Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, participants will be able to:

1) Identify their own professional development needs and plan, work towards, monitor and review personal learning goals
2) Critically examine and reflect on their own professional practice
3) Display knowledge and critical understanding of key theoretical frameworks in thinking critically about a chosen aspect of education
4) Analyse, critically reflect on and synthesise research findings and other evidence to inform their practice in thinking critically about education
5) Adopt a critical practitioner enquiry approach to develop their professional practice
6) Reflect on and evaluate the impact of their learning on their professional practice

Content:

Participants will:
� Analyse the processes involved in critical thinking for evaluating policy, practice and research in education
� Examine the processes of reading critically about issues in education � Critically analyse ways in which educational theory and research may be used to inform understandings of teaching and learning
� Reflect on the relationship between theory and practice in the profession context
� Critically explore the notions of reflective practice and practitioner enquiry
� Analyse the potential usefulness and the validity of research and scholarship in supporting school improvement, and personal and professional development.
� Write critically on aspects of educational policy and practice relevant to their professional context
� Use reflective practitioner and/or practitioner research approaches to evaluate their own critical thinking

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning will include tutor input, discussion, learning conversations, action learning sets, practitioner enquiry, workshops, presentations, practical tasks, fieldwork, seminars and independent study as appropriate. Reflective practice will be facilitated in taught sessions and supported by tutorials and online forums on the college VLE. Support will be available for the preparation of the work based assignment.
Participants will be expected to draw on their own professional experiences and relevant research in order to contribute to, and lead, group activities.

Seminars, Workshops and Tutorials
Contact hours: 24
Intended Group size: Variable and usually 10-25

Additional assessment information
The assessment will address the module�s and programme learning outcomes and is directly related to professional practice. It provides opportunities for participants to reflect upon, critique, and investigate research, policy and practice as it impacts on their professional practice.