What will I learn on this module?

This module will support your ability to critically reflect upon how to raise achievement and have high expectations of pupils’ learning. You will autonomously develop your subject knowledge, skills and understanding in order to develop subject learning for their pupils that inspires and motivates them to learn and progress in all areas of the age phase or subject in which you are training.

You will learn about the key Government priorities, legislation and reports which influence current practice in your age phase, or across the education system as a whole, and how they shape the regional and national education agendas. You will be provided with an international perspective to help shape your wider understanding of the role of education. By the end of the module, you will have developed your own emerging philosophy of schools, understand their varying contexts and Government priorities.

How will I learn on this module?

During your University days, you will be actively engaged in critical and analytical debates about current educational policy and the implications for your own professional practice, learning and emerging philosophy of education. You will be taught through lectures, seminars and debates in University, led by academic staff and through professional dialogue with and observation of school mentors. You will be required to prepare for the university days through engaging in some pre-lecture reading tasks. This combination of theory and school based observation and practice will have a significant impact upon your development as a reflective classroom practitioner.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be well supported through lectures and seminars, to develop your criticality of the topics within this module. You will be provided with detailed guidance on your assignment and signposted to some of the key reading to support your thinking. You will be allocated an academic guidance tutor, who will support you throughout the year through tutorial sessions and 1-1 guidance as required. All key reading resources needed for taught sessions will be provided through the Elp. A central feature the academic support available to you is the service provided by the University Library. This 24/7 service caters for all your learning needs and has extensive access to electronic texts and tutorials that will also support your learning in this module. As much of the time is spent in school, the electronic access will be of particular benefit to you.

What will I be expected to read?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk

(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge and Understanding:

1.You will develop an understanding of recent and relevant learning theories and their impact upon teaching and learning

2.You will learn to reflect upon the underpinning ideologies, philosophies and perspectives of education and how these impact upon education;

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

1.You will apply your knowledge to effectively develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding, giving pupils educational experiences which are appropriate, creative and empowering

2.You will learn to demonstrate clear analysis of role of the teacher and the professional role of teaching, relating these to contemporary national and international debates

Personal Values Attributes

(Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA): •

1.You will develop and model the highest professional standards in behaviour, attitudes, values and relationships with pupils;

2.You will develop an understanding of the wider learning experience, and progression across the Key Stages and subjects for which you are training;

3.You will gain a perspective on the factors that affect learning, these may nclude: pupils’ social, cultural, linguistic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, gender, and the additional educational needs which they may have

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment:

You will receive formative feedback through tutorial sessions with both school based subject mentors and university tutors as you work on your evaluation of the theories and their impact on your practice and pupil learning.

Summative assessment

The summative assessment will be a fifteen minute presentation on how you have been informed by current and relevant educational theory, to develop and lead a targeted initiative to improve pupil understanding, engagement and attainment in one curriculum area. If you are a secondary student, this curriculum area will be your designated subject.

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Module Abstract

This module will enable you to engage with some of the key policies which influence current education practice. It will help you understand the ‘big picture’ in terms of education in a regional, national and international context. Understanding political, theoretical and educational contexts will be of significant benefit to you as a trainee teacher in the classroom and will contribute to you development of skills necessary to become an outstanding teacher. Your immersion in school will enable you to take the issues you have learnt within this module and apply them to a school context. The lectures, seminars and on line resources within this module will enable you to join a collaborative learning community, crucial to the development your own philosophy in education.