The Educational and Professional Issues module provides the opportunity to engage in a case of a specific element of the apprentice’s professional practice or curriculum within their school. Apprentices will explore different theoretical approaches to an investigation, enabling them to select the approach most appropriate to their study.  They will also learn about different approaches to gaining data such as interviews.



This will enable apprentices to compile a formal report in the form of a poster justifying proposed practice developments regarding a specific aspect of professional or curriculum-based practice at their school empowering them to make critically informed recommendations for improvement.  

 

During this module apprentices will learn and develop their understanding of the following:  

How to conduct a small-scale study project  

Use of technology to create digital posters  

Critical use of literature and research  

Data methodologies and ethical considerations (differences between quantitative and qualitative data, methods of collection and interpretation of different types of data)

Critical evaluation and analysis of findings and the implications for future teaching 

Ability to critically use research and become research informed in their future professional

Written study poster which includes the following:  

Study question based upon own professional practice and school’s context.

Why this study, why now?

Process

Key findings

Influential reading

Practice takeaway tips

Next steps in practice or curriculum development.



The study will be small scale, focussing on an area of practical and practice significance, identified by the apprentice and agreed by school-based mentor and academic tutor.

The final study will be presented as a poster, utilising the above subheadings. The study will be submitted as a voiced PowerPoint of a maximum of 20 minutes.

Apprentices may use their reflection from the previous module, Teaching a Knowledge Rich Curriculum, as a starting point for their report into an aspect of their practice or curriculum which they consider requires further development within their school.  They will interview colleagues and in some instances pupils to discuss the issue, which, with data from their school will enable them to compile a report , presented as a voiced poster, which proposes recommendations for future practice or curriculum development.  



University workshops will draw upon their school practice and help apprentices to interpret their experiences in the light of current thinking on teaching, learning, assessment and pedagogy. Some sessions will introduce apprentices to themes through case studies. At other times they will be asked to focus on evidence they collect through school experience. Apprentices will also be asked to use the ideas explored in the sessions in planning their future work, this will require them to collaborate with others in preparing and presenting their views on key issues. 



For academic support, apprentices can arrange a tutorial/s where draft assessment work may be discussed.   

Further academic skills support is available from the academic skills tutors:  https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills and IT support also available: from Digital Services:   https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/get-digital 

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the context of educational issues, professional education and stakeholders’ expectations by critically engaging with high-quality literature and current research.

Knowledge and understanding  
Analysis 
Communication 
Problem solving 


Justify and evaluate a selection of appropriate educational theory and research methodology for a small-scale study project.

Communication 
Analysis   
Enquiry 


Communicate ideas for professional practice development to a specialist/non-specialist audience. 
Present and fully discuss key theories, concepts and professional practice.

Analysis 
Communication 
Problem solving 

As well as texts from Teaching a Knowledge Rich Curriculum module, apprentices will find the following specifically research base literature useful for this module:  

Bell, J. and Waters, S. (2018) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education. 

Cohen, L. Manion, L and Morrison, K. (2017) Research Methods in Education (8th edition), London:  Routledge. 

Denscombe, M., 2017. EBOOK: The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

Kara, H. (2015) Creative research methods in the social sciences: A practical guide. 1st edn. Bristol: Policy Press.  

Knowledge Rich Curriculum

Brunskill, J. (2018) I’m bringing knowledge back. | Pedfed   which is worth reading along with his school’s website info on curriculum.  Reach Academy Feltham |Approach to Curriculum Design

Deng, Z., (2022). Powerful knowledge, educational potential and knowledge-rich curriculum: Pushing the boundaries. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 54(5), pp.599-617.

Dinh, H., (2019). Towards a knowledge-rich curriculum. Journal of Curriculum Studies Research, 1(1), pp.54-70.

Enser, M. (2018) Knowledge in the classroom | Teaching it Real

Moses, A., (2020). Knowledge-Rich Curriculum. YC Young Children, 75(5), pp.4-5.

Neuman, S.B. and Danielson, K., (2021). Enacting content-rich curriculum in early childhood: The role of teacher knowledge and pedagogy. Early Education and Development, 32(3), pp.443-458.

Newmark, S. (2018) Planning a knowledge curriculum.

Oliver, D. and Nguyen, B., (2023). Creating a knowledge-rich curriculum at primary level. agora, 58(1), pp.3-7.

Rata, E., (2019).. Knowledge‐rich teaching: A model of curriculum design coherence. British Educational Research Journal, 45(4), pp.681-697.

Turner, S. (2018) https://ragazzainglese.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/pub-quiz-or-published-what-are-the-aims-of-a-knowledge-rich-curriculum/

Walker, R. (2018) My #rEDBrum talk: The Nature of School Science Knowledge

University teaching sessions
Tutorials
Placement School/College meetings with school-based mentor.
University library
Materials and Links on L6 Teaching Apprenticeship Blackboard and TEAMS

This module is an opportunity to undertake a case study project where you will identify a particular aspect of your professional or curriculum practice within your school. 

This will enable you to compile a study poster and 20-minute presentation justifying proposed practice developments regarding a specific aspect of either your practice or curriculum.

In terms of developing your professional practice, specific topics to be covered include:   

Behaviour  

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Curriculum development  



During this module you will also learn and develop your understanding of the following:  

How to conduct a small-scale study project  

Use of technology to create digital posters  

Critical use of literature and research  

Data methodologies and ethical considerations (differences between quantitative and qualitative data, methods of collection and interpretation of different types of data).  

Critical evaluation and analysis of findings and the implications for future teaching 

Ability to use research and become research informed in future practice.