Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2019-2020 (archived)

Module EDUC2421: Wider Contexts of Education

Department: Education

EDUC2421: Wider Contexts of Education

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2019/20 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To introduce students to contexts of education outside of ‘standard’ provision
  • To introduce students to theoretical and practical perspectives on education in relation to wider contexts
  • To introduce students to issues of social justice in education

Content

  • Purposes of education in relation to wider contexts
  • Social theory in relation to educational justice, for example Marx and Freire
  • Theoretical and practical perspectives on education in relation to wider contexts
  • The role of an educator and the learner in wider contexts
  • Context of Educations: forest schools; prison education; young offenders; adult education; hospital and education; pupil referral units; outdoor education.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students will have:
  • increased their knowledge and understanding of several wider contexts of education;
  • increased their knowledge and understanding of the role of education in wider society;
  • increased their awareness of educational values and possibilities;
  • Increased their awareness of the recipients of education and their needs.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Provision of well-argued conclusions relating to significant educational issues and contexts
  • To reflect on their own value systems and development
  • Acquired competence in argument and debate about education
  • To interrogate the assumptions underpinning theory and practice
Key Skills:
  • Think critically and independently
  • Acquire complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way
  • Construct and sustain a reasoned argument
  • Communicate effectively
  • Improve their own learning and performance including the development of study and research skills
  • Use a range of printed and online resources
  • Plan and collaborate as part of a team
  • Work to deadlines

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

  • Students will be introduced to a range of educational theories and concepts through lecture, seminar, group work and guided reading. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding by actively contributing to seminars and their project group.
  • Students will further develop their knowledge and understanding, apply and reflect on ideas and demonstrate key skills through two summative pieces of assessment that requires them to critically evaluate contexts of education.
  • Students will also be required to produce formative work which requires them to demonstrate their understandings of a topic area covered in the module.
  • Students will organise and undertake optional visits to a number of different educational facilities.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Weekly - term 1 1 hour 10
Seminars 13 Weekly in term 1; 3 spaced out in term 2 1 hour 13
Fieldwork 10 On arrangement - mainly term 2 1 hour 10
Preparation and reading 167
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 2000 words 100%
Component: Portfolio Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Portfolio 2500 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

Presentation related to key learning from the module and aspects of the summative assessments.


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