Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Institute of Internal Communication: Foundation Diploma of Proficiency in Internal Communication This schedule is part of the Partnership Agreement which covers the accreditation of the above, whereby: Delivery and assessment will be provided by the IoIC Accreditation will be provided by SSU SSU will monitor processes and standards SSU will provide the IoIC with award of credit certification for its successful students CREDIT POINTS: 30 UNIT CODE:CCA415 FHEQ LEVEL: 4 PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL: Communications and Marketing UNIT DESIGNATION: Standalone Professional Development, delivered by IoIC Link tutor: Sally Holland Date last modified: March 2016 Unit delivery model: WBL Max & Min Student No.: Min 5 per group. Max. 10 TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD This accreditation programme is almost exclusively work-based. Students initially attend an immersion day led by the IoIC. Work towards the unit is then carried out by students in their own workplace fully supported by the IoIC, who may be contacted at any time for support, an IoIC mentor and a specified line manager from the student’s own workplace. Distance learning is available electronically, as are detailed learning resources in the student area of the IoIC website. The work-based nature of the programme and its explicit relevance to the role of the internal communication practitioner means that almost all of the day-to-day work of students provides opportunity for learning and development relevant to the programme. PREREQUISITES AND CO-REQUISITES: None Students enrolling on the Foundation Diploma are likely to be relatively new to the internal communication arena and could be working as an assistant or junior member of the team. UNIT DESCRIPTION This accreditation programme is designed for practitioners in internal communications. In studying this programme, students will develop the foundation knowledge and skills that they need to become a proficient practitioner in internal communications. The programme provides a framework within which students learn, practise, reflect on and improve techniques for communicating effectively with key audiences for internal communication including colleagues, internal and external clients and suppliers. The programme is delivered in the workplace with students required to pro-actively access learning from a variety of sources including an industry mentor, their line manager, colleagues and IoIC professionals. A key element of the programme is a varied and thorough assessment strategy which balances the student’s ability to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in an evidence based portfolio with an industry based practical project which mimics the typical workplace demands of an internal communications role. LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of the accreditation programme, students should be able to: Knowledge and Understanding K1 Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the internal communications professional K2 Show evidence of understanding how audience, message and medium will influence choice of internal communication styles K3 Demonstrate in context with their own work place practice an understanding of ethical & legal issues in relation to internal communication Cognitive Skills C1 Use different communication channels appropriately to achieve stated purposes Practical and Professional Skills P1 Research information accurately for dissemination to an internal audience P2 Support colleagues in delivering a specific communication campaign Transferable and Key Skills T1 Write accurate, simple communications for a variety of channels using plain English and correct grammar AREAS OF STUDY The accreditation programme will cover the following topics: What is internal communication? Communication channels Different audiences Photography and illustration Design Meetings Legal issues Communication ethics Interviewing skills Writing skills Editing skills Proof reading Research Planning Team working Interpersonal communication Working effectively with internal and /or external clients and suppliers Professional Development LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY This programme is delivered almost entirely in the workplace. In completing the programme students will develop knowledge, skills and informed practice which is integral to their day to day work place role. The programme starts with an immersion day which prepares students for the unit assessments and introduces them to required areas of learning. Over the course of the programme, students study defined practical topics seeking advice and support from their industry mentor, their line manager, and the IoIC training partner. Where possible the student’s line manager will provide practical support on their day-to-day learning, further support can also be obtained from the industry mentor. The IoIC acts as the definitive source for queries, as well as providing the students’ with staged formative feedback opportunities. The learning journey is structured by the assessment. The evidence portfolio requires students to evidence a particularly broad range of practice and knowledge which means that almost all areas of their day to day work will generate learning opportunities for students. The understanding and application of the work-based practice is then further developed through the industry based practical project. The exam and interview acts as the final part of the learning journey, where the students evidence their industry skills under time constraints and in front of a panel of industry experts. To further support the learning, students have access to distance learning materials and resources such as journal articles and exemplar material through the student area of the IoIC website. ASSESSMENT STRATEGY There are three elements to the assessment strategy for this unit: 1. An evidence portfolio in which students provide evidence of learning and competence in relation to defined topics. The evidence portfolio also has a reflective element where students reflect on the application of theory to their work place learning. 2. An industry based practical project. As part of the assessment the student will conduct a telephone briefing with a member of the IoIC, to facilitate a line management briefing, to present their project and proposed communication plan. 3. An exam and interview with industry panel which focuses on the assessment of skills relevant to the internal communications professional. Taken as a whole the assessments provide the opportunity to judge the student’s competence as well as their learning, particularly as they are asked to reflect on their learning experiences as part of the evidence portfolio. Students are required to use evidence of real work for their evidence portfolio which emphasises the relevance of their learning and provides an economic way of demonstrating their knowledge, skills and experience. The industry project is particularly used to assess students’ oral communication, interviewing and questioning skills. Formative feedback on the evidence file and the industry based practical project is available from both the student’s line manager, industry mentor and the IoIC’s training partner. In addition, students can submit practice exam papers to the IoIC for formative feedback. Exemplars of previous exam papers are available on the student area of the IoIC website. The exam is an appropriate method of assessment for skills and knowledge associated with this unit as internal communications practitioners are often required to write, proof read and edit to high standards under considerable time pressure. ASSESSMENT AE1 weighting: assessment type: length/duration: anonymous marking: AE2 weighting: assessment type: length/duration: 34% An evidence portfolio 5000 words No 33% An industry based practical project 2500 words AE3 anonymous marking: No weighting: assessment type: length/duration: 33% Exam and interview 2.5 hours, to include 15 minute interview with industry panel No anonymous marking: Aggregation of marks The delivery of the PDU is run by the IoIC. All three pieces of assessment are aggregated to produce an overall unit mark (pass mark for the unit 60% or above). A lower percentage pass mark is considered inappropriate, as passing the accreditation programme, provides students with an industry recognised qualification where standards below 60% would not be acceptable. Passing the PDU, gives the student industry recognition that they are capable of operating within Internal Communication, at a good level of professional competence. Re-assessment Rules Referral will be required when the aggregated unit mark of 60% is not achieved. In the case of referral for AE1 the evidence portfolio and AE2 the industry based practical project, students will be required to re-write and resubmit, taking into account feedback they have received from the IoIC. Students will be asked to submit the original assessment for comparison purposes. Referral for AE3, the exam, a new paper and interview will be conducted at the next convenient interview and exam date. INDICATIVE READING – see attached indicative list Bivins, T. (2008) Public relations writing: the essentials of style and format 6th edition London McGraw-Hill Gebauer, J & Lowman, D (2008) Closing the Engagement Gap, How Great Companies Unlock Employee Potential for Superior Results New York: Portfolio Hargie, O & Tourish, D (2009) Auditing Organisational Communication: A Handbook of Research, Theory and Practice London: Routledge Moon, J (2004) A Handbook of Reflective & Experiential Learning: Theory & Practice, London: Routledge Falmer Moore, R., Maye C., and Collins, E. (2011) Advertising and Public Relations Law, London: Routledge Parsons, P (2008) Ethics in Public Relations A Guide to Best Practice, London: Kogan Page Quirke, B (2008) Making the connections: using internal communication to turn strategy into action Farnham: Gower Publishing Ltd Wright, M (2009) Gower Handbook of Internal Communication Farnham: Gower Publishing Ltd Unit Author: Sally Holland Date of version: March 2016.