessments and gain feedback on your progress.

Task Length:

Part 1 - Submitted via MyLO using the provide PEP Learning Contract template Part 2 – Completed by Site Supervisor online via competency assessment template

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate safe and effective practice to enhance clients' exercise and sports performance.	LO3
2	Demonstrate awareness of own limitations and plan learning for ongoing professional development.	LO4
3	Demonstrate professional workplace behaviour, including professional communication and ethical and legal decision making.	LO1
4	Activities undertaken reflect the Exercise Science professional standards and Scope of Practice.	LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.