EDPROFST 774 : Education and Empowerment

Education and Social Work

2023 Semester Two (1235) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical examination of contemporary issues faced in New Zealand's decile 1-3 urban schools. International and New Zealand based literature will familiarise students with current theory and research regarding the history, politics, teaching and learning, and best practice relevant to New Zealand's decile 1-3 urban school students, teachers and communities. Emphasis will be on empowerment theories, underpinned by Freirean perspectives.

Course Overview

We aim to investigate current issues in education that prevent students from reaching their potential because of wider social, economic or political forces. We will examine selected issues to understand the forces behind poverty, disadvantage, marginalisation and exclusion and investigate proposed solutions in order that we can approach these concerns, not from a position of despair, but a position of hope and transformation.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Education

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. 1. Examine and reflect on the functions of schooling at a social, cultural and political level. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of a range of theories and research that explain the contemporary situation, including student achievement, in New Zealand’s low decile schools. (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.1)
  3. Critically examine the usefulness of Paulo Freire’s and others’ empowerment theories for the raising of achievement in New Zealand’s low decile schools (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  4. Seek solutions for underachievement in low decile schools from a range of political and practice based possibilities. (Capability 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.2, 5.3, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Assignments 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Assignments
All assignments must be handed in or presented as required and each assignment should receive a passing grade in order to pass the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures across a weekly delivery period plus 10 hours per week reading and thinking about the content and 10 hours of work on assignments up until the final assignment is due

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will not be available as recordings.
The course will not]include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The course received 4.91 out of a possible 5 rating for satisfaction in its 2019 delivery. The feedback was extremely positive with the only  concern that international students who chose to take this course did not come with an understanding of the New Zealand education system and sometimes struggled to understand the context and issues being discussed. Should this arise in the 2021 delivery we will make extra readings and on-line sources available to these students to assist them to develop their understanding of the New Zealand context.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.