Unit name | Researching Education in the City |
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Unit code | EDUC20003 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Keri Facer |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Researching Educational Questions or Introduction to Psychology in Education |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit introduces students to ways of planning and conducting a small-scale research study. Practical exercises will help students investigate the diversity of education in the city environment and reflect on how that diversity can best be captured and understood using different research tools. In analysing their data, students will consider how city spaces shape education possibilities and identities and report on the diversity of learning experiences that characterise learning in the city.
By undertaking real world research, exploring questions about learning and education in the city, students will develop a critical appreciation of what is involved in the design and conduct of a small-scale research study. From comparing their experience of using a range of research methods students will be able to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of different research approaches and evaluate how they can best be used to answer different kinds of research questions.
The aims for this unit are to:
On completion of this course unit students will be able to:
This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including seminars, lectures, reading and discussions.
Formative assessment
ILO 3&4: A group poster presentation on planning of an empirical project in the city
Summative assessment ILO 1-4: A 2000-word report on the research planned and a reflection on learning, including an assessment of the methods chosen and a reflection on their own learning as they planned the research project (100%).
Bell, J. with Waters, S. (2014) (6th Edition) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First Time Researchers. Berkshire: McGraw Hill.
Bartlett, S., & Burton, D., (2009) Key Issues for Education Researchers. London: Sage.
Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods (4th Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gilbert, N. & Stoneman, P. (Eds.) (2015) Researching Social Life. London: Sage.
Lupton, R. (2006) How Does Place Affect Education? London: IPPR.
Platt L., (2011), Understanding Inequalities: Stratification and Difference, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Massey, D. (1998) The Spatial Construction of Youth Cultures. In Skelton, T & Valentine, G. (Eds.) Cool places: Geographies of Youth Culture. London: Routledge.
Wellington, J. (2015) Educational Research: Contemporary Issues and Practical Approaches (Second Edition) London: Bloomsbury Academic.