Unit information: Big Ideas in Education in 2017/18

Unit name	Big Ideas in Education
Unit code	EDUCM0069
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Kate Hawkey
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will introduce students to the multidisciplinary field of education. It will offer an introduction to the history of educational research, provide an overview of different traditions of research and knowledge in the field, and explore how these traditions contribute to understanding educational debates of contemporary significance.

The unit will comprise a series of lectures from different disciplinary perspectives combined with discussion sessions led by the unit coordinator in collaboration with the contributor. The lectures will be organised to examine different disciplinary perspectives on a series of contemporary debates in education including, for example: the challenge of social justice, the implications of new biological sciences for education, education and big data, education and sustainability. The discussion sessions will allow students to reflect on the complexity of education as a research field and to explore the different contributions of psychological, sociological, cultural, critical and comparative approaches to the understanding of education. These key debates may change year on year, what will stay consistent is that the unit will support students to develop a thorough overview of how different disciplinary perspectives can contribute to examining, understanding and addressing contemporary educational issues. In this way, the unit will act as an important foundation for students’ further study and specialisation within the M.Level programme as a whole.

The unit aims for students to:

• Develop an understanding of education as an interdisciplinary field and the distinctive contributions made by different disciplinary perspectives;
• Explore a number of critical contemporary debates in the education field;
• Consider the complexities and critiques of both the issues and the disciplinary perspectives taken;
• Reflect on their own learning in relation to the issues and perspectives considered as well as consider the implications for their own professional practice or area of research interest.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the unit students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an overview of selected contemporary debates in the education field;
2. Articulate the distinctive contributions and approaches of key disciplines in the education field;
3. Demonstrate effective independent study skills, information gathering, critical review and reflexivity;
4. Communicate information, ideas and conclusions in writing in a clear and structured way.

Teaching Information

There will be 10x2 hour teaching sessions which will include lectures, seminar style discussions, peer group work, and tutor support for assignment planning and writing.

Assessment Information

Formative Assessment

Students will be encouraged to keep a reflective diary or blog which they contribute to each week (500 word maximum entry); these entries can be included as part of the final assignment to capture their developing understanding.

There will be a session focusing on good practice in relation to assignment writing and participants can submit a draft outline assignment which they will receive formative feedback on.

Summative Assessment (ILO 1-4)

The final assignment can be presented as a continuous piece of writing of 4,000 words which:

• Critically explores the contributions made by selected different disciplinary perspectives to key contemporary education debates;
• Demonstrates a broad understanding of the educational research field;
• Reflects on the implications of the knowledge gained for the participant’s own area of research or professional practice.

Indicative Essay Titles:

• Identify a key contemporary debate that is relevant to you; explore how two disciplinary perspectives might frame this problem and consider the implications of these different perspectives for your approach to your own research or practice. OR
• Psychological and Sociological approaches in education are incompatible – discuss in relation to a selected contemporary debate.

Reading and References

Dufour, B. & Curtis, W. (eds.) (2011) Studying Education: An Introduction to the Key Disciplines in Educational Studies. Maidenhead : Open University Press.

Furlong, J (2012) Education: An Anatomy of the Discipline, Rescuing the University Project. London: Routledge.

Furlong, J and Lawn, M (2011) Disciplines of Education: Their Role in the Future of Education Research, London: Routledge

Whitty, G and Furlong, J (2017) Knowledge and the Study of Education: An International Comparison, Oxford: Oxford Studies in Comparative Education, Symposium

In addition, specific reading associated with each lecture will be identified by each lecturer to provide the latest synoptic overview of each disciplinary perspective or contemporary issue.