Understanding and Developing Pedagogy (MAED4119)

This module offers professionals a transformative exploration of early years pedagogy, focusing on the social construction of childhood in the UK and its impact on educational practices.

Part of Education MA

This module is part of the University’s Education MA . You will study alongside other students on this course. The module is also part of the Professional Development MA/MSc course - a flexible course that you help design to take your career to the next level.

Overview

By delving into the historical and ideological roots of childhood education policies and practices, you’ll gain a deep understanding of how societal views shape the experiences and learning journeys of young children.

Through a blend of theoretical inquiry and practical reflection, you’ll analyse the pivotal role of practitioners in supporting and enabling children’s learning. You’ll explore diverse learning theories, develop strategies for effective practice with young children children, and examine the ethical dimensions of professional practice.

You will engage with current issues in early years education, critically evaluating how policy and ideology influence everyday teaching. The module helps you to reflect upon and innovate your practice, empowering you to become an agent of change. Upon completion, you will be able to confidently lead change that fosters meaningful improvements in early years education, ensuring every child’s potential is recognised and nurtured.

With a focus on real-world application, this module is your opportunity to redefine early years education through informed, ethical, and visionary leadership. Are you ready to inspire change and shape the future of childhood learning?

It is expected that all advertised modules will run, but there may be situations where there are insufficient students to make a particular module viable.

Career benefits

This module will help you to deepen your engagement with issues in the early years education workspace, fostering transformative personal and organisational learning. The module is also designed to enable those with an intention of working in an early years education context to deepen their understanding of early years and build the skills to enhance career opportunities.

You will enhance your skills to excel in roles such as reception teacher, early years educator, and many other roles working directly with young children to foster their development. The module will provide you with the confidence to lead early years teams within schools, nurseries, or early education settings, driving innovative practices and implementing impactful changes.

The module has an applied focus intended to facilitate the development of learning which will have direct impact on your early years professional context whatever that might be. The module additionally offers the opportunity to continue study on the MA Education Award.

Module delivery

This module is taught via distance learning and asynchronous interactive delivery via the virtual learning environment with tutor support (tutor support can be face-to-face).

The following teaching and learning strategies may be utilised and collectively cover all the intended learning outcomes:

Recorded lectures to allow flexible, self-paced learning.
Use of videos, podcasts, interactive media and technologies to explore diverse learning theories and practices.
Online discussion forums on identified topics.
Group activities using a range of media that encourage collaboration across geographical boundaries.
Tutorials: one-to-one or small group supervised discussions to provide direction and feedback.
Focused tasks designed to enable development of ideas such as shared documents for group work and peer reviews.
Guided reading.
Interactive and online journaling to enable professional reflection and develop ideas for change.
On-going constructive and timely feedback (via email, in person and via private e-journal).

Entry Requirements

General admission requirements for entry to the programme are:

A good honours degree (2.2 or above) and a significant interest in education and/or equivalent professional qualifications, experience and evidence of continuing professional development.
International students must hold a qualification equivalent to a UK first or second class honours degree.
All International student for whom English is not their first language are required to achieve IELTS 6.5 or equivalency – with no less than 5.5 in any element.