EDM206: Education and Professionalism

Module code: EDM206

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Alan Floyd, email: alan.floyd@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: Yes

Last updated: 17 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Professional arenas are increasingly subject to government intervention, ostensibly to improve organisational as well as individual effectiveness, with an emphasis on standards, coupled strongly with mechanisms of accountability and deep economic concerns about needs for the rationalisation of resources. The aim of this module is to explore the changing nature of education professions, and attendant notions of professionalism, against this backdrop. Content draws on current research evidence, key concepts and academic debates in order to develop students’ own critical reflection on their professionalism and their readiness to undertake practice-oriented empirical research.

Aims:

• To develop an understanding of the key concepts and issues related to professionalism across all sectors of education including values, subject knowledge, culture, identity and ethics.
• To critically examine literature, theories, frameworks and conceptual models of professionalism from education, and elsewhere, and relate these to practice
• To enable participants to theorise and enhance their practice through critically engaged reflection on their own professionalism
• To provide an opportunity for participants to undertake a small-scale research study within their own institution exploring an aspect of professionalism.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and issues surrounding professionalism and how these relate to political, cultural and societal influences
2. Critically examine literature, theories, frameworks and conceptual models of professionalism from education and elsewhere and relate these to practice
3. Reflect upon and enhance their own practice as educational professionals
4. Demonstrate their ability to select and employ appropriate research methods in relation to their research focus
5. Develop increased depth to their understanding of a substantial body of knowledge relating to professional values, identity and practices
6. Increase their ability to communicate complex information in both oral and written communication

Module content

Educational Professionals in Context – Global and Local issues; Professional Values; Professional Knowledge; Professional Identities and Cultures; Ethics; Trust and Accountability; Professional Development

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module takes place in the first year of the programme and runs over 1 academic year. The module will be delivered over two mandatory study weekends of learning at the University of Reading campus, plus one online synchronous workshop.  Teaching and learning activities will include seminars, group discussions amongst peers, online learning activities, as well as individual/group tutorials. Independent study will be facilitated by appropriate activities and guidance concerning directed reading, as well as on-line learning tasks that promote the intended learning outcomes.

Study hours

At least 9 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 50% 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.

Feedback will be offered on an outline research proposal

Feedback will be offered on a draft version of each assignment up to a month before the final submission deadline.

Reassessment

Additional costs