Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM913: Debating the Big Questions in Education

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

Module Aims

The principal aims of this module are:

To enable you to critically explore a range of contemporary debates in the field of education
To introduce you to a range of varying viewpoints which might be proffered in debates on these contemporary issues
To encourage you to critically assess the issues in light of your own educational experiences, research interests or relevant professional expertise
To allow you the opportunity to actively engage in these debates with others and to develop considered statements (drawing on relevant theoretical perspectives, empirical research, policy and practice) on these issues over the course of study

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate ability to identify, effectively explain and critically evaluate key issues in education 2. Demonstrate ability to derive sound, theorized conclusions on a selected number of big issues that are debated within education
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate ability to select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively, orally and in writing, relevant theoretical arguments relating to education 4. Critically reflect upon and evaluate your own (and others) understandings of current issues and debates in education
Personal and Key Skills	5. Communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline 6. Undertake both directed and independent study to recognise, justify and analyse key ideas in the literature and relate these to research, theory, policy and practice

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	1500 words	1-5	Written and oral tutor feedback (academic tutorial)

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
80	0	20

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Literature review	80	5000 words	1,2,3,6	Written tutor feedback
Individual presentation	15	1000 words	1,2,3,5	Written tutor feedback
Class participation in seminar debate activities	5	275 words	1-5	Written tutor feedback

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Literature review	Literature review (5000 words)	1,2,3,6	6 weeks
Individual presentation	Recorded presentation	1,2,3,5	6 weeks

Re-assessment notes

Class participation in seminar debate activities will not be reassessed as this activity will take place within taught session time. Presentations will be required as audio recordings owing to the main assessment session occurring within term time.