Reflecting Upon Practice module (PD50189)

The process of reflection and reflective practice is crucial for any successful educator.

This includes the ability to critically analyse your actions. You also reflect on the personal and professional ethos of being an educator.

This will help you change the way you think and act. It also allows you to develop and improve your practice. This not only benefits yourself but also your colleagues and the learners you support.

By engaging in this practice, you will be prepared for Master's level study. You will also be introduced to aspects of academic study such as

• searching and selecting reliable and valid sources
• academic writing including referencing

You will consider what it means to be a professional educator. This will include considering formal standards for educators. You will look at this in different settings, from around the world. You will apply this to your own professional setting to help you develop your career.

You will learn about the principles and the theory of reflective practice. You will apply this to your own development.

You will explore new theories and research. This will build on your prior knowledge and experience.

During the final stages of the module, you will look at action planning for the future. This will also cover preparation for the final assessment. During this, you will consider your own previous, current, and future professional development.

You will cover a wide range of theory and research. You will also be introduced to key skills and knowledge. This will prepare you for the rest of your Master's study.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• understand key professional issues that impact or have impacted upon your professional life
• understand organising and managing the learning environment. This will be in the context of recent educational developments and research
• ability to review and engage critically with reading and research

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• assess approaches to professional development and practice
• critically review professional experience. You will be able to use this review as the basis for planning. This will allow you to set targets for future professional development
• critically discuss the nature of their own and others’ professionalism
• articulate your own professional philosophy of educational practice

Assignments / assessment

• 4,000 word essay (100%)

This module does not have a final exam

Teaching methods / timetable

Full time on-campus

Each semester will consist of 10 weeks of teaching which are all timetabled and the learning and teaching will consist of the following:

• in-person lectures
• workshops
• reading and completing associated tasks
• writing and working towards your final assessment
• peer-to-peer learning opportunities

For full-time students, lectures will last approx. 2.5 hours, some sessions are split over 2 days. You will be expected to attend all lectures which are held between Monday -Friday.

Online

The module is delivered online over 17 weeks. The learning and teaching will consist of the following: 

• online seminars
• individual tutorial opportunities
• discussion boards
• asynchronous module materials to work through at your own pace

Self-driven study time will include:

• reading and completing associated tasks
• engaging with a wide range of online materials to support self-study
• writing and working towards your final assessment
• peer-to-peer learning opportunities