Cottrell S, 2005. Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. Palgrave Study Guides
Northedge A, 2005. The Good Study Guide, 2, Rev Ed edition. Open University Worldwide
Bedford D, Wilson E, 2006. Study Skills for Foundation Degrees. David Fulton Publishers Ltd
Lowe M, 2006. Beginning Research. Routledge

Library
VLE - Blackboard

During this module participants will engage in a range of teaching and learning strategies, for example: Discussions, individual and group tasks, presentations, writing workshop activities, reading and research, blended learning, reflection and self assessment.

This course aims to provide the learner with an orientation to working HE level courses, particularly those within the Education suite of awards. It focuses particularly on issues of developing participants' criticality, and of their analysing and communicating their learning. To this end, the module will be organised around three core issues: Credibility of Evidence; Developing Arguments; Critical Reasoning.

The module will introduce participants to notions of Credibility of Evidence in relation to a range of genre. They will examine the composition of these genres and their potential uses in terms of criteria such as genre identification; inference and deduction and bias. Sources will include academic texts (books, journals and websites) policy documents and more generic web-based materials.

The participants will then use and apply this learning in the Developing Arguments section of the module where they will engage in critical thinking exercises resulting in their creating specific texts bearing in mind criteria such as audience, purpose, style, point, quotation, explanation, references and bibliographies.

Finally, participants will investigate Critical Reasoning, be introduced into relevant approaches and how to reflect upon their own understandings from their reading and own writing considering criteria such as conclusions, reasons, assumptions and indicator words.

Learning outcomes will be assessed through the following two assessments. Each part of the assessment must be completed and passed, in order to complete the module.

1. An assignment of 2000 words which will be a collation of learner experiences, set tasks and reflections from the taught sessions: (LO1, 2 and 3)

- A 500 word synopsis of a student selected article
- A 1000 word critique of the structure and communication of critical thinking within a set article
- The provision of counter arguments to a set text in 500 words

2. A 5 minute presentation to the group on the impact of critical thinking on 'My professional practice in and out of the classroom'. (LO 1, 3)

The module will be assessed by pass / fail.