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Department of Education, Unit Catalogue 2007/08


ED30252 Education and professional studies (EPS H)

Credits: 12
Level: Honours
Academic Year
Assessment: CW 100%
Requisites:
Aims: The Education and Professional Studies (EPS) Programme unit is an essential component of training to become a teacher. Teachers are part of a large team dedicated not only to developing children's subject knowledge but also to their development as people. Students will acquire:
* Understanding and knowledge and professional/practical skills that provides the foundation for their own professional development throughout their careers;
* Understanding and knowledge that broadens their perspectives of education beyond a subject focus and to give some structured insights into the holistic nature of life in schools;
* The skills to draw critically on relevant professional and academic literature and of reflection and synthesis relating to personal professional development;
* An awareness of ethical issues in current areas of study and the ability to discuss these in relation to personal beliefs and values.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
* Know about (and have worked within) the statutory frameworks relating to teachers' responsibilities;
* Have gained an enhanced awareness of key professional issues that face schools in an ever changing climate and how these impact on the work of teachers and other professionals and para-professionals;
* Know how schools organise and manage the welfare of their pupils through involvement in pastoral systems;
* Know about the contribution that support staff and other professionals make to teaching and learning;
* Be able to demonstrate and promote positive values, attitudes and behaviour that are expected from pupils;
* Be able to conduct an enquiry which is both valid and reliable and which contributes to their own professional knowledge;
* Contribute effectively to the corporate life of schools.
Skills:
The following skills will be facilitated:
* Develop ICT skills to participate in on-line discussion and create an EPS e-portfolio;
* Personal skills in being able to relate to others and manage learners effectively;
* Communication skills, reading, writing, speaking and listening;
* Ability to work with others and in teams;
* Ability to understand how a student will learn and develop as a teacher;
* Ability to identify the learning in others;
* Ability to regard all learners as having equal access to learning and be mindful that all should have the opportunity to succeed.
Content:
Students will engage in a number of topics which are relevant to all teachers, regardless of their subject specialism within the school and are of current concern to all school teachers. Students will, through presentations and discussions:
* Appreciate the need to promote cross curricular skills such as numeracy, literacy and ICT. They will become aware of current strategies being employed in schools and the direction of government policy in this area;
* Appreciate the importance of Citizenship education for all pupils in order to create responsible and active citizens of the future;
* Become aware of the developments in post-16 curriculum and the emerging 14-19 curriculum [secondary students only];
* Become aware of current developments in inclusion and the need to ensure that all pupils achieve their potential regardless of their physical, intellectual, linguistic, social, cultural and emotional development;
* Become aware of the Foundation Stage curriculum [middle years students only];
* Understand the importance of target setting for pupils based upon local and national norms.
During this unit, students will engage in e-learning discussions in forums drawn from the above topics. Their participation in these discussions will lead to evidence required for the portfolio required as part of the assessment of this unit.
The Educational Study is the main vehicle of assessment. The study involves students carrying out school-based research producing a report which is assessed at H level. Students receive additional tuition on research methods in education and on academic wriiting. During this unit students begin the study with a Pilot stage, and then develop the study, through work in schools, supported by work in the University to produce the final report. Students will be able to submit a draft and receive feedback and comment.