Module: EDU5001-20 Professional Practice in Education

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Paul McLaughlin

Module Tutor Contact Details: p.mclaughlin@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module focuses on work-based learning (WBL), which constitutes learning that takes place in work contexts. The placements on this module give you an opportunity to gain some work experience in an educational setting relevant to your intended career path.

You will gain experience of a professional educational environment such as a nursery, primary or secondary schools or a range of local authority, cultural or voluntary settings. You will gain an understanding of multiple aspects of how education settings operate, how to deal with challenge and expectations as well as explore notions of professionalism. You will also have the opportunity to access our careers and enterprise service and get advice on future graduate-level employment and study options.

N.B. You must be in possession of a current DBS certificate in order to take this module. Placements are organised by the Institute for Education Partnership Office with support of the Careers and Enterprise Service depending on the nature of your setting. You should be prepared to travel up to one hour by public transport to reach your assigned placement where you will be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the workplace, working alongside education professionals, teachers, children young people or adults. Typically, placements will be a minimum of eight days (one day per week, timetabled for you).

2.Outline syllabus

The module has two interrelated components:

Experiential learning in a professional education setting.

The placement experience will provide an opportunity to gain insight into the diverse contexts in which education processes occur. It will enable you to explore an aspect of educational theory or model of (teacher) professionalism in situ.

Personal and Professional Development

You will be invited to reflect on your progress towards personal, academic and professional goals and aspirations. There will be guidance from our Careers and Enterprise service on the wide range of employment pathways for education studies students and you will attend dissertation presentations by year three students.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Teaching and learning will be through lecture, seminar, tutorial and practical experience in educational placement (in e.g. school, nursery, youth and community settings, heritage centres).

The lectures will be used to introduce you to the key ideas needed to understand the nature of work-based learning. They will draw on concepts of educational theory and introduce models of professionalism. Seminars are used to prepare you for your placement and discuss the ways in which you might engage in aspects of reflection maintain a reflective log. You will be invited to tutorials to support you in the assessment in the module. These tutorials will be a chance to discuss assignment feedback and will encourage you to respond to assessments formatively.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Reflective report on placement including case study (5,000 words)

• % Weighting: 100%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Placement: satisfactory attendance and conduct

• % Weighting: (Pass/Fail)