EDUC 758 : Winners and Losers? Social Theories of Education

Education and Social Work

2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines education as a contested site by applying selected critical social theories to current practice and policy issues in a range of educational sectors, from early childhood to tertiary education. Asks whose interests are being most served in the ways in which we currently arrange education and imagines how education could be arranged otherwise.

Course Overview

The idea of ‘theory’ can be frightening because it suggests both difficult language and detachment from the ‘reality’ of the practice of education. But, for those interested in thinking critically about education, theory is a potent source of new questions about what happens in education as well as new answers to old questions. Theory, then, is a fruitful resource for anyone who wants to engage in researching education.

'Winners and losers: Social theories of education' is designed to introduce new graduate students to a limited body of important theories in some depth. These theories are selected because they have been – or are coming to be – influential in education research and scholarship in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere.

This graduate course is reading and discussion-based in mode. There is room to follow your own interests in assignments within the broad scope outlined here, and we share food and companionship during class.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Master of Education

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically reflect on a range of sociological concepts, terms and theories and apply these to 
examine selected issues or problems from an educational sector. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Understand, and give examples of, the generative possibilities of theory for education research. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.2)
  3. Critically analyse and explain the arguments presented in readings discussed during the course. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1)
  4. Have made progress towards developing a strong scholarly voice for their academic writing. (Capability 4.1 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Review of readings 20% Individual Coursework
Reflection on theory 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Review of readings
Reflection on theory
Essay
Students must complete all three pieces of coursework to achieve an overall pass on this course and must achieve at least 50% in each one.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30-point postgraduate course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week on each 30-point course they are enrolled in.

This course comprises 15 weeks: 12 weeks of semester time, plus 3 weeks of study time. Each week of semester, you should commit to 3 hours of face-to-face seminar-style classes, 12 hours of independent reading, thinking and note-taking about the content, and 5 hours of work on coursework assignments. During study weeks, there are no classes but the expectations of time on independent study remain the same.

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.

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 12/12/2019 06:05 p.m.