ED2BCY: Constructions of Childhood and Youth

Module code: ED2BCY

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr David Dobraszczyk, email: d.dobraszczyk@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Carol Fuller, email: C.L.Fuller@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Children and young people are often at the centre of societal and political concern and debate. As they represent our future socially, economically, and culturally, there is also a great deal of psychological research and policy focused on addressing issues and supporting development within these groups. Therefore, by investigating how psychology, sociology, policy, and research construct childhood and youth we can learn a great deal about key issues and considerations for those working in this field.

The module aims to:

• Familiarise students with issues around child and youth development
• Produce a critical understanding of fundamental issues related to childhood and youth
• Develop confidence with researching and discussing child and youth developmental theories
• Examine childhood and youth as a psychosocial, cultural, and political construct
• Challenge assumptions around childhood and youth in the context of policy and practice

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Evaluate key psychological and sociological theories of childhood and youth and related research, practice, and policy
2. Critique childhood and youth related policy and practice and how these interact with concepts of education
3. Evaluate evidence of impact in the context of working with children and young people
4. Articulate and justify an informed point of view on key debates through taking part in discussions

Module content

The module includes investigation and evaluation of:

• Theories of childhood and youth
• Policy and practice
• Comparative perspectives on childhood and youth
• The significance of children and young people socially, politically, and economically

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, group discussions, small group tasks, research tasks, and online contributions.

Study hours

At least 18 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Sample review of evidence.

Reassessment

Additional costs