EDUC 321 : Politics, Philosophy and Education

Education and Social Work

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Investigates the relationship between local, national and global politics and education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Explores philosophical perspectives on teaching and the relationship between educational theory and practice.

Course Overview

Have you ever wondered why kura, schools and early childhood centres look, sound and feel the way they do? Have you ever wondered why some early childhood centres, schools and kura are very different to others? In this course we’ll take a good look at some of the ‘big ideas’ about education, knowledge, school and society that have shaped what you have experienced as students and that will go on to shape your experiences as teachers. This course also supports you to develop, explain and make a case for your own teaching philosophy as you begin your teaching career.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: EDUC 118 or 140 or 142 or EDUCM 118 Restriction: EDUC 320, EDUCM 320

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine a range of philosophical approaches to education and explore their relevance to practice and educators’ work (Capability 1.2 and 2.1)
  2. Critically reflect on the relationship between educational philosophy, politics, theory, research, and teacher agency (Capability 2.1, 4.1 and 6.1)
  3. Critically examine the relationship between education and local, national and global politics from historical, sociological, and philosophical perspectives (Capability 1.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Reflection 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Quizzes
Essay
Reflection
IMPORTANT NOTE: the first online quiz is due to be completed before the start of the first lecture. You must complete your quiz on Canvas by Monday 9 March at 2:00pm.

Learning Resources

The required textbook is Mutch, C. & Tatebe, J. (Eds) (2017). Understanding enduring ideas in education: A response to those who 'just want to be a teacher'. Wellington: NZCER Press.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 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 two hours of lectures, a two-hour tutorial, four hours of reading and thinking about the content and two hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Other Information

IMPORTANT NOTE: the first online quiz is due to be completed before the start of the first lecture. You must complete your quiz on Canvas by Monday 9 March at 2:00pm.

Digital 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.

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.

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 at 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.

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.

 Students have  told us how useful it has been to have a clearly articulated teaching philosophy when they’ve needed or wanted to reflect on their practices. More experienced graduates have also described what it’s been like to recognise a mismatch between their philosophy(ies) and practice(s), using ideas from this course to help them reshape their philosophy or their practice or sometimes both.
Feedback from the 2019 class has led to some changes in assessment in 2020 with a wider range of assessment approaches.

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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 14/01/2020 02:54 p.m.