The teaching, learning and assessment strategy has been carefully developed for this module. It recognises you may bring with¿you¿practical experience and knowledge of specific contexts to share with others. This pool of practical experience will be used to promote discussion and debate, which will build upon existing knowledge to encourage reflection and critical thought. You will be an active participant in your learning and engage with online learning, some¿face-to-face¿content, group activities and individual tasks set.¿ You will be encouraged to be a critical thinker and apply your learning in an academic and professional context.¿ Some sessions require prior reading and independent research to inform the sessions.¿

A digitally enabled approach will be used to support both virtual and face to face opportunities.¿¿
University workshops will draw upon your experience and help you to interpret that experience in the light of current thinking on teaching, learning, assessment and schooling in relation to literacy and numeracy. You will also be asked to use the ideas explored in the sessions in planning your future work. You will also be asked to collaborate with others in preparing and presenting your work.¿¿

The methods are designed to provide practical contexts for the analysis of contemporary issues and problems of a practical nature. The following strategies will be adopted to ensure that you have a supportive teaching and learning environment, providing a range of learning opportunities¿¿

Work Related Learning – You will be required to reflect on values, practices, assumptions and work-place policies in your taught sessions. Work-based activities either as class based simulated tasks or in the workplace help students to establish connections between the workplace and issues raised by the programme.¿

Lectures - You will be given lectures which will provide theoretical underpinning on key educational concepts. These may take the form of face-to-face, digital or virtual sessions¿

Tutorials – You will be given the opportunity to discuss work-related and academic concerns in small group tutorials and/or individual tutorials. This will support the development of theoretical understanding.¿

Guided reading and supported self-study – You will be provided with booklists and reading tasks to enable you to engage with relevant and appropriate debates.¿

This module will also provide opportunities for you to:¿

Work¿with others¿
Develop interpersonal skills¿
Demonstrate the capacity to plan, share goals, and work as a member of a team¿
Communicate and present oral and written arguments¿

Module Learning Outcome
1. Demonstrate knowledge of key developments in the wider education sector.
University Learning Outcome
Enquiry

Module Learning Outcome
2.Critically evaluate different perspectives on educational issues and their impact on policy and practice.
University Learning Outcome
Problem solving
Application

Resources
Unless otherwise stated, all books are available online through Staffordshire University library website when logged in using your university username and password. If you have difficulty accessing these, please contact the University library. There is also an online reading list for each module on this course. To access this, go to http://staffs.rebuslist.com/ and then type in the module code in the search box. Do not worry if this list seems excessively long. You may wish to focus on texts which are most relevant to your education sector. This module covers a wide range of texts, and you may find that you only need to read short sections of the texts listed (or from other texts that you may find in libraries or journals). Your tutor will also advise you on the relevant texts and sections of texts to read. Remember that it is important to show you have considered views from a wide range of sources. When referring to texts in your assignment, always use https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/refzone for guidance. There are many versions of Harvard referencing systems in use around the world, but for Staffordshire University, Refzone Harvard system is the only correct method to use.

Study skills:
For guidance on academic writing, remember that the Staffordshire University library holds a wealth of resources to support study skills at https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills. The study skills team can also provide 1 to 1 support.

VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Resources:¿¿¿
Your University VLE will enable you to have access to course materials, lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and reading lists.¿ Your VLE offers opportunities to engage in group work and independent learning¿using¿synchronous/asynchronous discussion boards, video links, blogs and wikis.¿¿¿

Brown, Z (2017) Contemporary Issues in Childhood: A Bio-ecological Approach (The Routledge Education Studies Series) London. Routledge.

Hodkinson, A (2019) Key Issues in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (Education Studies: Key Issues) London. Sage.

Pykitt, G (2019) Shifting Sands: Contemporary issues in primary schools (Practical Teaching) Northwich. Critical Publishing.

Smith, E (2018) 2nd Ed. key Issues in Education and Social Justice. 2nd Ed. London. Sage.

None

This module involves engaging in extensive reading and researching around current debates and issues within the wider English education sector, from early years through to adult learning to evaluate their impact upon practice. This will enable you to consider education practice within a wider political spectrum.

Task 1 Annotated Bibliography (500 words): Students will complete an annotated bibliography of relevant policy texts and associated reports. The annotated bibliography will be a record of research conducted that identifies how each policy text or associated report relates to the chosen educational issue.
(25%, LO1).

Task 2 Presentation (25 minutes): Students will select a case study that relates to a contemporary educational issue. In groups of 2 or 3, they will engage in a group discussion that critically evaluates the educational issue from the perspective of a stakeholder (eg; professional, learner or parent). Each student will have 5 minutes to present the issue from their stakeholder perspective, followed by a 10-minute discussion of how the issue may impact on policy and practice. (75% LO2)

Formative assessment opportunities include:
Draft opportunities
Tutorials
Peer reviews

This module explores current issues and debates within the English education system from early years to adult learning. The purpose of this is for you to have an up-to-date awareness of the very latest initiatives and issues and how they are impacting on education practice. This will have a positive impact on your employability as you will be able to understand and articulate the implications of changes and challenges within your placement or work experience, as well as to potential employers. This module will build upon your knowledge and understanding of the historical context of English education which is covered in the level 4 modules. Due to the nature of this module focusing on developments as they happen, content will be dependent on policy and practice issues arising at the time of delivery.