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ED20420: Current issues in the philosophy of education

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Education
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (3000 words) (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The intention of this unit is to:
* develop students' awareness of current issues in philosophy of education.

Learning Outcomes:
In completing this unit students would be expected to:
* understand current terms in philosophy and social and cultural theory and how they relate to education: e.g. critical theory, feminism, postmodernism, deconstruction;
* identify and understand the contributions to current debates about education of late twentieth and twenty-first century philosophers;
* critique current educational practices and assumptions from an informed philosophical perspective;
* make an informed and critical contribution to a current issue in philosophy of education.

Skills:

* Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (assessed essay) [T/F/A]
* Effective oral communication (seminar presentations) [F]
* Ability to select, summarise and synthesis written information from multiple sources [T/F/A]
* Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models [T/F/A]
* Ability to select and use appropriate ideas to produce a coherent response to a pre-set question [T/F/A]
* Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer [T/F]
* Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines [F/A]
* Ability to work independently, without close supervision or guidance [F/A]

Content:

* The influences of selected recent philosophers on movements in cultural and social theory, and their particular relevance to debates about education - including Nietzsche (nihilism/ postmodernism), Wittgenstein (the language game), Habermas (late critical theory), Lyotard (postmodernism), Derrida (deconstruction), Laclau and Mouffe (reconstructive postmodernism), Butler (feminism).
* Philosophical consideration of current issues in educational policy and practice: religion in schools; diversity in provision; compulsion, freedom and equity; skills and competencies; the role of the teacher; education for sustainable development.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ED20420 is a Generally Available Unit which is available to all students of the University (subject to the usual constraints) to take either as a Director of Studies approved option within their programme of study or as an 'extra' unit which does not count towards a final award.


ED20420 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Education
  • UHED-AFB04 : BA(Hons) Childhood, Youth and Education Studies (Year 2)
  • UHED-AKB04 : BA(Hons) Childhood, Youth and Education Studies with Professional Placement (Year 2)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.