Postgraduate Module Descriptor


EFPM286: Educational Issues, Policies and Practices - Flexible Study

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The specific focus of the module will be negotiated with the individuals and institutions undertaking the module. It will be supported by critical reading of relevant literature in research techniques and on the specific educational issue, policy and/or practice.

Professional practice:

  • Evaluation and critique of policy and academic texts and discourses;
  • Professional learning in collaborative communities;
  • Using research to manage and structure change;

Research skills:

  • Critical reflection and engagement;
  • Critical and systematic use of research techniques;
  • Ethical approaches to formulate solutions;
  • Communicating research in professional contexts;

Professional development:

  • Developing initiative in planning and decision making;
  • Implementing and communicating structure and change through research;
  • Working collaboratively in communities of enquiry;
  • Extending and advancing knowledge and understanding;
  • Developing critical, reflexive approaches to professional development.

This module is delivered through a combination of seminars, directed study tasks, tutorials, and group and independent study. The exact format of the taught sessions will be negotiated with the individuals and institution(s) undertaking the module. It is likely to include:

  • Lectures on techniques relevant to research on educational issues, policies and/or practices (ILO2; ILO5);
  • Seminars to provide knowledge and understanding of international research on a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice (ILO4);
  • Seminars and/or tutorials to support critical evaluation of, and engagement with, wider theories, policies and practices (ILO1; ILO6);
  • Seminars and/or tutorials to support critical reflection upon academic, professional and policy texts and to encourage collaboration, participation and presentation of information (ILO7; ILO8);
  • Seminar/tutorials will direct students to take initiative in working independently and collaboratively in tackling problems and formulating solutions that take account of ethical issues (ILO3);
  • Students will be encouraged to work collaboratively in developing documents and/or presentations built on research, personal knowledge and professional experience with a view to development and improvement (ILO7; ILO9); and
  • On line resources will also be available to support students’ learning.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
30570

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesMinimum 30Contact time - Tutorial support – available by email or Skype or (by arrangement) after the taught sessions. Because of the individualised nature of the module the distinction between contact time and tutorial time is hard tohard to maintain but a total of 30hrs of scheduled learning will be available.
Guided independent study Maximum 570The distribution of hours for directed study tasks, and group and independent study will be negotiated with the individuals and institutions undertaking the module. The guided independent study may take the form of group meetings, minute taking, reading literature, designing the task, collaboration both face to face and via internet, preparing draft reports, editing and revising reports, dissemination, designing and trialling resources etc. It is suggested that the time allocated is split into thirds, so one third of the time should be spent on reading and planning for the task, one third on doing the task eg. creating resources and trialing them and one third on dissemination, writing up and editing reports. These activities will be negotiated with the module tutor and the group

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Resources and discussion forum on ELE

Other Learning Resources

GSE Framework for Dialogue about Teaching