Unit name | Play and Creativity |
---|---|
Unit code | SPOL30077 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Debbie Watson |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Completion of: Either SPOL10024 Or SPOL10023 |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
All children play and this engaging unit explores the importance of play and creativity to all children's learning, development and leisure experiences from babies to teenagers. Sociocultural, poststructural and psychological theories will be considered. You will also get the chance to conduct observations of children in real life settings as well as taking part in a creative workshop.
The contexts in which play and creativity occur for children will also be considered in respect of educational and wider play provisions. Attention will be paid to innovative theorists and curricula approaches and to contemporary theories of play, and the ways in which children engage with popular cultures, new media technologies, public space, and the importance of children’s cultural worlds. . The impact of government policy and contemporary curricula on children's play and creativity will be considered. Underpinning the unit will be a consideration of how we observe and assess children and engage in creative enterprises with children; as well as how we can respond to diversity, equity, quality and ethical practice in providing for children in these areas.
By the end of this unit students should be familiar with:
By the end of this unit students should be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through belended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, inlcuding weekly lectures, practical activities supported by study-group sessions and self-directed exercises including practising research observation skills. The narrated power point presentations will cover conceptual and theoretical aspects of play and creativity theories and practices as well as consideration of the research evidence. In-depth extended learning will take the form of self-paced, materail delivered electronically, and undertaken individually or in groups and involving elements of tutor feedback. This will involve students engaging in their own creative making activity which will be incorporated into their portfolio assessment. Small group exercises will be used to foster collaborative learning. Feedback will be provided for formal asessments, preparation for which will be supported through online activities and in study group sessions with tutors.
Part 1: Child observation proposal (1000 words) (25%)
This assessment covers ILO's 1&2
Part 2: Portfolio (2000 words) (75%)
This assessment covers ILO's 3-5
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL30077).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.