What you will study
The module combines material on developmental psychology integrated with childhood and youth studies, making it attractive across a number of discipline areas.
The module covers aspects of developmental psychology that are not available in the core psychology qualification. It will appeal to a large proportion of students in that programme, and in the Childhood and Youth Studies programme, who have an interest in human development and the lived experiences of children and young people, and the effects of adversity and differing life situations on life outcomes. The module will also be attractive to students following the work-related Early Years programme.
The module contents have been planned to give clear progression from Encountering psychology in context (D120) in the Psychology programme, or from Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104) in the Childhood and Youth Studies programme and Stage 1 study in Early Years. It will provide content and skills development in preparation for further study at OU level 3 in all three programmes.
A strength of the module is a rich set of audio-visual assets, most of them specially commissioned and including unique documentary materials. Each study week will start with an introductory audio by an eminent researcher or practitioner, introducing the week’s study theme. AV assets will include materials drawn from BBC archives and from the OU/BBC series Child of our Time.
It is planned for 85% of study hours to be devoted to online and multimedia material (with the remainder for student reflection and note taking offline.)
Although there is a printed reader that accompanies the course, the module is designed for fully online study, and students will need to have ready access to a computer and to develop competence in ICT. Students will be encouraged to carry out a skills audit in the first week of the module. Those who lack knowledge of, or confidence in, ICT will be supported in acquiring the necessary skills. Students will be required to make use of module and qualification websites, which will provide a repository for teaching and learning. Online forums will also be available, to engage students, facilitate contact with peers, share ideas and enable group discussion.
Students will begin each week by accessing an online study guide, located in the relevant week of the study planner, and listening to an introductory audio for each key theme. Students will then be directed to the corresponding chapter, which will contain the core teaching text, and can be found online as well as in the module textbook. While reading the chapter, students will use the study guide to direct them through the various elements of the module, such as methods and skills work, the audio-visual material, the assessment materials and supplementary readings. All of these will be delivered via the website.
Vocational relevance
This module will be relevant for anyone working with children and young people. The assessment through tutor-marked assignments and the end of module assessment requires the application of knowledge to practical issues in the lives of children and young people.