Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM918: Reflecting on Educational Practices

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

Module Aims

  • To support and develop your skills as a critically reflective and professional observer
  • To provide experience as a means of supporting the development of knowledge and skills in practice
  • To critically explore and problematise the issues and challenges professionals face in real-life education settings
  • To enrich your existing experience of professional settings and your understanding of the places where education might take place
  • To develop your understanding of experiential learning and what it means to learn through reflection
  • To develop employment related skills which will prepare you for future work in the field

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 Skills1. Gather relevant practical data and critically analyse it for purposes of reflection;
2. Demonstrate ethical professional practices;
3. Critically reflect on your experience and observations and develop a comprehensive and sophisticated argument about what you learnt in relation to theory and policy;
4. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of: key themes in education practice; areas of interest to you; and their enactment.
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Construct organised, structured, critically reflective and analytic writing;
6. Critically engage with relevant sources of literature and current debates in education;
7. Reflect on and problematise theory, practice and/or policy with regards to experiences of educational practices.
Personal and Key Skills8. Demonstrate independent learning, self-management and organisation;
9. Critically reflect on your experiences of educational practices and discuss the implications for future practice;
10. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills.

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Bassot, B. (2015) The Reflective Practice Guide. London: Routledge

Brookfield, S. (1994) ‘Tales from the dark side: a phenomenology of adult critical reflection’, International Journal of Lifelong Education, 13 (3) pp.203-216. doi: 10.1080/0260137940130303

Crebert*, G., Bates, M., Bell, B., Patrick, C.J. and Cragnolini, V., (2004). Developing generic skills at university, during work placement and in employment: graduates' perceptions. Higher Education Research & Development, 23 (2), pp.147-165.

*Kara, H. (2015). Creative research methods in the social sciences: A practical guide. Policy Press.

Kolb, D. (1984), ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development.’ PHI..

*Moon, J., (2006), Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development, Routledge. 

Owen, S.M. and Stupans, I., (2009). Experiential placements and scaffolding for reflection. Learning in Health and Social Care, 8 (4), pp.272-281.