Course Catalogue

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Critical Reflection in Professional Learning and Practice explores theoretical understandings of reflection, interrogates the construct of the reflective practitioner and associated ideas of knowledge as mediated by values and contexts, and examines ways to develop critical research literacy skills that enhance professional knowledge, understandings and practice.

Supported distance e-learning with one compulsory Weekend Study School (Friday evening to Sunday) in Glasgow during the 20 week course. Students are normally expected to be online at least once a week during the course. Ordinarily the course commences in September and finishes in February.

Normally a master's degree in Education or a cognate area.

The summative assessment activity is designed to afford participants a degree of flexibility in order that their work can be tailored to individual professional needs and contexts. This course is summatively assessed by a written assignment equivalent to 5000 words in which participants demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, skills and application of the course. The focus of the assignment is for students to use their own experiences as educational practitioners as a case study to explore the place of critical reflection in professional learning and practice.
This course is assessed following the University's assessment Schedule A with grades A to D as Pass grades. In order to ensure flexibility for candidates to progress from M to D (doctoral) level, and following the University regulations on progression for Masters level students candidates will be permitted to progress to the D (doctoral) level taught courses of the EdD only if they have obtained a Grade C for this (and the subsequent) Masters level course.

To cultivate independent and critical thinkers, who are prepared to exercise critical judgement in how they engage with course resources and with others in online interaction. Students will be presented with diverse views and competing theories in this field of scholarship, in which they need to position and defend their own arguments.

To explore the concept of reflection in professional development and practice.
To interrogate notions of the reflective practitioner, practice, praxis and professional learning.
To review and develop approaches to critical reflection.

* outline the theoretical debates relating to the concepts of reflection and critical reflection
* analyse the relationship between critical reflection and professional practice
* detail the issues surrounding the relationship between professional knowledges and practice
* consider critically the role of experience, values, context, research and theory in the development of professionals in educational contexts.