Childhood Studies 2B: Practice (U01529)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : EDU-2-CSP

Students will assess their development as childhood practitioners (pedagogues) in their chosen work place. A systematic process of self-development activities will enable students to progressively develop their competence in the workplace. The course will link to the work situation through a weekly group tutorial programme and students will work in learning clusters to develop their understanding of professional development. The course will culminate in seminar events, organised by the learning clusters, attended by course members. This will enable students to gain an understanding of presentation skills. Course tutors will introduce students to the theory and practice of research and evaluation and prepare them to act as 'reflexive practitioners'. Students will examine current professional practice in their work place and take the initiative in some professional activities. Students will gain knowledge of a range of different approaches to childhood research that have enabled parents, children and young people to influence childhood services. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ethics of childhood research, the variety of creative tools employed to work with children (e.g. early childhood observation, draw and write, vignettes, diaries, artwork, PRA etc) and the roles that researchers adopt Students will investigate the notion of participatory research and will be required to compare and contrast different research and evaluation approaches. Students will integrate their knowledge of childhood theory gained from semester 1 to critically analyse work based practices.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : This course is available to students who are working with children/young people in a voluntary or paid capacity and are able to carry out the work related assessment.

? Prohibited combinations : BA Childhood Studies Only

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Education, (The Moray House School of Education, Schedule C)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 2nd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

? Additional Class Information : Contact course secretary

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course students will:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of different research approaches within childhood studies.

- Demonstrate knowledge of childhood research ethics, roles and tools.

- Demonstrate an understanding of participatory and emancipatory research.

- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between research, evaluation and change.

- Demonstrate knowledge of the inter-relationship between childhood theory, method and practice.

- Carry out self evaluation in the workplace.

Assessment Information

Components of Assessment

Students will be required to carry out a Power Point presentation demonstrating their evaluation project's rational, methods, findings and conclusions (equivalent to a 2500 words essay).