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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education : Education

Postgraduate Course: Professional Practice (EDUA11157)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course, which has taught and practice elements, will help students to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be a professional community educator in an increasingly diverse field. It will enable students to make connections between academic theory, professional practice and the student's own professional development. In exploring the complex and dynamic relationship between theory and practice, students will be required to articulate their strengths and weaknesses and to learn how to take responsibility for their professional development. A major project in the practice element will allow students to demonstrate original and creative responses to problems and issues. In overall terms, the course will address complex ethical and professional issues and require students to make informed judgments on issues not addressed by current professional and/or ethical codes or practices. The premise is that modern-day community educators need to be able to manage their own and others' work and to exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional activities.
Course description Professional Identity, Professional Development, Communities of Practice, Reflective Practice, Professional Knowledge, Judgement, Ethics, Values in Practice, Social Justice, Equality,
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Engage in critical discussion on the nature of professionalism, professional values and of the relationship between enquiry, relevant theory and professional practice.
  2. Articulate personal learning needs within a supervisory relationship and within a learning agreement
  3. Plan, manage and execute and evaluate a significant piece of work involving investigation and development
  4. Understand the impact of changing social and cultural contexts on the tasks undertaken by community educators
  5. Practice in original and creative ways, which draw on critical reflection and application of knowledge, understanding and practices
Reading List
Indicative Reading List
Banks, S. (2010) (ed) Ethical Issues in Youth Work, (2nd Edition), London: Routledge.
Barton, D. & Tusting, K. (Eds.) (2005) Beyond Communities of Practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Brookfield, S. (1987) Developing Critical Thinkers, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dall¿Alba, G. (2009) Learning to be Professionals. London: Springer available to download from publisher website at: http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-90-481-2608-8 .
Eraut, M. (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence. London: The Falmer Press.
Fraser, N (2005) Reframing Justice in a Globalizing World New Left Review, 36 pp. 69-88)
Gewirtz, S., Mahony, P., Hextall, I. and Cribb, A. (Eds.) (2009) Changing Teacher Professionalism: International trends, challenges and ways forward, Abingdon: Routledge.
Hodkinson, P. and Issitt, M. (eds)(1995) The Challenge of Competence: Professionalism through Vocational Education and Training, London: Cassell.
Illeris, K. (2003) Three Dimensions of Learning, Leicester: NIACE.
Illeris, K. (2009) Contemporary Theories of Learning: Learning theorists¿in their own words, Abingdon: Routledge.
Kolb, D.A. (1984) Experiential Learning - Experience as the Source of Learning and Development, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Lave, J. & Wenger, E. (1999) Learning and Pedagogy in communities of practice.
Moon, J. (2000) Reflection in Learning and Professional Development: Theory and Practice, London: Kogan Page.
Scanlon, L. (2011) Becoming a Professional. London: Springer available to download from publisher website at:
http://link.springer.com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/book/10.1007%2F978-94-007-1378-9
Schon, D. A. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think In Action, London: Temple Smith.
Thompson, N (2003) Promoting equality, challenging discrimination, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Thompson. S. & Thompson, N. (2008) The critically reflective practitioner. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Wenger, E. (1998) Communities of practice: learning, meaning, and identity, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills critical analysis, reflection, evaluation, autonomy, working with others, planning, recording, communication.
Study Abroad Such an option is not normally available.
Additional Class Delivery Information The practice element involves a block placement equivalent of full-time for 9 weeks, preceded by 1 day per week for 10 weeks.
KeywordsProfessional Identity Professionalism Critical Practice Professional Values Communitites of Practice
Contacts
Course organiserDr Ian Fyfe
Tel: (0131 6)51 4803
Email: ian.fyfe@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Lesley Spencer
Tel: (0131 6)51 6373
Email: Lesley.Spencer@ed.ac.uk
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