College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Educational Issues, Policies and Practices - Flexible Study
Module EFPM286 for 2019/0
Module EFPM286 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
EFPM286: Educational Issues, Policies and Practices - Flexible Study
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to develop:
- systematic understanding and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights relating to a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice;
- comprehensive understanding of techniques relevant to research on a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice;
- critical evaluation of current research on a given educational issue, policy and/or practice; and
- initiative, self-direction and originality in tackling problems and new insights relating to a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. engage critically with a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice, drawing on wider theories, policies and practices 2. undertake systematic research and analysis of a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice, and to use the outcomes to manage and structure change 3. demonstrate critical awareness of, and ability to manage, ethical issues and work collaboratively to formulate solutions |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. demonstrate a critical understanding of international research on a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice 5. demonstrate a systematic understanding of how to investigate a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice in a professional context 6. critique and reflect upon a specific educational issue, policy and/or practice with a view to improvement |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. study independently and collaboratively, to participate in group discussions, and to present research and information to peers 8. reflect critically upon academic, professional and policy texts 9. use research, personal knowledge and professional experience of a given educational issue, policy and/or practice with a view to development and improvement |
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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 570 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Minimum 30 | Contact 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 570 | The 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
