Education

What is Education? will focus on key philosophical and sociological debates around the nature and purpose of education and knowledge. You will have the opportunity to consider how these debates shape our understanding of issues such as, what does it mean to be educated, what are universities for, why do people home-school their children, who decides what is taught in schools, etc.

Learning and Learners considers key psychological theories about how people learn. You will be introduced to ideas that will help you to better understand how people acquire knowledge, skills and values, and how teachers and other educators can support this learning. You will examine how teaching practices are highly influenced by our perspectives on learning and learners. You will also explore critical instances of learning and use the theory to understand this better. 

The Academic and Professional Development module in the first year invites you to celebrate your personal experiences and prior knowledge and identify personal and professional priorities. Working with a personal tutor, you will co-construct a five-year personal development plan, which capitalises on your strengths and seeks to identify experiences and opportunities that will support your personal and professional development during your studies and beyond. Such opportunities might include, for example, support on how to work as an effective member of a team, or how to create a digital portfolio.

Places for Learning looks closely at the different spaces and places which provide learning experiences. There will be opportunities to focus in on a specific learning space such as a museum, art gallery, park or virtual space and consider how this place provides learning that is appropriate to the needs of a community.

Policy in Context looks at real-life experiences and how they have been affected by different policies and legislations. You will consider the ways in which policies can be applied differently in different contexts. For example, how did the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child influence your experiences in school? 

In the Manchester Met. Project module, you will have the opportunity to undertake a project that allows you to develop skills and knowledge that you have identified in your professional development plan. Whether inside or outside the University, tutors will support you to select a project that is best for you. You might want to do a placement in a local school, or you might have a passion to explore the work of a local charity with a view to volunteering or working for them in the future. You might want to improve your academic study skills and engage with a range of university study skills programmes. All of your endeavours are supported and guided by your tutor, so that you can identify your personal achievements throughout the project and plan for future development.

Policy and Politics in Education explores how educational policies are shaped by ideological beliefs, political circumstances and national, international and global influences. You will gain a critical understanding of existing education systems and the reasons behind their present structure. For instance, why were schools first created, why some people are for and others against grammar schools, why some schools are faith-based, why are there different possible routes into teaching, etc. You will develop the ability to critique policy which will strengthen your personal and professional development.

The Academic and Professional Development module in your second year of study provides a space for you to consider how you understand professionalism and the implications this has for your personal development as outlined in your five-year plan. In this module, we will consider a range of topics such as ethics, respect, inclusion and communication and explore how you will work with these principles in your future career.

The Manchester Met. Connected module provides a supported space for you to further enhance your repertoire of experiences, skills and knowledge linked to education and/or childhood. Manchester is a city connected, locally, nationally and internationally, meaning that there are so many opportunities it can be difficult to choose! Working with your personal tutor, you will identify an experience or project that will enhance your future career prospects. You will examine and apply appropriate theories in the areas of education and/or early years and childhood studies to explore the inter-relationship between theory and practice. For example, you might choose to volunteer in a nursery and examine and apply theories of child development and sociology of childhood. You might undertake a project in a community educational setting and apply theories an concepts linked to informal education. Alternatively, you may decide to work alongside Manchester Met tutors on special interest projects around topics such as sustainability or social justice or you might want to propose a project of your own.

Initially, the module considers how research affects individuals and institutions and then moves on to consider the process of carrying out research. Through examining a particular topic, for instance, pupil attainment, you will explore and evaluate the methods that might be used, the ethical decisions that need to be taken into account and then reflect upon the different conclusions that may be formed as a result of the research.

With tutor support, you will design and plan a piece of research that aligns with your interests and perhaps your career aspirations. You will explore a range of literature in your chosen field in order to develop your research questions and decide on an appropriate methodological approach. You will undertake a detailed ethical assessment of the project, which might include preparation of participant information sheets and consent forms. This module prepares you for the Dissertation module where you will carry out your research project.

The module will explore social justice education by examining how education can contribute or challenge inequalities. Topics might vary from year to year but you can expect to consider questions such as: why young people living in poverty are less likely to go to university? Why are women usually underrepresented in textbooks? Why do young people rarely have a say in issues that affect them most like climate change, school evaluations or university fees? And, what can school leaders, teachers, youth workers or policymakers do to change all of this?

The module allows you to carry out a small-scale independent research project, which you have designed and planned. The Dissertation is a place in which you can bring together your personal interests and the knowledge you have gained throughout the degree and further deepen your understanding of a topic, which may inform your future career. For instance, if you wish to apply for a PGCE you may wish to focus your dissertation on a current issue or debate that is affecting schools.