Teaching, learning and assessment methods
The teaching, learning and assessment are linked to the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce. They are geared towards the development of professional skills through a critical engagement with policy, analysis of organisational structures and reflection on personal practice. Multi-agency working and inter-professional practice has a central focus.
Knowledge and understanding are taught through diverse online study materials, including multimedia. If you have a learning difficulty or disability that could impact on studying online, please speak with us and your tutor so that where possible reasonable adjustments can be made to facilitate your participation.
You will develop your advanced knowledge and understanding through critical engagement with material provided in the Readers and reflection facilitated by activities in the online learning guides. You undertake a significant amount of your own enquiry-based learning appropriate to this level of study, including an extended piece of writing. Summative assessment is through TMAs and EMAs. There is the opportunity, on some parts of the qualification, for optional collaborative learning through the sharing of your experiences with other students.
Online tutorials, virtual learning communities (in tutor groups) and assignment feedback are designed to build on your academic study skills over the life of the course. You will have opportunities to develop your critical analysis of policy and practice. Key to this will be a developing ability to draw good practice out of theoretical frameworks.
You will develop your cognitive skills through critical analysis of diverse study materials, which cover various aspects of children’s experiences at both local and global levels. You will analyse and critique the ideas that influence current practice, analyse recent changes in the organisation of services, especially moves towards greater integration, and explore what it means to be a critical, reflective practitioner. You will also learn, in some parts of the qualification, to compare familiar knowledge and concepts to less familiar experiences of children in other parts of the world.
This qualification is designed for people working with children or young people as well as those with a more theoretical interest in the subject, and students without access to a practice setting will not be disadvantaged in any way and will be able to use examples from the study materials for assessment tasks.
We do encourage the sharing of ideas and experiences with your peers through asynchronous forums, and there may be some activities that recommend working with other students, as this is an important way in which you can broaden your knowledge and understanding of children and young people across different contexts. However, alternative ways of working can be facilitated.