SS7005 - Community Activism (2021/22)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2021/22 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Community Activism | ||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||
| School | School of Social Professions | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2021/22(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The module aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of:
1. The relationship between community and youth activism and professional practice
2. Conceptual frameworks for understanding and critically evaluating citizenship
3. Practical approaches to supporting lobbying, single issue and political campaigning including use of social media
The aim of the course is to develop a critical understanding of the role of activism in changing policy, meeting local needs and improving people’s lives.
Syllabus
• Theoretical perspectives on civil society and its link to citizenship
• The relationship between communities, young people, public policy, the law and the state
• Case studies of community activism linked to areas such as migration, housing, women’s rights, anti-racism, LGBTQI rights, labour, human rights and other struggles
• the contribution of activism to legal change.
• Tensions and debates linked to direct action tactics
• Communications and media strategy
• Digital and data related approaches to activism
• Support for developing the skills to implement a practical intervention
Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 4
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The course material is studied through a combination of lectures, workshops and independent study. The lectures will introduce student to relevant theories, policies and debates, but there will be a strong focus throughout on commissioning in practice, using ‘real life’ examples to explore the challenges and opportunities for commissioners, providers and local communities. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own work and / or locality to gain a critical understanding of the links (if any) between theory, policy and practice. It is anticipated that students will have experience of different sectors and roles, eg as commissioners, service providers and or users. The workshops will enable them to explore key issues from these different perspectives, providing an opportunity for reflection and challenge.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the students will be able to:
• Critically engage with current debates and ethical dilemmas involved in professional practice and activism. [LO1]
• Develop a deep understanding of the theoretical approaches to community activism [LO2]
• Implement and critically evaluate a campaign on a key contemporary issue with a stakeholder group [LO3]
• Devise and evaluate of both tactical and strategic approaches to activism LO4]
Assessment strategy
Campaign portfolio comprising materials that critically evaluate and historically locate a particular campaign issue, account for the ethical issues involved in working with a stakeholder group as a professional, provide examples of communications and data instruments devised as part of the campaign and reflections on potential impact.
Bibliography
Reading lists are held in the University’s reading list repository at the following link:
https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/modules/SS7005.html