This module will help you apply ideas from your study to the sport or fitness environments. It will improve your effectiveness and awareness of professional issues in the workplace. It is aimed at health and fitness instructors, sports coaches, potential leisure managers and those supporting in voluntary sports clubs. You will develop reflective skills and a sound understanding of the key principles and values underlying leading and motivating people. These include interpersonal communication, instructional skills and customer care.
What you will study
This module is based on studying and developing the effectiveness of working in sport and fitness environments whether it is in a voluntary, part-time or paid role. The skills of work-based learning provide a stimulating link between degree study and working practice, with a chance to study issues that are particularly relevant to those instructing, coaching or leading others in a range of sport and fitness settings. The work-based study focuses your attention on questions such as ‘will this idea work in practice?’ And on a practical level, work-based study can lighten your study workload, as you can locate part of your learning in the work place.
The module has a different approach in that within each study theme described below there is the opportunity to identify which elements best apply to the work place and study these in more depth for your assessments. The five main study themes are:
- Encouraging and Maintaining Motivation – investigates how you and the people you interact with at work are motivated, and techniques that can be used to develop motivation
- Communicating Effectively –considers the elements of effective interpersonal communication skills and the different types of interaction between staff and customers in the workplace
- Leading People and Teams – evaluates the skills required to lead and influence people effectively in the workplace and the management of change
- Understanding and Enhancing Learning and Instruction – investigates the theory and practice of learning generally and specifically that of instructing physical skills
- You and Your Customers – identifies your customer segments, their expectations and how external communication with them can be most effective.
You will learn how to reflect and learn from work-based experiences, including observational and interview techniques.
This form of study is supported by a study guide, a website, a collection of topical readings and a DVD containing a range of related case studies. Most of the study guide is in print, but part is online. The online guide will direct you to electronic materials and work-related activities. This will be underpinned by tuition that will include active involvement with your tutor and access to online forums with a community of sport and fitness peers. The assessment of this module focuses on your learning and reflection of your practice.
Vocational relevance
This module is aimed at people involved in sport and fitness environments who are aiming to develop their skills and/or career in this area. It forms fifty per cent of the Certificate of Higher Education in Sport, Fitness and Management, and twenty-five per cent of the Foundation Degree in Sport and Fitness.
The module is suitable for those working in appropriate settings throughout the UK. Students in Scotland may wish to consider linking to the Diploma of Higher Education in Sport and Fitness.
After using work-based learning on this module the general insights to the sector and greater self-awareness and communication skills will make you more employable. Other instructional qualifications may be needed for those wishing to instruct or coach professionally such as those required in the OU level 2 work-based modules of the foundation degree: Making your coaching certificate count (EXC224) and Making your exercise instruction certificate count (EXF224).
Entry
This is a key introductory OU level 1 module. OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you to progress to modules at OU level 2.
There are no academic entry requirements. The module is a broad introduction to working and learning in sport and fitness settings, and no assumptions are made about the knowledge or education you bring to it.
You don’t need experience of working in the sector prior to starting your studies. But you will find the module and the assignments much easier and more fulfilling if you can draw on your own experiences in sport and fitness environments during your study.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Preparatory work
There are no formal qualification requirements for students joining the module. However, if you have no prior experience of higher education, or if you have not studied for some time, we would strongly advise you to make use of the OU’s wide range of introductory modules and packs.
Before studying E113 you may find it beneficial to study Introduction to sport and fitness (E117) which is planned for October 2017, or have studied Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112) which is now discontinued. This is not essential as these modules can be studied in either order.
Qualifications
E113 is a compulsory module in our:
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability
The module makes significant use of audio and video materials that are made available to students on DVD. These can be played on either a standard DVD player or a personal computer with a DVD drive.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.
Study materials
What's included
A study guide, module reader, DVD, an online assessment guide and study planner, and a website.
You will need
Either a domestic DVD player or a computer with a DVD drive.
Although it is not essential, we recommend that you have a broadband internet connection for this module in order to get the most out of the website activities and to participate in online tutorials.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your assignments, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. Contact with your tutor will be through the following methods:
- online tutorials, which we strongly encourage you to participate in since most students find these extremely useful
- online forum (email conference) within your tutor group
- personal email or telephone.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Future availability
The details given here are for the module that starts in October 2017. This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.