Postgraduate Module Descriptor


EDUM064: Secondary Subject and Curriculum Studies (School Direct)

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The module introduces you to current thinking in Subject and Curriculum Studies in the context of teaching in your chosen Secondary subject in a school in England. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that key elements of the module will include:

  • A subject knowledge audit at the start of the course linked to action planning for development of your subject and curriculum knowledge;
  • Online learning resources including recorded lectures that will introduce you to topics relevant to your developing practice in the classroom, for example: behaviour management; pedagogy for teaching English as an Additional Language; working with Teaching Assistants; out of school learning; and working with other agencies.
  • Directed tasks related to the content of the module and linked to your professional practice in school; and
  • Seminars which create opportunities for you to explore, consolidate and deepen your understanding of these topics.

On the PGCE School Direct, you will learn and reflect on the skills and knowledge required by the programme’s credit-bearing and non-credit bearing modules throughout the year. You will need to think about the modules in relation to each other. To facilitate this, the learning and teaching activities and guided independent study described below are scheduled to occur across all three terms both in the context of your university taught course and in the context of your applied professional experience in schools.

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
782220

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities10Completion of subject knowledge audits and writing action plans for development of subject and curriculum knowledge
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities48Interaction with online resources posted for the module in ELE that will include reading selected literature, accessing video clips and listening to recorded lectures
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities30Online seminars and follow up seminar activities
Guided Independent Study40Completion of directed tasks related to module content
Guided Independent Study172Independent reading and reflection, classroom observation and teaching experience while on placement in school

Online Resources

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

See School Direct Subject & Curriculum Studies course in ELE (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/)