PHY0000	Communication and Key Skills	2013-14
	Dr M.K.M. Browning
Delivery Weeks:	T1:06
Level:	4 (NQF)
Credits:	not applicable NICATS / not applicable ECTS
Enrolment:	148 students (approx)

Description

This is the Communication and Key Skills component of the Physics practical laboratories (PHY1027 Practical Physics I and PHY1030 Practical Physics and IT Skills). It is run as a 3-day series of activity-based workshops in the Term 1 'Opportunities Week' of Stage 1. Each new activity is introduced by a course lecturer, who briefly describes the task and its relevance to the course. The activity is completed and then followed by a debriefing session in which the group's (or individual's, where appropriate) performance is reviewed. These include training for, and hands-on experience of, working as a team and a range of oral, written and inter-personal skills.

Module Aims

This component of the Physics practical laboratories aims to develop the effective communication skills Physics students need to complete many of their modules. After graduation, this need will intensify and communication and key skills often prove decisive in obtaining a job and in performing that job well.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

• Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
• Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
  1. critically read and understand a short scientific article and then deliver a concise, intelligible talk summarising its contents;
  2. keep a neat, accurate laboratory notebook describing a simple physics investigation;
• Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:
  3. successfully use the notebook as the basis for writing a condensed formal report;
  4. prepare an impressive CV and letter of application when job-hunting;
  5. operate effectively within a team in order to complete a major problem solving exercise.
  6. work in small and large teams i.e. to organise others and to delegate, to accept the direction of others.

Syllabus Plan

DAY 1

1. Introduction
   The importance of communication skills in the modern working environment.
2. Writing scientific reports and scientific record keeping
   In this role-playing exercise, you are working for a fictitious company which receives a special request from a potential customer. To meet the customer' request, a simple physics investigation must be carried out, in a team of 6. The exercise requires careful record keeping in a log-book, as you must then produce a condensed report which will impress your "customer".

DAY 2

1. How to write a CV and a letter of application.
   A talk presented by the university careers service, followed by a video, together give pointers for writing successful CV's and job applications. The importance of this as a communications exercise is emphasised.
2. An exercise in group decision making.
   In this role playing exercise, you are in a hypothetical life-or-death scenario, adrift in the North Sea following a helicopter crash. You must work against the clock to prioritise a list of items that may or may not prove crucial to your survival. Strong team work and the ability to resolve conflicts of opinion are vital skills here. You will have the opportunity to assess your performance against that of an expert.
3. Speaking to an audience.
   A short popular science article is used as the basis for you to produce a 10 minute talk, using visual aids. Your talk is then delivered to an audience comprising three of your peers and a postgraduate chairperson, who will give feedback on your performance.

DAY 3

1. Power for Pemang.
   This is a major problem solving exercise, devised by the Institute of Physics. In groups of 10 students play the role of energy consultants, invited to submit plans to modernise the energy generating infrastructure of a small island republic. Each team is completely self-reliant and must organise itself to produce, by the end of the day, a plan which is then presented to, and judged by, the 'Government' of Pemang. A prize is awarded for the winning proposal.

Learning and Teaching

Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Description	Study time	KIS type
3×1-day communications skills workshops	21 hours	SLT

Assessment

Weight	Form	Size	When	ILOS assessed	Feedback
30%	Perform a simple experiment and write a condensed report	1 day	Day 1	1,3	Written and verbal
10%	Write a CV and letter of application	2 hours	Day 2	4	Written and verbal
10%	Prepare a summary a scientific article and present it orally to an audience	2 hours	Day 2	2	Written and verbal
10%	Small-group decision-making exercise	2 hours	Day 2	5	Written and verbal
40%	Large-team exercise	1-day	Day 3	6	Written and verbal

Notes: A pass in this component is a programme requirement

Resources

The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of information that students are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Instructor(s).

Core text:

• Not applicable

Supplementary texts:

• Not applicable

ELE:

• http://newton.ex.ac.uk/redirects/ELE/phy0000

Further Information

Prior Knowledge Requirements

Pre-requisite Modules	N/A
Co-requisite Modules	N/A

Re-assessment

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Time scale for re-assessment
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Notes: Students whole fail to get an overall mark of 40% in this component will be requred to repeat it the following year.

KIS Data Summary

Learning activities and teaching methods SLT - scheduled learning & teaching activities 21 hrs GIS - guided independent study 0 hrs PLS - placement/study abroad 0 hrs Total 21 hrs

Summative assessment Coursework 0% Written exams 0% Practical exams 100% Total 100%

Miscellaneous

IoP Accreditation Checklist	XX-03 Working in groups and teams
Availability	Physics students only
Distance learning	NO
Keywords	Physics; Communication skills; Customer; Exercise; Group work; Key skills; Planning; Presentation skill; Record-keeping; Reporting; Team work.
Created	01-Oct-00
Revised	N/A