Module EDUC2401: Constructions of Childhood

Department: Education

EDUC2401: Constructions of Childhood

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• NA

Aims

• To enable students to reflect critically on the concept of childhood
• To examine childhood as a construction of social, cultural and political context
• Indicative

Content

• The appeal of childhood;
• The construction of childhood;
• Sociological perspectives on childhood;
• Critiquing the notion of the ‘natural ‘child;
• Examining the dominance of the psychological child in education;
• Constructions of gender;
• Exploring emerging classifications within childhood (for example teenager, tweens);
• Examining childhood through parenting;
• Examining childhood through film, literature and music.

Learning Outcomes

• knowledge and understanding of key theorists in childhood studies;
• knowledge and understanding of key sociological ideas and concepts
• knowledge and understanding of childhood and the world as a social, and cultural construct;
• knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the construction of childhood and educational norms and practices

• an ability to problematise childhood and the world as a social, and cultural construct
• an ability to provide a well-argued conclusion relating to issues and constructions of childhood
• an ability to utilise a range of relevant primary and secondary sources, including theoretical and research-based evidence relating to education, in order to expound and defend an argument
• an ability to analyse complex situations concerning childhood and development reasoned argument

• an ability to read and think critically and independently;
• an ability to identify, select, interpret and evaluate a range of sources and so acquire complex information of diverse kinds in an organised way;
• an ability to construct and sustain a reasoned argument;
• an ability to develop study and research skills, information retrieval, and the capacity to plan and manage learning, and to reflect on own learning;
• an ability to use written and spoken communication skills
• an ability to work to deadlines

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

• Teaching and learning will be through lectures, the content of which will be broken down into seminar discussion - to which students will be required to make a positive contribution, including delivering presentations during the year. The first term will be formatively assessed, whereas the second term will focus on summative assessment. For the assessed work, the students will critically analyse an issue, theme or trope from childhood, in relation to this as a social, cultural or political construction. This will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate the extent to which they have understood and are able to engage critically with the theories, ideas, constructions and concepts covered under the learning outcomes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

5 minute presentation in seminar in the first term 1000 word written essay in the first term

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University