GV3SCW-Spaces of Care and Wellbeing

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Ruth Evans
Email: r.evans@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding about key theoretical approaches to geographies of care and wellbeing and how these may be applied through the use of participatory methods to diverse spaces in the local community and globally. Through the Participation Lab’s work with local charities and service providers, opportunities will be provided for students to engage with practitioners working with refugees, people experiencing loneliness and other marginalised groups in Reading.  It aims to develop participatory research and employability skills through:

• participant observation in community settings, consulting with an external client (practitioners in local support organisations) and writing a consultancy report


• a mini-project to design and facilitate a participatory research session on youth wellbeing and care with fellow students, analyse the data gathered, synthesise the findings and reflect on participatory praxis.

Aims:

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding about key theoretical approaches to geographies of care and wellbeing and how these may be applied through the use of participatory methods to diverse spaces in the local community and globally. The module aims to develop research and employability skills through participant observation in community settings, scoping meetings with external clients (practitioners in local support organisations) and bespoke consultancy report writing. It also aims to develop students’ skills in using participatory methods by designing and facilitating a participatory session on youth wellbeing and care with their peers, analysing the data gathered and writing an individual mini-project report.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

• Describe and analyse a range of theoretical approaches to geographies of care and wellbeing


• Critically evaluate research on care and wellbeing in diverse spaces globally


• Apply knowledge about academic theories and concepts to local community settings which seek to provide care and support for marginalised groups


• Carry out a participant observation of caring relations and practices in a local community setting for marginalised groups and writing a report reflecting on the observations


• Demonstrate employability skills through consulting with external clients and writing a bespoke consultancy report that meets their needs


• Demonstrate creativity and engagement by designing appropriate research methods and facilitating a participatory session on youth wellbeing and care with their peers


• Analyse the qualitative/ participatory data gathered, synthesise the findings and reflect on participatory praxis in a mini-project report. 

Additional outcomes:

• Skills of critical reading and independent learning will be developed through students’ individual reading and preparation of coursework


• Understanding and sensitivity to the needs of marginalised groups will be developed through engagement with practitioners and clients of local support services


• Team working skills will be developed through planning and facilitating the participatory research session with their peers.

Outline content:

The module explores geographies of care and wellbeing from a range of theoretical perspectives and applies these to diverse spaces of care and wellbeing locally and globally. The topics discussed include: caringscapes and chronic illness, caringscapes and family deaths, care ethics and migration, translocal care, youth wellbeing and mental health, therapeutic landscapes and loneliness and wellbeing. The skills workshops focus on participant observation, writing a consultancy report, participatory methods and planning the mini-project.

Global context:

This module focuses on care and wellbeing in diverse contexts globally. It draws on Dr. Evans’ research in African countries as well as in the UK and provides insight into global processes such as international migration and translocal caring practices.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module comprises eight key topics which will be explored through the lecturer’s introductions to the topic, students’ preparatory reading and active engagement in discussions and activities in class. Five skills workshops will prepare students for the fieldwork and coursework assignments. Workshops will focus on preparing the coursework assignments, participant observation, consulting with clients and writing a consultancy report, participatory methods and planning the mini-p roject. Group fieldwork (in groups of approximately 6 students) will take place in Weeks 5 (participant observation in community spaces) and 10 and 11 (participatory sessions with peers in class). Assessment is through three individual coursework assignments, which draw on the group fieldwork. Arrangements will be made with local support organisations working in Reading who are willing to facilitate the participant observation and consultancy report in advance. The organisations involved will be confirmed at the start of the module.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		12
Seminars		13
Fieldwork		1
External visits		2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		20
Wider reading (directed)		20
Advance preparation for classes		10
Preparation of practical report		30
Group study tasks		10
Carry-out research project		12
Essay preparation		60
Reflection		10
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	30
Project output other than dissertation	50
Practical skills assessment	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework assignment 1: Participant observation reflection (1,000 words) (20 %) Week 7, Autumn term

Coursework assignment 2: Consultancy report (1,500 words) (30%) Week 9, Autumn term

Coursework assignment 3: Mini-project report (2,500 words) (50%) Week 1, Spring term.

Formative assessment methods:

Class discussions of preparatory reading and activities and skills workshops will provide feedback about students’ learning and engagement with key concepts and research methods. The participant observation session and scoping meetings with external clients provide opportunities to engage with and learn from local practitioners about their work to support marginalised groups. Planning and facilitating the participatory session with peers will provide valuable experience of team working and group facilitation and opportunities for informal feedback about the session. 

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-submission of coursework components during the following assessment period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: The participant observation with local support organisations may require students to meet bus/transport costs to community spaces in central Reading.

Last updated: 30 March 2023