Module: Learning for Sport Professionals

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Learning for Sport Professionals
Module Code	SPO1048 (ITS: SS505)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Health & Human Performance
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

Students will examine the research and application of reflective practice, communities of practice and social learning in elite sport performance. As early-career professionals, the module builds on students’ ability of to work as reflective practitioners and focuses on evaluating and analysing their sport context through a range of standard and specialised reflective practice techniques. Students will explore theories and principles related to reflective practice, including reflective practice cycles and skills. To facilitate the development of the process of reflection and reflective learning, students will engage in writing reflective journals as one of the learning activities to provide evidence of understanding of content knowledge, reflection, professional judgment and application, but also enhance critical self-reflection and self-awareness. This is a pass/fail module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically appraise the role and application of reflective practice, mentoring and associated informal learning considerations for the professional development of self and others in their professional context.
2. Explore the concept of reflective practice and use this to begin to develop reflective practice techniques within their own professional context
3. Critically explore a range of learning theories and consider their impact on professional practice in their performance domain.
4. Analyse and evaluate the role of social learning and communities of practices in professional development
5. Apply critical thought and reflective practice and planning techniques to explore their professional practice, and synthesise and present this journey through oral and written means

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Assessment Feedback	40	Students will engage with online material via Loop including but not limited to webinars, online tasks, quizzes, and tutorials
Independent Study	120	Independent pursuit of relevant issues and ideas raised during the module. Participants will be expected to engage in reading and critical review of literature relevant to the module
Directed learning	40	Stimulus presentations and discussion, delivered online using blended learning formats, will be used to tease out possible contributing topics and test the student’s current levels of knowledge and experience with them. As their reading progresses, students may be directed towards relevant recent investigations in their own and parallel domains.
Assignment Completion	50	Students will individually complete a written assignment
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11606	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	PASS/FAIL	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Robin Taylor	Module Teacher	Stephen Behan

Section Breakdown
CRN	21369	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	PASS/FAIL	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Robin Taylor	Module Teacher	Stephen Behan

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Written Exam	As part of the module, students will maintain a reflective journal, and produce a written assignment examining their professional and research philosophy. This will also be used as the basis for identifying professional gaps in knowledge and experience and the student's own reflection on their progress. The indicative word count is 3000-5000 words	70%	n/a
Presentation	Using an oral presentation format, and demonstrating the quality of their reflective practice, students will present their life journey in their professional context	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The reflective concept
Students will explore the reflective process in sport settings and consider implementation within their own professional practice. Students will explore models of reflection and methods and strategies of reflective practice including methods of reflection, video reflection, reflective conversations and other reflective skills

Reflective Practice in sport contexts
The ability to engage in reflective practice is fundamental to competent professionals. Students will explore theories and principles related to reflective practice including reflective practice cycles and skills. To facilitate the development of the process of reflection and reflective learning, students will engage in writing reflective journals as one of the learning activities to provide evidence of understanding of content knowledge, reflection, professional judgment and application, but also enhance critical self-reflection and self-awareness.

Social learning and communities of practices in professional development
The importance, design of, and evidence for communities of practice, relationships, networks and critical friends in professional practice will be explored, alongside critical consideration of core learning theory and its application to professional practice.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Zoe Knowles, David Gilbourne, Brendan Cropley, Lindsey Dugdill: 2014, Reflective Practice in the Sport and Exercise Sciences Contemporary issues, Routledge, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None