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Learning and teaching: educating the next generation

This module is for anyone interested and involved in educating school-age students. We live in a rapidly changing and complex social and digital world – how is this changing the way we think about the kind of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment needed to educate future generations? As you interact with other students on this module, and engage critically with a range of media and published research, you’ll consider current views of education across the globe. From there, you’ll start to form your own vision of how educators can effectively prepare students for their place in the future.

Vocational relevance

We’ve designed this module to draw on your interest in formal or informal education of children and young people aged between 3 and 19, as well as contribute to your current role or future roles in education. We’ll support you in professional development planning as part of the module’s activities. We’ll encourage you to explicitly reflect on and develop your digital information literacy skills, as you consider their value in your professional context.

Qualifications

EE830 is an optional module in our:

EE830 is the recommended Stage 1 module in our:

Module

Module code
EE830
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Find out more in Why the OU?
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

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Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

Section 1
In the first section, you’ll reflect on the possible purposes for education and a vision for education that would be fit for the future, taking into account three global drivers for change – the environment, demographics (particularly migration) and technology. This section includes an ‘open element’ – a badged open course – which means you’ll study part of the section with a much bigger cohort of people beyond the students on your module. You’ll then have the opportunity – with students who are on your module, and supported by your tutor – to develop the ideas introduced in more depth. The free six-week badged open course, Looking globally: the future of education, forms part of the first assessment.

Section 2
In the next section, you’ll cover different ways of thinking about knowledge; and how these might affect educational changes in response to global drivers, like those in Section 1. This leads to thinking about how different ways of conceptualising knowledge form a basis for thinking about curriculum development and implementation. This includes casting a lens onto the important role of teachers and teacher agency in terms of what teachers feel they can and cannot do. The module introduces these ideas through a number of in-depth case studies based on the education systems in Singapore, Finland, Scotland and Canada.

Section 3
Thinking about how learning theories implicitly or explicitly shape pedagogical practices, this section unpacks alternative views of classrooms as learning environments. Again, you’ll reflect on the roles of teachers and learners engaging in learning as part of educational provision.

Section 4
The last section completes the journey through the inter-related dimensions of education – curriculum, pedagogy and assessment – with an examination of how the learning of compulsory school age children is assessed. This will involve picking up thinking about views of knowledge and teacher agency; and reflecting, in particular, on the wider settings in which teaching and learning is located, and educators are held accountable.

Throughout the module, you’ll engage critically – supported by tutors – with a range of media and published research. You’ll discuss alternative approaches to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment with others who are interested in educating school-age students. This will leave you with a renewed vision for education.

You will learn

The aims of the module are to:

  • develop your knowledge and understanding of concepts and current debates about learning, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment and contexts for education
  • develop your ability to apply this knowledge to considerations of practice
  • equip you with a high-quality, distinctive range of knowledge, skills and attributes needed for an increasingly competitive and international workplace
  • provide opportunities for you to engage with and contribute to a community of practice in addition to networks that are relevant to your academic or professional interests
  • support your personal and professional development

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll have a named tutor who will support your studies and mark and comment on your assignment work; you can also seek academic advice and guidance from them. Your tutor will offer support through email, telephone and online forum discussions. Additionally, there will be online tutorials. We’ll advertise tutorials before the module starts; EE830 tutors will take them, but depending on the tutorial, not necessarily your own named tutor. We recommend you book online to attend these tutorials.

Assessment

You can find the assessment details for this module in the facts box.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment
No residential school

Future availability

Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2020.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2025.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

    Entry requirements

    You must have the minimum of a:

    • bachelors degree (in any subject) from a UK university, or
    • professional qualification equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, or
    • qualification from a university outside the UK and equivalent to a UK bachelors degree.

    We recommend you have an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7.0 if English is not your first language.

    You’ll find it beneficial to have professional experience or interest in some sort of education or training related to school-age children, whether formal or informal. Your experience or interest can include all phases of school education (ages 4–19), and all settings where school-age children are offered opportunities for learning (e.g. schools; informal settings such as additional provision, forest schools or youth work; or as part of educational authorities or governance).

    If you’ve any doubt about the suitability of the module, talk to an adviser.

    Outside the UK

    Synchronous tutorials and communications could be difficult to deliver to students outside the UK due to time differences. If you can’t attend the synchronous tutorials or make synchronous communications, you can use asynchronous alternative methods, such as watching recorded tutorials and emailing questions.

    Preparatory work

    The module website will be open to registered students three weeks before the module starts. You might find it helpful to explore the guidance entitled ‘supporting your study’ that includes activities designed to develop familiarity and confidence with the module’s online environment.

    Our badged open course, Looking globally: the future of education, is a required part of the first assessment. You may complete this free six-week course up to two years before you register on this module. We recommend you start this course at least three weeks before the module starts. The Looking globally: the future of education site will be closed for maintenance between 30 June and 8 August 2020.

    Our badged open course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will introduce you to the nature of Master’s level study. It offers essential preparation for pursuing your learning at this level – and is free.

    Register

    Start End Fee Register
    02 Oct 2021 Jun 2022 Not yet available

    Registration closes 16/09/21 (places subject to availability)

    Register
    This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2025.

    Future availability

    Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830) starts once a year – in October.

    This page describes the module that will start in October 2020.

    We expect it to start for the last time in October 2025.

    Additional costs

    Study costs

    There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

    Ways to pay for this module

    We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

    That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

    Study materials

    What's included

    Access to the module study materials via the module website.

    Computing requirements

    A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

    Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

    A desktop or laptop computer with either an up-to-date version of Windows or macOS.

    The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

    To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone).

    Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

    If you have a disability

    Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components might not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader.

    If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Disability support website to find more about what we offer.