Courses / Module

This module is focused on student teachers as competent, reflective pedagogic researchers. A key modular objective is a focus on action-research and the building of teachers’ capacities as practitioner researchers. This module will explore the lesson study process and invite students to undertake substantive pedagogical research in subject-specific or cross-curricular groups. Together they will research, plan, teach and critique (in evidenced ways) a number of study lessons (iteratively linked) based on the agreed pedagogic dilemma.
The module aims to build a strong sense of professional identity in student teachers, recognising the unique role they play in the leadership of their own professional development as reflective practitioners. It aims to support student-teachers in building a research-informed repertoire of teaching and assessment capacities, along with the judgement to discern the appropriate use of these capacities. Working through a lesson study, action research framework the module will strengthen student-teachers capacity to collaboratively reflect on, research and modify their teaching. In doing so, the module aims to raise student-teachers awareness of the life-long journey of teacher development.
Research from within our own department has convincingly shown that where teachers engage in collaborative reviews of their own work, they readily enhance their capabilities for perceptive analysis and constructive practical action. In doing so, they build their capacity as resourceful, articulate practitioners, with the confidence to publicly share illuminating and convincing accounts of their work.

Module objectives align with the Teaching Council Cosán document which highlights the necessity for:
Professional ownership of teaching by teachers themselves
High-quality professional engagement linked to teachers’ daily work
Accessibility that is matched to the timescales of teaching
Students will engage with key readings in the area of pedagogy, curriculum development, and examine the relationship between curriculum theory and educational practice and the relationship between school programmes, society and the culture in which schools are located.
The module will also explore Research Methods relevant to the conduct of practitioner-based research. It will assist students in carrying out a group lesson study from its inception through to writing up for submission.