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21st Century Educational Innovation

EQ302
Year 3
Core Module for BA Education Studies
Term 1
10 Weeks
3 Hours
15 CATS
1x 3 Hour Exam

What is this module about?

This module is concerned with understanding and debating issues relating to educational innovation, both current and future. It will pick up and develop some of the themes and topics introduced in core modules of previous years of study, and will encourage students to become familiar with the dominant areas of debate, controversy and innovation that can be seen to characterise contemporary education discourse. Students will also consider the future needs of education practice (birth to adult), given both global and local cultures and practices, as well as multiliteracies, diversity, social justice, marketisation and governance. Towards the end of the module students will have opportunities to vocalise their ideas for alternative models of education, based upon evidence and theories discussed and debated over the three years of study.

Topics covered:

  • The concepts of culture and education and how societal needs change over timeWhat does ‘being literate’ mean for new millennium learners, and how does culture and society influence these views?
  • How children are prepared for productive lives in society
  • What is innovation is in an educational context? Why does it happen, and what justifications are there for innovating within education?
  • Case studies of various national and international innovations within an education context, including unresolved issues that may lead to further innovation
  • The differences between equity and equality, and a range of models of education that positively and negatively impact students’ education and learning
  • The construction of professional knowledge
  • Different models of pedagogic relations between, for example, teachers, professionals, parents, students, and how they impact on learners and educators

Learning outcomes:

  • To understand the relationship between culture and education.
  • To comprehend and articulate examples of educational innovation from a range of cultural and international contexts.
  • To be able to challenge and problematise educational innovation within a range of contexts.
  • To understand and articulate the difference between equity and inequality in education.
  • To apply knowledge gathered during the course to create possible alternative models of education
  • To be able to articulate and challenge different models of pedagogic relations.     

Sample reading list:

Ahier, J., Cosin, B. and Hales, M. (1996) Diversity and change: education, policy and selection. London: Routledge, in association with Open University Press.

Bates, J., Lewis, S. & Pickard, A. (2011) Education Policy, Practice and the Professional, London: Continuum International Publishing Group

Brown, P., Lauder, H. (1999) Education Globalization and Economic Development, in Esland, G. and Ahier, J. Ed, Education, Training and the Future of Work Volume 1. Social, Political and Economic Contexts of Policy Development, Open University and Routledge, London

Collini, S. (2012) What are Universities for? London: Penguin Books

Curtis, W. & Pettigrew, A. (2009) Learning in Contemporary Culture: Perspectives in Education Studies Series, Exeter, Learning Matters

Dicken, P., (2003) Global Shift. Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century, Fourth Edition, Sage, London

Fullan, M. (1993) Change Forces: Probing the Depths of Educational Reform. London: Falmer Press.

Fullan, M. (1999) Change Forces: The Sequel. London: Falmer Press.

Fullan, M. (2007) The New Meaning of Educational Change (4th edn). London: Routledge.

Garrat, D. & Forrester, G. (2012) Education Policy Unravelled, London: Continuum International Publishing Group.

Hargreaves, A. and Evans, R. (eds) (1997) Beyond Educational Reform. Bringing Teachers Back In. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Hargreaves, A. and Shirley, D. (2012) The Global Fourth Way: The Quest for Educational Excellence. California: Corwin.

Hargreaves, A., Lieberman, A., Fullan, M. and Hopkins, D. (eds) (2009) Second International Handbook of Educational Change. New York: Springer.

Hasley, A. H., Lauder, H., Brown, P. and Stuart Wells, A. (eds.) (1997) Education: Culture, Economy, and Society. London: Sage

Hopkins, D. (1994) School Improvement in an Era of Change, in Ribbins, P. and Burridge, E. (eds) Improving Education: Promoting Quality in Schools, London: Cassell.

Olssen, M., Codd, J., O’Neill, A., (2004) Education Policy. Globalisation, Citizenship and Democracy, Sage, London