Programme Specifications

Education Studies

September 2023

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex body of knowledge associated with Childhood Studies.

• To help students understand the methodologies of disciplines which can contribute to Childhood Studies.

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop critical and independent thinking, and problem solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment.

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop the ability to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements andt o communicate effectively.

On completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Historical, political and social issues surrounding childhood

• Child development and behaviour

• Sociology of childhood

• Literacy and numeracy

• The aims, methods and criteria of assessment

• Language development

• Working with children

• Special educational needs

• Health and wellbeing issues associated with childhood

[ Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated ]

The above topics are taught through modules which use the following learning and teaching activities:

i) Lectures

ii) Seminars

iii) Workshops

iv) One to one tutorials

v) Practical experience

The following methods of assessment are variously used:

i) End of semester unseen written examinations

ii) Written assignments

iii) Written projects

iv) Dissertations

v) Oral presentations

The methods of assessment are accompanied by the following criteria of assessment:

i) Presentation

ii) Coverage

iii) Sources

iv) Knowledge and Understanding

v) Evaluation

vi) Evidence and Coherent Argument

10.2.1 Intellectual skills

• B1 Understand strategies to retrieve information from various sources: books, journal, reports, databases, Web pages

• B2 Interpret accurately source material

• B3 Synthesise ideas from source materials

• B4 Evaluate critically source materials

• B5 Understand different methods and principles of data collection

• B6 Analyse both qualitative and quantitative data competently applying analytic concepts from an appropriate theory and methodology

• B7 Argue coherently by analysing evidence and applying logical thinking

• B8 Formulate and test hypotheses

• B9 lan and conduct investigations

Teaching

All of the above skills are promoted in lectures through direct instruction or through exposure to them; they are also promoted through encounters with source materials which are recommended to the students. ‘Understanding methods of data collection’, ‘formulating and testing hypotheses’, and ‘planning and conducting investigations’ are especially promoted through the one to one sessions for undergraduate dissertations.

Assessment

The assessment methods and their criteria are the same as those which are listed in 10.1. Retrieving information is more appropriately assessed by assignments, projects and dissertations because of the greater amount of time which they give to students. Understanding data collection, formulating and testing hypotheses and planning and conducting investigations are more appropriately assessed by projects and dissertations for the same reason.

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• C1 Work independently

• C2 Work in a team

• C3 Appreciate the views and beliefs of others through their critical evaluation

• C4 Listen discriminately

• C5 Communicate orally

• C6 Communicate in writing

• C7 Use electronic media to communicate

• C8 Word process

• C9 Use the Web

• C10 Manage time and work to deadlines

• C11 Research issues

• C12 Solve problems

• C13 Adapt to change

• C14 Develop career awareness

Teaching

Lectures encourage the evaluation of the views of others, discriminate listening, managing time, researching issues and solving problems. Project work and one to one tutorials encourage the same range of skills, but the former also promotes team work in the co-operative investigation of a topic, and the latter promotes independent work. The flexibility of seminars promotes the majority of the skills. Career awareness is encouraged throughout teaching methods and one to one tutorials. An awareness of change is encouraged through studying the historical development of different aspects of a discipline.

Assessment

Working independently, appreciating the views of others, communicating in writing, word-processing, managing time, researching issues, solving problems are necessary skills to perform adequately on all forms of assessment (although traditional examinations promote handwritten scripts rather than word-processed ones).

Education Studies

September 2023

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex body of knowledge associated with Childhood Studies.

• To help students understand the methodologies of disciplines which can contribute to Childhood Studies.

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop critical and independent thinking, and problem solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment.

• To provide students with an opportunity to develop the ability to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements andt o communicate effectively.

On completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Historical, political and social issues surrounding childhood

• Child development and behaviour

• Sociology of childhood

• Literacy and numeracy

• The aims, methods and criteria of assessment

• Language development

• Working with children

• Special educational needs

• Health and wellbeing issues associated with childhood

[ Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated ]

The above topics are taught through modules which use the following learning and teaching activities:

i) Lectures

ii) Seminars

iii) Workshops

iv) One to one tutorials

v) Practical experience

The following methods of assessment are variously used:

i) End of semester unseen written examinations

ii) Written assignments

iii) Written projects

iv) Dissertations

v) Oral presentations

The methods of assessment are accompanied by the following criteria of assessment:

i) Presentation

ii) Coverage

iii) Sources

iv) Knowledge and Understanding

v) Evaluation

vi) Evidence and Coherent Argument

10.2.1 Intellectual skills

• B1 Understand strategies to retrieve information from various sources: books, journal, reports, databases, Web pages

• B2 Interpret accurately source material

• B3 Synthesise ideas from source materials

• B4 Evaluate critically source materials

• B5 Understand different methods and principles of data collection

• B6 Analyse both qualitative and quantitative data competently applying analytic concepts from an appropriate theory and methodology

• B7 Argue coherently by analysing evidence and applying logical thinking

• B8 Formulate and test hypotheses

• B9 lan and conduct investigations

Teaching

All of the above skills are promoted in lectures through direct instruction or through exposure to them; they are also promoted through encounters with source materials which are recommended to the students. ‘Understanding methods of data collection’, ‘formulating and testing hypotheses’, and ‘planning and conducting investigations’ are especially promoted through the one to one sessions for undergraduate dissertations.

Assessment

The assessment methods and their criteria are the same as those which are listed in 10.1. Retrieving information is more appropriately assessed by assignments, projects and dissertations because of the greater amount of time which they give to students. Understanding data collection, formulating and testing hypotheses and planning and conducting investigations are more appropriately assessed by projects and dissertations for the same reason.

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• C1 Work independently

• C2 Work in a team

• C3 Appreciate the views and beliefs of others through their critical evaluation

• C4 Listen discriminately

• C5 Communicate orally

• C6 Communicate in writing

• C7 Use electronic media to communicate

• C8 Word process

• C9 Use the Web

• C10 Manage time and work to deadlines

• C11 Research issues

• C12 Solve problems

• C13 Adapt to change

• C14 Develop career awareness

Teaching

Lectures encourage the evaluation of the views of others, discriminate listening, managing time, researching issues and solving problems. Project work and one to one tutorials encourage the same range of skills, but the former also promotes team work in the co-operative investigation of a topic, and the latter promotes independent work. The flexibility of seminars promotes the majority of the skills. Career awareness is encouraged throughout teaching methods and one to one tutorials. An awareness of change is encouraged through studying the historical development of different aspects of a discipline.

Assessment

Working independently, appreciating the views of others, communicating in writing, word-processing, managing time, researching issues, solving problems are necessary skills to perform adequately on all forms of assessment (although traditional examinations promote handwritten scripts rather than word-processed ones).