15 Presentation - A Suggested Structure
The following provides an indicative word count for each section of the presentation, and suggestions as to how you might include background reading in your presentation.
15.1 The Philosophy, Purpose, and Aims of the Placement Organisation
You may wish to consider some of the following questions:
What are the objectives of the organisation?
What is it there for?
Who does it work with?
How do you know these things? Are they clear?
How do the organisation’s activities fit within the broader political/social/cultural context?
From your experience, how well is the agency achieving these objectives?
Is there a gap between its purposes and aims in theory and in practice?
Literature/References
Literature from the placement organisation, for example their strategic plan
Web information, for example the organisation’s website
Literature from other groups, for example professional bodies or government
Discussion with staff within the organisation
Discussion with clients/participants
Personal reflection
15.2 Managerial Policies and Management Structure
You may wish to consider some of the following questions:
How is the organisation structured and managed?
What is the ‘chain of command’?
Who does the organisation ‘answer to’? Do they have external funders, or are they part of a larger organisation?
How is the performance of staff managed? Are there clear policies on how good performance is rewarded?
How does the organisation sustain its funding? Are there challenges around this?
What are your own views on the organisation and management aspects of the organisation? Did you observe anything that you thought was notable?
Literature/References
Literature from the placement organisation
Library sources on organisational management, especially relating to the educational, voluntary/3rd and charitable sectors
Discussion with staff within the organisation
Personal reflection
15.3 Discussion of the Placement and University Experience
You may wish to consider some of the following questions:
In what ways did the placement experience allow you to use the knowledge you have gained through your university course?
Did you face challenges/questions/tasks for which you felt unprepared?
Could you share the knowledge and expertise gained through your university study with staff and/or clients in the organisation?
How will your experience on placement influence your future study?
Literature/References
Personal reflection
Discussion and review with agency staff
15.4 Evaluation of Professional Practice
You may wish to consider some of the following questions:
What strengths did you show during placement? How do you know this?
What weaknesses did you show during placement? How do you know this, and what (if anything) will you do to address these?
How will your experience on placement influence your future career aspirations/plans?
Literature/References
Mid-placement review
Discussions with staff in the organisation
Personal reflection
Literature relating to initial and continuing professional development