This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of development during the life course, with a particular focus on child and young person development. You will explore a variety of research and literature relevant to aspects of human development. You will also examine the influence of wider environmental factors such as poverty and also the role of the family and how these can affect the lives of children and young people. As part of your learning you will gain knowledge of societal and political factors, such as race, class, culture and gender and how these can impact on the ways children and young people live and learn in different communities.
In this module you will consider key policies in pre-school, compulsory and post-compulsory education in England. You will also explore a range of historical and contemporary issues and approaches which affect Education Studies, both nationally and internationally. As part of your learning you will have the opportunity to consider different educational settings and the role of education in creating a socially just society. This will include considering if education promotes social justice for all children and pupils in accessing an equal education or does this create inequalities for children and pupils.
In this module you will be introduced to the field of comparative education and develop your knowledge of different education systems in Europe. You will also evaluate and interpret comparative education theories and concepts and relate this to the England and other European countries. As part of your learning you will have the opportunity to assess some of the key aspects of different education systems and make some judgements about influencing factors such as policy, culture and curriculum. You will explore the benefits and challenges of comparing education systems and consider the relationships between education in England and other European countries.
In this module you will be able to develop your knowledge and understanding of the factors which shape practice in schools, colleges and universities in the 21st Century. Through studying this module, you will be introduced to key concepts and theories in education studies and will reflect on how these relate to the challenges and opportunities experienced by current educational institutions and staff. These challenges and opportunities include, active learning, social media and technology, assessment and testing, the structure of the curriculum and teacher retention.
This module introduces you to a range of theoretical concepts to explore what ‘childhood’ means in modern society. By exploring the interactions between children, young people, families and society, you will consider how the concept of ‘family’, and family practices, are shaped by wider social influences and social policy. In this module you will also explore the the ways in which a family is seen as a ‘haven’, and children as ‘happy and innocent’, match the reality of children and young people’s lives. You will engage with issues that focus on living in a society where diversity and inclusion are key to community harmony and how social policy interventions can affect life chances.
As part of your learning on this module you will be introduced to current debates around safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will be encouraged to explore how policy, legislation and research evidence inform safeguarding practice. You will also consider the roles and responsibilities of all professionals to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults, and as part of this you will be encouraged to reflect on how professionals need to work together. You will explore how risk is managed and how families are supported by multi-agency teams, to ensure the well-being of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.
This module offers you the opportunity to learn about child and youth provision and support from an international perspective. You will have the opportunity to critically compare provision currently offered in the United Kingdom and globally. You will appraise reasons for the diverse approaches adopted in different countries from social and cultural perspectives. You will also be able to critically analyse government policy, curriculum ideologies, professional training and evaluate provision in relation to theories, research evidence and national guidelines/standards.
This module is the culmination your study and practice building upon your learning at level 4 and level 5 and provides you with the opportunity to develop your expertise and independent research skills in an area of your choice. This module builds on the proposal you developed for the module Becoming a Researcher that you studied at level 5. For this module you will develop your proposal into a research dissertation in collaboration with a supervisor you will be given. The Dissertation will involve you drawing on a wide range of literature and research to develop a critical review of previous theories, concepts and research around your chosen subject area. You will also have the opportunity to explore research methodology and methods that you can draw upon to develop your own research design. You will have the choice to undertake primary research or secondary research for your data collection to provide you with the opportunity to analyse key findings and reflect on what you have learnt.
In this module you will be able to learn about the aims of comparative education and appraise the education systems of other countries globally. You will examine and compare educational theories and practices in countries as diverse as Japan, Germany, Finland and the USA. When comparing differences you be able to critically understand the relationship between education and society in terms of economic, social, cultural and political factors. As part of your learning you will have the opportunity to identify aspects that could be used for improvement of education in the UK, such as teaching practices, the role of the adult and the use of learning environments. You will also be able to evaluate the benefits and challenges of policy borrowing in terms of the development of global educational policy.
The module aims to introduce you to issues in relation to learning and teaching in challenging educational settings. You will give particular attention to ‘challenging’ and 'effective' urban schools as well as critically evaluating improvement strategies that enhance academic achievement in a range of contexts. You will be encouraged to analyse the role of learners, educators, school leaders and other stakeholders such as the local community; as well as the impact of external factors such as the environment, educational policy, poverty and socio economically disadvantaged communities.
Within this module you will explore the ways in which early childhood professionals make provision for play and playful approaches to learning and teaching, how they design play/learning environments, and all the pedagogical decisions, techniques and strategies they use to support or enhance learning and teaching through play. You will also be able to enhance your understanding of critical issues on play pedagogy in theory and in practice by drawing on research and literature that focuses on different types of play, different aspects of play behaviours, child-centred play, and interactions in communities or groups of players. You will also have the opportunity to critically reflect on your own role as an early childhood practitioner in planning for play, using playful pedagogical approaches in adult- and child-initiated activities, and engaging with children on their terms and with respect for their meanings.
This module gives you the opportunity to critically explore perspectives on the processes of learning and teaching. You will be encouraged to develop your critical understanding of the nature and impact of factors on the learning and teaching process. This includes, meeting the individual needs of diverse learners, the classroom environment, social and emotional resilience and global and national educational theory and policy. It also enables you to connect current research perspectives on learning and teaching with the realities of day-day classroom practices.
In this module you will explore a range of theories and concepts in relation to how inequalities are constructed in society. Throughout the module you will be encouraged to critically discuss the ways in which different social groups are represented within society, for example, through the mass media and government policy and how they are often marginalised and oppressed as a result of their portrayal in society. You will critically examine how inequalities can be challenged when developing provision to meet the needs of children, young people and families from a multi-agency perspective. You will also appraise the potential challenges that practitioners in multi-agency teams can encounter when working with excluded and marginalised children, young people and their families.