HED7033 - Investigating the wider context of Higher Education: Alternative assessment portfolio descriptor 2 (Fellow)

Objectives:

On successful compltion of the module, students will be able to:

1 - Critically interrogate local, national and international influences on higher education policy and practice
2 - Critically evaluate cultures, customs and practices of higher education institutions in the context of their own professional practice
3 - Present a systematic and research-informed evaluation of their own professional context, providing evidence of all Descriptor 2 Fellow criteria.

Content:

The module content will take a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) philosophy and be adapted to take account of current policy, practice and political debates in the national and international arena of higher education. An ecological approach will be taken to build participants’ critical knowledge and understanding of a wide range of influences on institutional policy and practice, including power relationships between local, regional, national and international actors. Issues of equity and social justice will be embedded across all critical evaluation. Employing their critical awareness and evaluation of cultures, customs and practices in higher education, participants will systematically evaluate and critique an aspect of policy/practice within their own professional domain, with opportunity to develop a theory of change to share with colleagues and leaders.

Participants will be supported in preparing to submit a portfolio of evidence against Descriptor 2 of the Advance HE PSF (2023).

Learning and Teaching Information:

Participants will learn through a mix of approaches. These include lead lectures from experts in the field; some guest speakers may be used to deliver lead lectures in specific areas. These lectures will then be linked with seminar style activities to facilitate discussion and promote reflexive learning. A dialogic approach to learning will support participants to share ideas with colleagues from other sectors/backgrounds or specialisms. The module will make use of Moodle and Teams where relevant to support distance learning.

Scheduled teaching and learning: lectures, seminars and tutorials
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: 20

Mentor meetings
Hours: 2
Intended Group Size: 1-5

Guided independent study
Hours: 268



Further details relating to assessment

Negotiated assessment for learning outcome 1 will allow participants to contextualise their critical interrogation in relation to an aspect of key influence that is most relevant to their discipline/professional context. A specific marking rubric for this component will be provided to participants to support their choice of assessment format and content.

Portfolio is mapped against Descriptor 2 Fellow (PSF, 2023) criteria and must provide evidence of:

D2.1 use of all five Professional Values
In your context, show how you:
- V1 respect individual learners and diverse groups of learners
- V2 promote engagement in learning and equity of opportunity for all to reach their potential
- V3 use scholarship, or research, or professional learning, or other evidence-informed approaches as a basis for effective practice
- V4 respond to the wider context in which higher education operates, recognising implications for practice
- V5 collaborate with others to enhance practice

D2.2 application of all five forms of Core Knowledge
In your context, apply knowledge of:
- K1 how learners learn, generally and within specific subjects
- K2 approaches to teaching and/or supporting learning, appropriate for subjects and level of study
- K3 critical evaluation as a basis for effective practice
- K4 appropriate use of digital and/or other technologies, and resources for learning
- K5 requirements for quality assurance and enhancement, and their implications for practice

D2.3 effective and inclusive practice in all five Areas of Activity
In your context, demonstrate that you:
- A1 design and plan learning activities and/or programmes
- A2 teach and/or support learning through appropriate approaches and environments
- A3 assess and give feedback for learning
- A4 support and guide learners
- A5 enhance practice through own continuing professional development

The written portfolio will consist of:
- 3000-word reflective account, mapped to D2 criteria and relevant theory/literature
- Authentication of practice: two peer reviews of teaching and learning/supporting statements

The oral portfolio will consist of a pre-submission of evidence:
- Supporting evidence related to D2 criteria
- Authentication of practice: two peer reviews of teaching and learning/supporting statements
Followed by a 25-30 minute professional dialogue where the participant explores their professional context as related to relevant pedagogical theory and literature and provides a narrative of their professional experience against D2 criteria.

Please note that both components must be passed to achieve Advance HE Fellow and Level 7 credits.

Assessment:

001 Negotiated Assessment; 2000 words; 40%; End of term 40%
002 Portfolio: written or oral; 3000 word equivalent; 60%; End of term 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Amanda Nuttall
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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