The purpose of this module is to provide an opportunity for participants to develop their personal educational practice and provides an opportunity to engage in a self-provided work placement. You endeavour to undertake a change in their professional practice linked to organisational need. They implement and evaluate the change. Topics studied will include: an awareness of the needs of the learners and an understanding of the potential barriers to learning, understanding the influence of learning environments, understanding approaches to planning and resourcing within education, planning for learning (including differentiation, Individual Learning Plans / Individual Education Plans, and individualised learning), and policies and practices in education in relation to the assessment of learning. You will identify the use of different approaches of planning to learning and debate aspects related to differentiation within differing educational contexts. They will reflect on the use of national assessment strategies. You will also reflect on their own personal attitudes and practice within the education workplace.

The learning strategies will require you to commit 300 learning hours of which 30 hours will consist of contact time.
Lectures provide you with a broad theoretical overview and the conceptual frameworks which underpin the development of their personal educational practice.
Tutorial support activities will provide you with the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills to apply the underpinning theories to their own context, in preparation for the assignment.
A further 132 hours of independent study will require you to reflect on the educational context they are working within and the educational practice they wish to develop. This will also include personal reading related to their chosen focus. This will form the basis of the assignment.
Guided reading and supported self study - you will be provided with booklists and reading tasks in order to enable them to engage with relevant and appropriate debates.
VLE - Blackboard will be used to facilitate exchange of ideas and access to specific resources and activities. You will be encouraged to use Information and Communication Technology, including word processing, data bases, internet communication, information retrieval and on-line searches throughout their studies.
Work Related Learning - You will be required to complete a series of work related tasks. This will provide them with the opportunity to link theoretical perspectives to their practice. It will also enable them to reflect on values, practices, assumptions and policies.

Part one (course work) = an action plan to improve educational practice
Length 500 words equivalent
(Tests learning outcomes 2 , 4)
Weighted at 50%.

Via a timed essay:

Part two (timed exercise) = an audit of practice in relation to an area of educational practice to justify the action plan.
1 hour
(Tests learning outcomes 1,3 and 4)
Weighted at 50%.

Compensation is allowed within the module

Assessment Reform Group (2002) Testing, Motivation and Learning. School of Education: University of Cambridge.
Curtis, W. Pettigrew, A. (2009) Learing in Contemporary Culture Exeter Learning Matters
Gardner, H. (1983) Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, London: Heinemann
Goleman, D. (1996) Emotional Intelligence London: Bloomsbury
Hopkins, D. (2001) School Improvement for Real London: Routledge Falmer Ch. 9.
Hayes, D. (2007) Joyful Teaching and Learning in the Primary School Exeter Learning Matters
Hoult, S. (2005) Secondary Professional Studies Exeter Learning Matters

Vincett, K., Cremin, H. and Thomas, G. (2005) Teachers & Assistants Working Together Maidenhead Open University Press

VLE Blackboard

Agreed placement within an educational workplace environment for 25 hours over the module - e.g. :
School
College
University
Library
Children's Centre
Private Training Provider
Children's nursery