ED2BEP-Contemporary Education and Policy

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Richard Harris
Email: r.j.harris@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will cultivate students’ understanding of the UK’s post-war public policy context within which education is a part. It will promote the use of critical thinking in order to explore political and philosophical debates in relation to the purpose of education in society. Ìý

Aims:

This module will encourage students to see education from an historical and political context, with reference to legislative and policy developments. It will consider the use of education as a social tool and it will refer to literature to consider questions about the purpose of education within society.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Identify a range of policy and legislative changes in education


• Critically analyse a range of perspectives in relation to the purpose and value of education


• Demonstrate an understanding through analysis of ethical and moral considerations in relation to the concept of the rights of the individual


• Evaluate factors impacting on education through policy development and implementation

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

• Exploring the purpose of education


• Understanding the impact of curriculum and assessment


• Contemporary education policy in the UK


• Legislative and political change in education


• Educational philosophers and their work


• Structures of education and society

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, discussion groups, small group tasks and online contributionsÌý