Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE EDS5001

 
TITLE Themes in Education 1

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Education Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit is a knowledge-based and inquiry- led exploration of key educational issues including the development of a teacher professional identity, schools as communities of learning, social and cultural diversity, classroom climate, student-teacher relationships, classroom and school policies of respect and tolerance, and parental involvement. These issues will be explored through keynote lectures, small group seminars, inquiry-based activities and observation and professional development seminars.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to help students:
- discover their vocation and develop their professional identity as educators, and members of a community of practice “which is inspired by values of inclusiveness and the need to nurture the potential of all learners.” (European Union, Commission of the European Communities, 2005, p.1);
- commit themselves to a practice-to-theory approach;
- conduct a structured inquiry, reflection and research on professional issues;
- foster a holistic teacher identity by reducing compartmentalisation of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- research and reflect on various educational themes inspired from experiences in off-campus settings;
- identify and appraise the features needed to form part of the educators’ community of practice;
- critically reflect on one's own actions, attitudes and values;
- identify, explore and practice the values of teaching; and
- analyse and evaluate educational and learning issues.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- demonstrate the use of positive interpersonal skills through engagement in different learning environments;
- collaborate with others when tackling specific issues in off-campus environments; and
- analyse and respond to individual differences in learning within the classroom setting.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Pollard, A (2014) (Ed.) Readings for Reflective Teaching in Schools. London, Bloomsbury.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Seminar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM2 No 30%
Assignment SEM2 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Philip Bonanno
Carmel P. Borg
Maria M. Brown
Louise Chircop (Co-ord.)
George Cremona
Maria Cutajar
Edward Duca
Joseph Gravina
Victor Martinelli
Doreen Spiteri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit