Education and Lifelong Learning - 2013 entry

This course, taught at Swindon College, provides a clear progression route from foundation degree Support for Learning to honours degree. You receive full credit for your foundation degree (240 CATs). The modules are relevant and interesting, extending your previous learning and providing opportunities to relate your learning to your practice. Teaching and learning strategies will engage you actively in reflection, discussion with others, working on case studies and doing your own research. The timetabling will fit with the school terms and give you scope to combine study with part-time work. Swindon College has a dedicated Higher Education Centre and offers you the opportunity to study locally.

The course aims to provide a balance between provision of information and opportunities to learning actively on your own and with others. Teaching and learning strategies will:

• introduce you to, and encourage you to engage with, new areas of learning and broaden and deepen your existing knowledge
• encourage you to engage in critical analysis of concepts, theories and practice
• provide the opportunity for you to acquire practical experience in a range of activities from empirical research to presenting your findings
• engage you in personal and critical reflection on your experiences, your learning and your practice, encouraging you to take responsibility for your own learning and development.

Teaching and learning strategies will be varied, recognising and responding to your experience, learning style, motivation and stage of development. There will be challenges to interest and motivate you and support to help you in achieving your potential. Your own individual study will be an important part of your learning. Collaborative work with peers will provide an opportunity for learning from shared experiences, giving and receiving support and broadening your understanding of education in a range of settings from foundation stage to lifelong learning.

Assessment tasks are designed to engage you in deep learning, extending your knowledge and understanding of the module content and developing a range of lifelong learning skills. The assessments provide opportunities for you to research real-life problems and issues in your professional role, make recommendations to address these, implement and evaluate change. All assessment is through coursework. Feedback on each assignment will enable you to improve your work and your grades as you progress through the course. Assignment briefing and support sessions and activities that mirror key aspects of assignment tasks will help you in achieving the assessment tasks.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• recognise the scope and functions of curriculum within the different contexts and critically evaluate implementation at local, national and international levels
• understand, apply and appraise a range of education concepts, practice and skills to enhance current and future professional practice and contribute to your organisation’s development
• recognise and evaluate the significance of political, social, economic and technological influences on education
• critically evaluate the role of the individual within the organisation, and the importance of self-awareness within an academic, professional and lifelong learning context
• demonstrate a critical awareness of contemporary issues in education and reflect on the impact of these on professional and organisational roles and expectations
• apply robust educational research methodology and techniques and understand its role in the development of ideas and thinking at the forefront of the discipline and practice
• apply educational tools of research, analysis, decision-making and evaluation to a wide range of educational scenarios and problems
• effectively select, deploy and evaluate communication and leadership techniques within a range of organisational contexts
• develop appropriate working practices to provide effective support for personalised and inclusive learning, recognising the diversity of the learning environment
• reflect on personal and professional experiences to enhance professional performance, lifelong learning and career development.