This module will enable students to develop a systematic evaluation of a contemporary educational issue utilising historical, theoretical or policy research in a selected area of education. It will enable students to engage with academic literature to develop their critical questioning approach. The module will explore contemporary and critical issues relating to a selected field of education and consider the implications for professional practice. The content of the module will be relevant to a range of contexts and professional situations.

This project should be completed as an academic piece of writing. It should be focused on a contemporary educational issue relevant to practice or aspiration of future practice. It needs to:

Identify the elements of an issue outlining assumptions and clarifying existing thinking (LO1)

Utilising different sources of literature, examine and evaluate key findings related to the issue (LO2)

Analyse the issue and draw inferences from the literature to produce arguments which inform and add insight (LO3)

Teaching and learning strategies on MA Education programmes are designed to develop personal, intellectual and professional skills. Students will encounter teaching and learning approaches that ensure the development of:



Strategies of communicating clearly

Enhanced independent thinking

Understanding the societal, environmental and global potentials of education

Creative problem solving

Critical thinking



To support this skill development and to ensure that students develop subject knowledge and understanding, subject specific skills and focused transferable skills, a range of teaching and learning strategies will be employed so that critical engagement with aspects of education are developed. These might include:



Individual participant learning activities

Group discussions

Participation in discussion forums

Group work

Peer review

Engagement with course and learning materials

Independent research

Enhancing technological skills



There will also be the opportunity to receive developmental formative feedback and tutor support focused on academic and professional development.



This module will incorporate a variety of practical based activity, self-directed study and opportunities to enhance academic study skills. It will incorporate the potential to:

Deepen understanding of policy, research and academic writing

Reflect on existing educational practices and contexts from a personal perspective

Explore theory and its application in scholarly activities

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of a current issue in education

Knowledge and Understanding


Demonstrate critical analysis of the issue as informed by appropriate academic literature and policy statements relating to educational practices and policies


Learning


Communicate responses to inform and develop new insights into the issue

Analysis

Brookfield, S. (2017) Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher. Second edition. Newark: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.



Brundrett, M. et al. (Eds.) (2024) Contemporary Issues in Primary Education. Routledge: London.



Cottrell, S (2023) Critical Thinking Skills : Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London.



Downes, P., Li, G., Praag, L and Lamb, S. (Eds.) (2024) The Routledge International Handbook of Equity and Inclusion in Education. Routledge. London.



Willison, J. (ed.) (2024) Research Thinking for Responsive Teaching: Research Skill Development with In-service and Preservice Educators: Singapore: Springer Nature. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6679-0.

Unless otherwise stated, all books are available online through Staffordshire University library website and each module has an online reading list accessed through the VLE.¿

Study skills:¿¿There is extensive guidance on academic writing, research skills and working at Master’s level available at¿https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills.

VLE Resources¿¿

The University VLE (Blackboard) will enable access to course materials, lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and reading lists.¿ The VLE offers opportunities to engage in group work and independent learning¿using¿such things as synchronous/asynchronous discussion boards, video links, blogs and wikis.¿¿

Teams

Online learning and associated activities will be through Teams and students will have access to Microsoft Office 365.

This module is designed to develop your critical thinking skills so that you can question assumptions and explore educational issues actively, thoughtfully and confidently. It will enable you to examine different elements of scholarship, academic literature, policy statements to explore how issues are presented and examined and to develop your personal and academic reflective skills. As you examine an educational issue, there will be the opportunity to develop confidence in academic research, writing and reading to enhance your understanding of educational theories and consider how your life experiences have influenced your attitudes and values related to education.