AE5017 - Working with Children and Preparing for Professional Practice (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Working with Children and Preparing for Professional Practice | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module is designed to enable students to undertake a period of work-based learning, in relation to their course at level 5, within an appropriate organisation, and to gain credit for that learning. Students will have the opportunity to apply, to test and to extend the knowledge that they have gained at all levels of their course. In so doing, students will be able to enhance and extend their understanding of professional educational practice. The module will also afford them the opportunity to gain professional experience of an appropriate education-related work environment.
Students will be expected to find and organize their own placement in an educational setting where they get insight into professional teaching and learning practice. Objectives of the placement might be in relation to professional standards, how teaching and learning is facilitated, or intended outcomes of interventions.
The module is framed by Kolb’s (1984) learning style model, the four-stage learning cycle: planning – reflecting – interpreting – identifying next steps. This cycle will inform both the module structure and the assessment strategy.
At the beginning of the module, students will attend a series of workshops where they will be briefed on the module and undergo induction. Guidance on securing a placement will be offered in conjunction with the career service, including inputs on personal and professional development.
Students will need to have their work-based learning agreement approved, before they take up the opportunity to gain practical experience.
During the work-experience, students will reflect on their observations and actions with respect of the objectives of their learning agreement and wider professional standards. There will be two or three feedback sessions allowing students to discuss their own practice and learning.
Towards the end of the work-based learning period there will be a series of workshops to support students’ interpretation of their experience in relation to theory and professional educational practice.
Students will also be offered scheduled opportunities to prepare for the QTS skills tests prior to application for PGCE places (or equivalent).
References
Kolb, D. (1984) Experiential learning experience as a source of learning and development, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Syllabus
The module offers:
• Guidance on finding and organising an appropriate setting for work experience;
• Provision of a rationale for practice-based learning;
• Discussion of key educational and social concepts to enhance students’ reflection on and interpretation of their experiences;
• Discussion of broader aspects of the work experience in the context of professional practice and employability;
• Guidance on conducting educational research as a practitioner.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
• A minimum of 100 hours in the work placement during the summer period;
• A mixture of lecture inputs and workshops outlining theoretical and practical considerations in relation to experiential learning
• Feedback sessions and workshop sessions focusing on the students’ work experience and its interpretation
• Weblearn will provide supporting material including wider employability guidance
• Students will be expected to actively engage with additional materials and discussion opportunities that will be available via WebLearn .
• A record of tutorials will be kept by supervising tutors.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Apply their prior learning in an appropriate work environment;
2. Relate specific knowledge – theoretical perspectives as well as policy/practice analysis – to the work environment;
3. Consider professional practice/pedagogies in specific real-life situation;
4. Recognise how their work relates to wider educational and social discourses;
5. Enhance their professional and personal development;
6. Further prepare students for their Level 6 research projects by building on learning and experience related to educational research gained in AE4018..
Assessment strategy
Summative
A portfolio of the following pieces (6000 words )
• Milestones Reflective Diary kept during the placement (2500)
• Professional CV and / or Personal statement for PGCE or further study (1000)
• Research plan for potential topic for Action Research project for AE6P06 (2000)
• Report by employer; after completion of the work experience ( 500)