LEARNING OUTCOMES
1.¿Demonstrate a systematic¿understanding¿of a range of different dimensions that constitute contemporary SEND practice.
2.¿Critically analyse and¿evaluate the role of values, professionalism, ethics and leadership in a diverse and changing landscape of SEND work.
3. Reflect upon the extent in which personal knowledge and understanding will inform future practice and its relationship to personal philosophy.
ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Personal Statement: Students will be asked to consolidate their learning on this module by constructing a personal statement for a job or course of study of their choice (this can be one that currently exists or a past opportunity that they have felt interested in). The personal statement must encompass the following:
1. Why this role/course and why you?
2. Relevance of your knowledge and experience– this can include work experience and/or learning on your degree (LO 1 & 2)
3. Your personal SEND philosophy – this can include your reflections, opinions, self-development and observations from the module (LO3)
Formative assessment opportunities include peer and tutor feedback on draft personal statements.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
This module has a key focus on employability within the working world. It aims to prepare students to consider how their knowledge, understanding and experiences of working in a SEND context have informed their personal philosophy. Core themes and questions to be explored on this module include:
What is distinct about SEND practice? To what extent is SEND practice unique and specialized? To what extent should it inform and challenge educational practice in the mainstream?
What is a “SEND professional”? What makes for “good” SEND leadership?
What philosophies and values guide practice in the field of SEND?
WEB DESCRIPTOR
This module helps you to explore what it means to practice in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disability in today's working world. Over the course of your studies, you will investigate and learn to articulate your own personal philosophy and values around what constitutes valuable SEND practice with a view to your next steps in the world of work.
LEARNING STRATEGIES
The teaching, learning and assessment strategy has been carefully developed for this module. It recognises you may bring 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 in order 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
TEXTS
Core text:
Norwich, B. (2013).¿Addressing tensions and dilemmas in inclusive education: Living with uncertainty. Routledge.
Additional texts:
Crutchley, R. (Ed.). (2017).¿Special needs in the early years: partnership and participation. Sage.
Cowne, E., Frankl, C., & Gerschel, L. (2018).¿The SENCo Handbook: Leading and managing a whole school approach. Routledge.
Hellawell, B. (2018).¿Understanding and Challenging the SEND Code of Practice. SAGE.
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 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¿by the use of¿such things as synchronous/asynchronous discussion boards, video links, blogs and wikis.¿¿