Module Title:Learning from Work Placement

Module Code:LNSE018

Course outline

This module looks at work based learning, how it functions in a changing sector and the ethics of unpaid labour. You will research and investigate learning and career development in the individual sector of your placement, position your own placement in that spectrum and critically evaluate this positioning in relation to current debates. To do this you will need to critically assess your individual learning, research career entry and trajectories in your sector, analyse your experience and evaluate how generalizable or unique it is across the sector. As such this module will be personal to each student and requires constant self-reflection in relation to “expected norms” which is not always easy.

Teaching and Learning Methods

There are four sessions on a Monday from 6 – 8pm; three workshopsand an oral assessment on the final Monday. The workshops will introduce you to: the recent debates and changing practices around work based learning and their impacts on placements and internships in addition to the pedagogy of experiential learning. During the workshops you are expected to participate fully in the class debates, case studies, workshop exercises and prepare the out of class reading which will be posted on Moodle. You will also need to manage your own learning and reflection throughout your work experience in order to meet assessment deadlines.

Coursework and Assessment

Assessed component / Basic requirements / Weighting / Deadline
Critical analysis / Written report
A) 2000 word critical analysis of the work placement/ internship and how it functions in the sector today.
B) Short (approximately 5 minute) presentation reflecting on individual learning and experience in relation to the sector.
Additional guidance will be given in class and on Moodle.
Upload assignments to Moodle. / 60% / Usually Week 12
Usually Week 11
Work placement / Evaluation of practical placement / 40%

Suggested Reading

Carrot Workers Collective (2012). Surviving Internships: A Counter Guide to Free Labour in the Arts. London: Carrot Workers Collective. Available from: [accessed 2 May 2015].

Dudson, Alec. (2015). We need to talk about internships. Available from: [accessed 2 May 2015].

Eraut, M. (2004) ‘Informal Learning in the Workplace,’ Studies in Continuing Education 26(2) pp 247-274

Eraut, M. (2007) ‘Learning from other people in the workplace,’ Oxford Review of Education 33(4) pp 403-422

Hope, Sophie and Figiel, Joanna, (2012). Intern Culture: A Literature Review of Internship reports guidelines and toolkits from 2009-2011. London: Artquest. Available from: [accessed 2 May 2015].

Infed.org Web site that explores education, learning and community. It specializes in the theory and practice of informal education which includes experiential learning.

Internship.com (n.d). Ten benefits of internships. Available from: [accessed 2 May 2015]

Jacobs, Emma (2014). ‘No Pay? You must be joking!’ Financial Times Juns 23, 2014. Available from: [accessed 2 May 2015]

Kolb, D.A. (2014) Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development, 2nd Ed. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Parilla, Peter F., and Hesser, Garry W. (1998) ‘Internships and the Sociological Perspective: Applying Principles of Experiential Learning.’ Teaching Sociology 26(4): 310-329

Schon, D. 1983. The Reflective Practitioner: How professionals think in action. London: Temple Smith.