Module EDUC43530: Enhancing Teaching and Learning for Purposeful Thought

Department: Education

EDUC43530: Enhancing Teaching and Learning for Purposeful Thought

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• By the end of the module participants should have acquired a critical understanding of issues relating to teaching and learning for the fostering of productive thought in the classroom.

Content

• The ideas of the module will be taught in blocks, the essence of which follows:
• Knowledge, understanding and Reasoning
• Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking and Quality Assurance
• Wise Thinking and Decision Making
• Emotions and Thinking
• Purposeful Productive Thought: Bringing it all together

Learning Outcomes

• the different frameworks for thinking that exist and the characteristics of and differences between the different types of thinking ( reasoning, critical, creative and productive thought);
• a range of strategies that support productive thought and their influence in classroom talk and interaction and how to apply the strategies in relevant educational contexts.

• applying ideas and strategies derived from educational research relating to practice;
• developing a critical understanding of factors relating to task design and learners’ thinking.

• research analysis (searching, scrutinising and critiquing literature) relevant to developing productive thinking;
• use of ICT to access research and present information in the tasks and assignment;
• problem formulation, analysis and solution in developing productive thinking in practice.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• (i) knowledge development through: directed pre-module reading set by tutors (scaffolding); direct presentation of information and ideas during sessions by tutors (teaching); directed reading during the taught sessions (scaffolding); in-session tasks to explore ideas (teaching and scaffolding).
• (ii) construction of understanding through: in-session tasks to apply ideas in new contexts (teaching and scaffolding learning); directed problem-based learning tasks (formative assessment); assignment (summative assessment).
• (iii) development of skills and abilities through: directed reading (analysis and synthesis of evidence; reflection; critiquing); group discussion (critical thinking; argumentation; debate; ethical tolerance); individual tasks (organisation; time management; reflection; critical thinking).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Directed tasks and the assignment title are introduced early in the module to enable ongoing discussion during teaching sessions. The interactive nature of the sessions, with discussion and small group work, is such that there are opportunities for informal feedback. In addition to contact with the tutors during the teaching sessions, they can be contacted by telephone or e-mail for advice. Formative feedback is likely to take the following forms: on directed reading (in preparation for lectures and seminars) — commentary on reading review reports on directed tasks (e.g. critical thinking skills; problem-based learning tasks as follow up to taught sessions to scaffold learning) — commentary on submitted scripts or presentations.