Unit 3: Professional Practice

Introduction
The need to be effective as a communicator, critical thinker, analyser, team worker
and interpreter is essential. Within the workplace these skills are needed on a daily
basis to show proficiency in designated tasks as part of a job role. The development of
academic competence, and also the continuation of life-long learning and Continuing
Professional Development (CPD), is required to ensure that individuals have a valued
set of interpersonal skills that can be applied to any situation or environment.
This unit provides a foundation for good practice in a variety of contexts. The ability to
communicate effectively using different tools and mediums will ensure that practical,
research, design, reporting and presentation tasks are undertaken professionally and
in accordance with various communication conventions. In everyday life the ability to
apply critical reasoning and solve problems are necessary skills to enable task
resolution and facilitate effective decision-making. Working with others in a group
environment academically or within the workplace is an integral part of everyday life.
Therefore, understanding the dynamics of teams in terms of culture, roles and
responsibilities will ensure that there is a better understanding and awareness of the
importance and value of teamwork. Continuing professional development, self-
improvement and working towards various goals is an area that is encouraged in the
workplace through the appraisals framework. In addition, professional development
extends into higher levels of learning and the need to demonstrate effective research
skills and academic reporting skills is also required.
Among the topics included in this unit are: the development of communication skills
and communication literacy; the use of qualitative and quantitative data to
demonstrate analysis, reasoning and critical thinking; and tasks that require the
integration of others within a team-based scenario and planning and problem-solving.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate leadership
skills through the dynamics of team working, and through reflective practice be able
to evaluate the contributions made as an individual and also of others. As a result
they will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis,
reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and
developing academic competence.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable communication skills to
a target audience.
LO2 Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of problem-solving scenarios.
LO3 Discuss the importance and dynamics of working within a team and the impact
of team working in different environments.
LO4 Examine the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its role
within the workplace and for higher level learning.
Essential Content

LO1 Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable communication

skills to a target audience

Effective communication:
Verbal and non-verbal e.g. awareness and use of body language, openness and
responsiveness, formal and informal dialogue and feedback to a range of
different stakeholders; academic report writing; use of IT to enhance
communication; use of source information to undertake research.
Interpersonal skills:
Soft skills e.g. personal effectiveness, working with others, use of initiative,
negotiating skills, assertiveness skills and social skills.
Time management skills:
Prioritising workloads; setting objectives; using time effectively; making and
keeping appointments; planning and scheduling tasks and activities.

LO2 Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of problem-solving

scenarios

Specification of the problem:

Definition of the problem; analysis and clarification.
Identification of possible outcomes:
Identification and assessment of various alternative outcomes.
Tools and methods:
Use of problem-solving methods and tools.
Plan and implement:
Sources of information; solution methodologies; selection and implementation
of the best corrective action e.g. timescale, stages, resources, critical path
analysis.
Evaluation:
Evaluation of whether the problem was solved or not; measurement of solution
against specification and desired outcomes; sustainability.
LO3 Discuss the importance and dynamics of working within a team and the
impact of team working in different environments

Working with others:

Nature and dynamics of team and group work; informal and formal settings;
purpose of teams and groups e.g. long-term corporate objectives/strategy;
problem-solving and short-term development projects; flexibility/adaptability;
team player.
Teams and team building:
Selecting team members e.g. specialist roles, skill and style/approach mixes;
identification of team/work group roles; stages in team development e.g. team
building, identity, loyalty, commitment to shared beliefs, team health evaluation;
action planning; monitoring and feedback; coaching skills; ethics; effective
leadership skills e.g. setting direction, setting standards, motivating, innovative,
responsive, effective communicator, reliability, consistency.

LO4 Examine the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its
role within the workplace and for higher level learning

Responsibilities:
Own responsibilities e.g. personal responsibility, direct and indirect relationships
and adaptability, decision-making processes and skills, ability to learn and
develop within the work role; other e.g. employment legislation, ethics,
employment rights and responsibilities.
Performance objectives:
Setting and monitoring performance objectives, measurement tools for success
and achievement.
Continuing Professional Development: lifelong learning, training and
development, personal development, professional development.
Evidence criteria:
Production data, personnel data, judgemental data; rating methods e.g. ranking,
paired comparison, checklist, management by objectives; skills audit (personal
profile using appropriate self-assessment tools); evaluating self-management;
personal and interpersonal skills.
Motivation and performance:
Application and appraisal of motivational theories and techniques, rewards and
incentives; manager’s role; self-motivational factors.
Development plan:
Current performance; future needs; opportunities and threats to career
progression; aims and objectives; achievement dates; review dates; learning
programme/activities; action plans; personal development plans.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable
communication skills to a target audience
P1 Demonstrate, using M1 Design a professional D1 Evaluate the
different communication schedule to support the effectiveness and
styles and formats, that planning of an event, to application of interpersonal
you can effectively design include contingencies and skills during the design and
and deliver a training event justifications of time allocated. delivery of a training event.
for a given target audience.
P2 Demonstrate that you
have used effective time
management skills in
planning an event.
LO2 Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of
problem-solving scenarios
P3 Demonstrate the use of M2 Research the use of D2 Critique the process of
different problem-solving different problem-solving applying critical reasoning to
techniques in the design techniques used in the design a given task/activity or
and delivery of an event. and delivery of an event. event.
P4 Demonstrate that M3 Justify the use and
critical reasoning has been application of a range of
applied to a given solution. solution methodologies.
 Pass Merit Distinction
LO3 Discuss the importance and dynamics of working
within a team and the impact of team working in different
environments
P5 Discuss the importance M4 Analyse team dynamics,
of team dynamics in the in terms of the roles group D3 Provide a critical
success and/or failure of members play in a team and evaluation of your own
group work. the effectiveness in terms of role and contribution to a
achieving shared goals. group scenario.
P6 Work within a team to
achieve a defined goal.
LO4 Examine the need for Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) and its role within the workplace and
for higher level learning
P7 Discuss the importance M5 Compare and contrast D4 Evaluate a range of
of CPD and its contribution different motivational evidence criteria that is
to own learning. theories and the impact they used as a measure for
can have on performance effective CPD.
P8 Produce a development
within the workplace.
plan that outlines
responsibilities,
performance objectives
and required skills,
knowledge and learning
for own future goals.
Recommended Resources

Textbooks
Cottrell, S. (2001) Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument.
2nd Ed. Palgrave Macmillan.
Forde, C. (2006) Professional Development, Reflection and Enquiry. Sage Publications.
Megginson, D. and Whitaker, V. (2007) Continuing Professional Development. 2nd Ed.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Winstanley, D. (2005) Personal Effectiveness: A guide to action. Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development.

Journals
Journal of Group Dynamics
Professional Development in Education

Websites
www.thinkwatson.com Critical Thinking Resources
“Critical Thinking Correlation Studies” (Research)
ipda.org.uk International Professional Development Association
(General Reference)