Courses / Module

The teaching profession has tended to attract a broadly similar cohort of students who often share broadly similar educational histories and biographies. Many teachers enter postgraduate educational programmes directly after undergraduate studies or undertake concurrent programmes. As such, many may have little experience of other educational sites or work settings. The purpose of this module is to broaden horizons with the theme of ‘exploring difference’ underpinning it. It will support a deeper understanding of the lives that students will lead after school. It will also provide frameworks to interrogate the assumptions that can shape students’ experiences in school: how is sameness understood? Normality? Typical? Difference?

Students will explore questions of difference theoretically and in terms of practice. This will involve three parts: 1. Mapping and analysing the relevant literature; 2. Mobilising this literature critically as a lens to explore experiences of difference 3. Critically evaluating their emergent learning and how it impacts their role as guidance counsellor in a school context.

Students will create a reflective portfolio throughout the module that will be informed by a critical lens of difference as the assessment for this module.