| Unit name | Teaching and Studying in Higher Education |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EDUCD0076 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | D/8 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Education |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The unit examines theoretical perspectives on and research approaches to the curricular, pedagogic, and policy implications of current debates about teaching and studying in higher education. The unit draws upon social psychology, sociology, cultural studies, gender studies and management and organisational studies. Themes include the organisational cultures of staff and students in higher educational institutions, the implications of widening access to HE by students from disadvantaged groups, the cultural, social and teaching/learning impact of international students, the challenges of e-learning, (including distance, blended & distributed learning and Virtual Learning Environments) and exploration of the connections between research and teaching. The extent to which these themes are relevant to different HE systems (eg Europe, East Asia, USA etc) will also be considered. The unit will be of value to academics, HE students, learning-support staff, educational developers, HE managers and administrators and those who wish to enter such occupations.
Aims:
To provide a knowledge and critical understanding of key theoretical and policy debates relevant to teaching and studying and their cultural, social and political context in contemporary higher education institutions
To develop the capacity to analyse key theoretical and policy debates in relation to particular higher education systems and organisations
To help participants learn how to use a critical synthesis of theoretical and empirical knowledge about teaching and studying in contemporary higher education to facilitate the design of relevant policies at a system or organisational level and evaluate the outcomes of such policies using appropriate research techniques/methods.
Able to describe, compare and explain key theoretical and policy debates relevant to a variety of aspects of teaching and studying in higher education
Able to apply this knowledge to any higher education system or organisation, including one within which a participant is currently working or studying
Able to develop and implement policy changes in teaching and/or studying in a higher education system or organisation on the basis of a critical appraisal of relevant literature and subsequently able to evaluate the outcomes of the policy using appropriate research techniques/methods.
Lectures, seminars, workshops, role-play, on-line discussion
The needs of a wide range of students, including those with disabilities, international students and those from ethnic minority backgrounds have been considered. It is not anticipated that the teaching and assessment methods used will cause disadvantage to any person taking the unit. The Graduate School of Education is happy to address individual support requests as necessary.
Portfolio of work equivalent to 4000 words to include:
A critical review of a theoretical or empirical text related to any one of the themes of the unit (maximum 1000 words)
An analysis of how the implications of this text might be applied to a particular higher education system or organisation (maximum 1000 words)
A case study of the development and evaluation of a policy related to teaching or studying in a higher education system or organisation (2000 words).
