Module description
This module will examine the ideas, policies and practices surrounding education and learning with children and young people outside of formal school-based settings. We will look at diverse approaches to informal education, including youth work, play work, social action, social pedagogy, and educational work in other settings such as museums, libraries, science centres and outdoors. What these approaches have in common is a child-centred or youth-centred ethos; a holistic approach to learning; a central focus on anti-oppressive practice; and a high value placed on respectful and trusting relationships between learners and staff. We will consider what out-of-school practices offer to children and young people, reflect on the vital role of informal educators in such settings, and discuss how policy can support and/or create challenging conditions for learning out of school.
Assessment details
Coursework - 20% - 500 word Proposal and plan for critical evaluation
Coursework - 80% - 2,500 word critical evaluation with policy and/or practice recommendations
Educational aims & objectives
The module, which is part of the BA Social Sciences, will consider the ideas, policies and practices surrounding learning with children and young people outside of formal school-based settings. We will look at diverse approaches to informal education with children and young people, for example: youth work, play work, social action, social pedagogy, and informal education in other settings such as museums, libraries, science centres, online and outdoors. What these informal approaches have in common is: a child-centred or youth-centred ethos; a holistic approach to learning; a central focus on anti-oppressive practice; and a high value placed on respectful, trusting and professional relationships. We will consider what these practices offer to children and young people, reflect on the vital role of informal educators in such settings, and discuss how policy can support and/or create challenging conditions for informal learning outside of school.
The module aims to enable students to:
- Understand what informal education is, and why it matters.
- Understand and articulate the benefits and challenges associated with diverse approaches to informal education with children and young people.
- Understand key theoretical and historical underpinnings of informal education, including child-centred and youth-centred practice; holistic and experiential learning; anti-oppressive practice; respectful, trusting and professional relationships.
- Investigate the key skills and attributes of informal educators and how these can be developed.
- Carry out an in-depth analysis of an organization, project or approach to informal education, including its contribution to the lives of children, young people and communities.wow
Learning outcomes
Setting
As part of the BA Social Sciences, the module involves students in applying a range of techniques and approaches developed over the course of their studies to analyse complex practices. With the support of participatory seminars and lecture content, students will be encouraged to exercise a high level of autonomy and responsibility, within agreed guidelines.
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrate a detailed and in-depth understanding of:
- The key theoretical and historical underpinnings of informal education, including child-centred and youth-centred practice; holistic and experiential learning; anti-oppressive practice; respectful, trusting and professional relationships.
- The benefits and challenges associated with key approaches to informal education and out-of-school learning in both policy and practice.
Cognitive skills
At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Conceptualise the value of informal education, balancing theoretical, policy and practice perspectives.*
- Identify, select and use appropriate strategies to research an organisation / project / approach within a given timescale, with flexibility and confidence.*
- Employ synthesis and creativity in applying theory to practice and vice versa.*
- Analyse and evaluate policy and practice, by using a range of approaches to judge the reliability and significance of evidence to support conclusions and recommendations.*
Performance and practice
This module will enhance students' ability to:
- Engage effectively in oral dialogue, discussion and debate.*
- Work effectively in groups.*
- Negotiate professional contexts and/or discuss professional dilemmas, and practise problem-solving and conflict resolution.*
It will also enhance their ethical awareness, e.g. in relation to professional boundaries, professional codes of conduct, and appropriate research approaches.*
Personal, enabling and employability skills
This module will contribute to students' personal and enabling skills and their employability, both in relation to the informal education sector, and by applying what is learned here to other professional and practice contexts. All of the outcomes listed above are relevant to employability; in particular, see the items asterisked. In addition, students will develop:
- Skills in assessing their own capabilities in relation to supporting informal education with children and young people.
- Their awareness of what constitutes appropriate behaviour in a professional environment.
- Enhanced interpersonal and communication skills.
- Skills in writing for a professional audience.
- Skills in service evaluation.