SCI20030 Community, Volunteering & Lead

Academic Year 2023/2024

This community-based learning module provides students with an opportunity to reflect in a
structured way on their learning from volunteering and community experience(s). Students
should have prior and ongoing experience of volunteering.
Core topics include leadership, project management, the nature of community, the role of
volunteering, and the interlinking of these areas. Students will consider these themes and
topics with reference to their own community participation.
Students will be guided to develop a portfolio to document their volunteering and
community experience, reflect on key learning from this experience, and consider how this
has helped form personal and professional values and competences (e.g., communication,
negotiation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills).
Students will have an opportunity to learn about themselves as learners, engage their
critical thinking and broaden their social awareness.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Discuss the role of volunteers in Irish society
Outline some of the key challenges facing practitioners and volunteers working in community settings
Express opinions/ideas about social responsibility
Propose ideas for managing and leading community projects
Articulate how their own their experience in a community and/or volunteer setting has contributed to their personal and professional development

2
Compile a personal portfolio with evidence of their community participation and a
reflective commentary on the process and outcomes of that learning experience

Indicative Module Content:

Core topics include the nature of leadership, persuasion techniques, decision making, time management, approaches to volunteering, role of volunteering in society

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

15
Practical

40
Specified Learning Activities

15
Placement/Work Experience

50
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, active learning via in class discussions, guest lectures;reflective writing 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Pre-Requisite: To complete this module students must be able to reflect on 50 hours of recent or ongoing volunteering experience with a recognised and approved organisation. Students must be able to document this involvement and will be required to ask an employee of the organisation to complete an Evidence of Volunteering and Involvement Statement. The volunteer work must be unpaid. Students should have completed Garda vetting, if required, with the organisation where they volunteer.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
SOC30460 - Applied Sociology, SOC30540 - Applied Sociology


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: Reflective writing on relevant issues and volunteering experience in response to specific questions that are posted weekly. Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

80
Assignment: Written and validated record of volunteering experience, including a poster that summarizes key aspects and learnings from your volunteering experience Unspecified n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students are encouraged and welcome to ask for feedback on their submissions during the trimester.

Name Role
Mrs Niamh Byrne McKenna Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Theresa O'Leary Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Spring