PSP6002 - Evaluating Current Debates and Developments

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Outline different historical perspectives on modern childhood.
Contextualise contemporary controversies of modern childhood within these historical perspectives.
Debate presentations of modern childhood in a range of media, including international accounts.
Analyse the different components of arguments including evidence and persuasion.
Develop skills in structuring and presenting evidence-informed persuasive arguments.

Content:

This module will expose students to enduring and contemporary controversies surrounding modern childhood. Differing perspectives upon childhood and different approaches towards working with children and families will be compared and contrasted and evaluated in terms of their various merits. Because the module focuses upon ‘current debates’ around children and practice, the focal content of the module is likely to change. Hence, students will be introduced to emerging and novel controversies as they emerge in the news, media and current affairs. Students will be required to stay abreast of current affairs and developments in their area of expertise and practice.

These emerging controversies will be explored and analysed within the context of established theories and perspectives on childhood and the values of childhood. Topics may include: childhood and risk, childhood and freedom, childhood and the media, childhood and work, childhood and leisure, childhood and state, childhood and consumption, childhood and regulation, childhood and violence, childhood and international comparisons.

Students will be expected to develop their understanding of effective argumentation, both in terms of appraising the arguments of other commentators on modern childhood and also developing their own performance and skills in presenting a stance and developing an argument within these current debates, controversies and developments.

Learning and Teaching Information:

As the module involves analysis and evaluation of contemporary controversies of childhood with reference to national and international historical contexts, students will be required to commit to highly interactive workshops and seminars and contribute towards debating the issues. Alongside this facilitated approach, aspects of the module will be lecturer led in terms of providing stimulus readings and audio visual material and structured guidance relating to the assignments. Formative assessment opportunities will take place – peer formative assessment leading up to the debate and tutor formative assessment through discussion and seminars.

Lectures, seminars and workshops
Hours: 27
Intended Group size: Cohort

On-line support and small group tutorials
Hours: 1 (min)
Intended Group size: 6-10

Guided independent study
Hours: 172

Further details relating to assessment
The individual rationale will be a written piece based upon a group debate and the student’s own contribution to that debate.

Assessment: