Core modules
EDU-40150 Issues in Inclusive Education (15 credits)
Inclusive education, and inclusion more generally, has been a hot topic for commentary and policy analysis in reaction to public outcry caused, for example, by segregated schooling, gender inequality and prejudice in the curriculum. For education, the desire for fairness and equity has seen mainstream education promoted for all pupils. As politicians and policy makers continue to publicly declare their commitment to inclusion and social justice, this module offers insights into the many different aspects of inclusive education and what it means for those expected to deliver it. We’ll examine the impact and consequences of major changes introduced, for example, in special educational needs education after the Warnock Report.
EDU-40138 Reflecting on Practice (30 credits)
Learning to habitually evaluate and reflect on your own practice is one of the best ways to build your confidence and increase your competency within the workplace. Going back over particular issues, research or data can improve your understanding, placing you in a better position to develop informed insights and perspectives on key philosophical, social cultural and political debates about education, for example, improvement of teacher standards or social justice in education. You will be introduced to a range of different theories and approaches to reflective practice, with more thoughtful reflection being posited as the key to reflective practice. You will be tasked with reflecting on an aspect of your practice, keeping an official observation log online, analysing and developing an action plan for future practice. Previous students have considered factors that affect their professional identity or their teaching and assessment practice.
EDU-40142 Global Education Issues (15 credits)
This module is designed to give you a greater understanding of current educational issues and deepen your knowledge of the expansion, origins, tensions, and challenges experienced in international education. Exploring the changing world of education in the context of social, political, economic and cultural globalisation, you will reflect on the ‘nature’ of international identity, both for teachers and students, and what ‘international’ means educationally in this context. For example, how education can help students develop as global citizens and understand their place in the world? What is a globalised education policy and where should you start in developing it?
EDU-40144 Research Methods (30 credits)
With an emphasis on qualitative and ethnographic perspectives, this module is designed to introduce you to research design, ethical approaches to research, negotiation of consent and involvement, and research methodology and methods in social sciences. It also enables you to identify the role that research methods play in the process of planning, undertaking and writing up research, and as such provides preparation and guidance for research projects, in particular dissertation projects. You will consider the ethical issues entailed in designing and conducting various forms of enquiry, such as narratives, participant observation, life histories, auto/biographies, case studies, interviews and more. For example, how research can be influenced, not only by your own attitudes or presence, but also by political and social contexts, such as economic developments in a given country.
EDU-40140 Education, Employment and Professional Identity (15 credits)
Deepening your understanding of the multi-dimensional role of education, this module explores the changing patterns and dynamic relationship between education and work. Analysing labour market changes and their impact on education, you will examine the social, cultural and economic contexts that shape educational and work institutions, from education reform and marketisation to demographic patterns. How do they affect people’s lives, identities and experiences of education and employment, their social relationships and sense of self? You’ll be introduced to a range of concepts and approaches, including: globalisation, post-industrial society, credentialism, human capital, gender and theories of self and identity.
EDU-40148 Global Citizenship Education (15 credits)
What role does education have in creating good citizens? What does it mean to be a citizen today? Both of these questions have long informed educational policy and practice in different ways across the world. Education is seen as key to creating a nation's loyal subjects, skilled workers, intelligentsia, political activists – helping, in short, to shape people's sense of their place and values in their country and community. But as the nature of the world has changed, you’ll discover that the citizenship role of education is changing too.
