Unit information: Curriculum Research in 2022/23

Unit name	Curriculum Research
Unit code	EDUCM0074
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Mrs. Lythgoe
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
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

This unit focuses on the theory and research underpinning the practice of teaching and learning in the specialist subject area.

It supports trainees to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to become effective practitioners and encourage them to make informed decisions about their teaching. It will introduce examples of good practice and recent research in their subject discipline.

Subject-based work will model good practice and introduce trainees to a range of research based perspectives to inform the development of their own professional identities. It encourages exploration of various teaching styles and evaluation of their possibilities through personal experience and reference to a range of literature.

Aims:

This unit aims to:

• enable trainees to develop a sound research and evidence based approach to their professional practice;

• offer a range of experiences, both university and school-based, from which trainees can consider their own professional development;

• present aspects of the basic theory which underpin secondary teaching at subject level and to begin to develop trainees' skills in planning, teaching and evaluating lessons;

• enable trainees to reconceptualise their subject knowledge so that they can use it effectively in teaching;

• support trainees in developing the full range of professional skills required of a teacher.

Your learning on this unit

Upon successful completion of this unit trainees will be able to:

1. Understand aspects of learning theory relevant to their own subject;
2. Use research and other professional literature to inform their development as teachers;
3. Use their subject knowledge effectively to underpin their teaching;
4. Create effective teaching and learning resources;
5. Present well structured accounts of their learning within their subject.

How you will learn

The programme lead will introduce the unit, assessment and intended learning outcomes. This be further supplemented by both University and School subject specialists through seminars, observations, workshops and tutorials.

How you will be assessed

During the year students will carry out a range of formative tasks designed to develop their teaching skills. They will base a formal assessment on one of these, as appropriate within their specific subject. Because of the different nature of school subjects this will vary, but will be based on practical activities underpinned by research in the appropriate professional literature.

The formal presentation may include:

• A research seminar presented by the student and documented;

• A written research-based assignment of about 4000 words;

• A practical task, supported by documentation of the underpinning research.

Resources

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. EDUCM0074).

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.