| Unit name | Educational and Professional Studies School Investigation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EDUC30034 |
| Credit points | 0 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Ms. Bailey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Education |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description:
This unit allows student teachers to develop their understanding of pedagogy and curriculum in schools by researching the Key Stage 2 curriculum and primary school teaching. Student teachers are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the primary curriculum and how it progresses into Key Stage 3 in order to meet the Teachers’ Standards and to be compliant with DFE requirements. This unit is designed to enable them to develop and reflect on a range of issues which relate to the curriculum and pedagogy at Key Stage 2, in preparation for learning about Key Stage 3. The unit contributes to the student teachers’ understanding of pedagogy and progress in the curriculum and therefore helps them to meet the 8 Teachers’ Standards by the end of the PGCE programme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards). They are set key areas of primary teaching and learning to research initially and then these are explored in practice at a later stage, with student teachers reflecting on their learning. This unit promotes evidence and research-based practice to achieve this. It provides opportunities for working with other professionals in school and in other phases.
Aims:
This unit aims to enhance student teachers’ progress in practical teaching and their understanding of the curriculum by researching pedagogy and curriculum in Key Stage 2 and comparing it to experiences in Key Stage 3. It aims to provide student teachers with opportunities to reflect on their own teaching through experience in a primary school, as well as in dialogue with relevant professionals. They will engage with a range of appropriate literature in order to research key areas of primary school teaching and to gain a deeper understanding of pedagogy and curriculum. The unit aims to help student teachers demonstrate progress in their practical teaching and gain further evidence for meeting the Teachers’ Standards.
Student teachers will be able to:
Student teachers will carry out research into key areas of primary pedagogy and curriculum, referring to specific literature and resources. Student teachers will attend a programme of lectures and seminars spread across the year, which may be online or face to face. While university-based there will be a formal programme of online lectures and activities, and while school-based they will take part, weekly, in small seminars led by a member of staff. They will carry out targeted observations in a primary school setting to reflect on their understanding of pedagogy and curriculum.
Student teachers will draw on their reading and research in order to critically evaluate curriculum progression from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and pedagogy in a primary school setting. They will produce the equivalent of a 2000-word assignment which will consist of a variety of components, including research, an investigation of key educational issues and a reflective evaluation of their understanding of progress in the curriculum in light of their findings. ILOs 1-7
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. EDUC30034).
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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
