Component 1: Participants will be assessed on their individual contributions during an asynchronous on-line discussion forum, which has a focus on a current issue(s) in post compulsory education. (40% weighting) Learning outcomes 1, 3 (partially) & 4.

Component 2: Participants will submit a guidance booklet of 3000 words, which details a full cycle of enquiry into strategies and procedures that they have embedded in their own practice and which have a direct impact on an issue or set of issues that have been a focal point during the study of the module. (60% weighting). Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 (partially) & 5.

Due to the ever changing nature of the post compulsory education sector, the content of this module will be dynamic in terms of content and delivery.

The module introduces a range of institutional and externally driven factors which affect stakeholders in post compulsory education. Students will be exposed to a variety of contemporary organisational and legislative issues and are required to consider the impact of these on professional and institutional practice.

A variety of learning and teaching methods will be used including presentations by institutional experts, focus group discussions, on-line forum activities developed through the Blackboard virtual learning environment, seminar debates, case studies and task centred investigations. There will be a strong emphasis on action-focused learning and students will be expected to actively engage in all sessions.

In addition, students will be required to engage in independent study in order to consolidate and build upon learning from the taught sessions. This will take the form of undertaking follow-up tasks, work based self-assessments, and, where appropriate, reading relevant literature.

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be used as both a content repository and a pedagogic tool through which discussion activities and special interest group activities will be developed.

The module will typically be delivered as 4 x 4hr sessions, plus a 2 hr assignment workshop.

College library for a range of relevant texts and journals
Internet access enabling access to relevant websites

All participants must currently be working in higher or post compulsory education establishment.

The rationale for a website-based reading list is that this course focuses on contemporary and prevailing issues in post compulsory education. Recent research reports, media reports and FE agency websites will inform participants? thinking. We also hope that participants will continue to engage with these sites and identify relevant information, which goes beyond the modular boundaries.

Agency / professional body websites

Higher Education Academy:
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/

Staff and Educational Development Association:
http://www.seda.ac.uk/

Learning and Skills Council:
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/

Quality Improvement Agency:
http://www.qia.org.uk/


Ofsted:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Lifelong Learning UK:
http://www.lifelonglearninguk.org/

Standards Verification UK:
http://www.lifelonglearninguk.org/svuk/index.html

Department for Education and Skills:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/

Quality Assurance Agency:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/

HEFCE:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/

Higher Education Policy Institute:
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/

Media websites

Education Guardian ? Higher Education section at:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/

BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk

Extensive use will be made of articles in the Guardian and Times Higher Education Supplement newspapers.