University College for Interdisciplinary Learning

Leadership of Learning - with Teaching Placement

Course Unit Code

UCIL21002 (10 Credits)

UCIL20002 (20 Credits)

Course Unit Details

• Level 2
• School of Environment, Education and Development

Limited places are available on this unit and an application form is required. Applications for semester 2 2023/4 academic year are now closed.

Overview

Are you considering a career in teaching, or working with children and young people? Do you believe all children and young people have the right to grow and reach their full potential? Do you want to gain experience of being a professional in an educational setting acting as a member of the teaching staff?

This course unit includes a teaching placement (half day a week over 8 weeks) in a Greater Manchester School. The placement offers you the opportunity to assist teaching and support and inspire children and young people to engage in learning. At the same time, you will further your own learning through keeping a weekly journal and through developing skills in analysis and reflection. This process aims to help you critically reflect on your understandings of your experiences in one written assignment for 10 credits, or two written assignments for 20 credits.

You will share and learn from other students about your differing beliefs and understandings about education, and the complexities of your experiences of working in your placement schools.

You will develop your professional skills through supporting professionals and pupils in schools, and your critical and reflective skills through using a given analytical framework to guide you, and your understanding of the English education system.

Applications for semester 2 2023/4 academic year are now closed.

Aims

• To develop your knowledge and understanding of, and skills in, being a professional within an educational setting
• To give you transferable skills in professionalism, interpersonal communication and collaboration, problem solving, leadership and management, analysis, critical thinking and self-evaluation

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:

• Act professionally, in terms of attendance, punctuality, reliability and codes of conduct set out by placement schools and the University
• Maintain positive professional relationships with school staff and pupils
• Work effectively with school staff to support pupils' learning
• Apply principles of critical reflective practice to your experiences from your placement
• Analyse, assess and reflect on your personal learning with respect to placement experiences
• Draw from a range of literature to enhance critical thinking skills and professionalism
• Write using academic and ethical protocols

In addition to the Learning Outcomes above, for 20 credits:

• Analyse and apply concepts and theories of leadership to enhance your reflections on professional experiences of leadership and your future professional learning

Syllabus

10 Credits

• Developing professional critically reflective skills
• Placement in a school - 8 half-days spread over 8 weeks. The half-day is selected according to your availability and suitability for a school
• Being a professional
• Managing relationships and behaviour
• Effective learning and teaching
• Supporting learning in a context of ethnic and socio-cultural diversity
• Planning for Learning

20 Credits

• 10 credit syllabus as outlined above
• 10 credits reflecting on approaches to leadership
• Concepts and theories of leadership
• Developing critical thinking

Assessment

Draft assignment:

One draft of each of the assignments outlined below may be submitted to get feedback in order to make improvements before final submission.

10 Credits

1. 2000 word written assignment on reflective practice (100%)
2. Submission of weekly reflective journal entries (Pass/Fail)

20 Credits

1. 2000 word written assignment on reflective practice (50%)
2. Submission of weekly reflective journal entries (Pass/Fail)
3. 2000 word written assignment on leadership (50%)

Eligibility

UCIL units are designed to be accessible to undergraduate students from all disciplines.

UCIL units are credit-bearing and it is not possible to audit UCIL units or take them for additional/extra credits. You must enrol following the standard procedure for your School when adding units outside of your home School.

If you are not sure if you are able to enrol on UCIL units you should contact your School Undergraduate office. You may wish to contact your programme director if your programme does not currently allow you to take a UCIL unit.

You can also contact the UCIL team if you have any questions.

Applications for semester 2 2023/4 academic year are now closed.

Teaching Staff

Teaching Staff: Sue Goldrick, Colin Mills, Pauline Prevett, an 'Access Manchester: Your Pathway to University' representative, and guest teachers from local schools.

Administration: SEED undergraduate professional services team

Teaching and Learning Methods

10 Credits

• 10 half-days over 8 weeks on placement in a school + travel time
• 10 hours recording evidence and reflections in reflective journal
• 12 hours (6 x 2 hour) seminars - 5 seminars on campus, 1 online
• 30 minute tutorial
• 1 x draft assignment feedback
• 25 hours reading
• 22 hours assignment preparation

20 Credits

In addition to the hours outlined above for 10 credits, the 20 credit unit comprises:

• 10 hours recording evidence and reflections in reflective journal
• 06 hours (3 x 2 hour) seminars - on campus
• 30 minute tutorial
• 1 x draft assignment feedback
• 50 hours reading
• 33 hours assignment preparation

Timetable

TBC