Module overview
Society often sees school as the sole site of learning. Yet people learn from a variety of sources, in a variety of places and for various reasons. The reality is that a great deal of learning takes place in the social and cultural contexts that are offered outside school - informal settings, such as museums, social media, traditional media, hobbies, friends, family and many more. This module will focus on the learning that happens in these contexts.
The module takes a hands-on-approach to understanding how to design learning activities for such environments.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Successfully work in a group to accomplish a common goal
- Engage in reflective practice
- Plan and execute learning activities implementing theories into practice
- Make information accessible to different audiences
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Different types of environments that foster informal learning and identify their specific characteristics
- Relevant theoretical models and frameworks of informal learning
- The complex characteristics of learning in informal contexts
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Develop an educational activity that takes place within an informal context
- Apply theoretical models and frameworks to real world situations
- Reflect on your experience of designing an informal learning activity
Syllabus
Typically, this module will cover:
- The nature of learning in informal settings
- Learning in designed (structured) environments (museums, etc.)
- Learning in unstructured environments (learning at home)
- Integrating informal principles in formal environments
- Game based learning, gamification and serious games
- Learning from media (social and traditional)
- Public engagement
Using the models and frameworks:
- Models and frameworks of informal activities
- Models and principles of public engagement
- Designing thinking and pedagogical design
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This module is taught through a mix of interactive lectures and hands-on workshops along with directed reading and suggested additional research material. Each session will take place in a different location around the university and the city of Southampton (including outdoor and museums).
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 22 |
| Wider reading or practice | 30 |
| Completion of assessment task | 38 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 26 |
| Follow-up work | 30 |
| External visits | 4 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
During the module, there will be discussions so that the students can receive peer and tutor feedback. The final module assessment will involve in creating a group artefact, delivering it and writing a newsletter item. In addition, each student will write a reflection on the process and what they learnt from it.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Artefact or site analysis | 75% |
| Individual reflection | 25% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual reflection | 25% |
| Coursework | 75% |
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.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 75% |
| Individual reflection | 25% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External