Secondary Education: Critical Observations

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Organise and articulate opinions and arguments in speech and writing using relevant specialist vocabulary.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of societal and organisational structures and purposes of secondary education, and the possible implications for learners and the learning process.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the underlying values, principles and practices relevant to secondary education.
• Systematically analyse educational concepts, theories and issues of policy in a secondary context.
• Select and apply a range of relevant theoretical and research-based evidence (primary and secondary sources), to extend your knowledge and understanding.

The module will incorporate critical observation and analysis of diverse aspects of secondary education, locating issues in their social, cultural, historical and political contexts.

Topics normally covered in this module will include:

• Historical overview of the development of the secondary school system
• Significant recent legislation and its impact on whole-school policy
• Shifting values underlying secondary education
• Approaches to inclusion
• Classroom patterns of interaction- focus on behaviour management policies and practices
• Social contexts for learning
• The positioning of children as pupils and learner
• The role of assessment in secondary school learning
• Critical reflection on own educational history
• Accountability structures in secondary education
• Approaches to safeguarding and child protection

This module is taught through a mix of lectures and seminars along with directed reading and suggested additional research. Typically, there will be an interactive lecture and seminar each week with the exception of the weeks during your visits to a secondary education setting. You will be expected to carry out critical observations in secondary school settings (a minimum of 8 hours).

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Group presentation

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Assignment feedback will be available via Blackboard with rubric highlighting strengths and areas for development.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.