Emotional Factors in Learning and Teaching: Counselling Aspects in Education – (M.A.)

Contents

The programme is a part-time programme, taking place one evening a week in term-time. The PGCert/PGDip/MA Emotional Factors in Learning and Teaching. Counselling Aspects in Education is an integrated programme of studies at Masters Level. Students will follow a standard admissions procedure for each of the programmes and will be admitted if they satisfy the entry criteria .

Learning environment
The core teaching events in years one and two include lectures and work discussion groups, and in the second year there is the addition of an experiential group. In the first year the emphasis is on individual development and interpersonal interaction whilst in year two, the focus shifts to group and institutional dynamics. In the third year, or dissertation year, students form their dissertation proposals in a group seminar before moving on to work with an assigned dissertation supervisor. Tutorial support is provided throughout the programme.

Assessment
Assessment is by three written submissions in Year One and three in Year Two. The essays relate to the lecture series, to reading and to the learning which takes place in the small work discussion groups. Students are expected to demonstrate that they understand theoretical concepts and that they can apply their understanding to their own practice as teachers and to the difficulties they observe in children and young people. There is also an expectation that students will reflect on their learning experience on the programme and will use this material in their essays.

Relevance to work/profession
The programme is designed to enhance the teacher’s capacity for self reflection in their professional roles as well as their understanding of the children and young people with whom they work. The success of the programme depends on students being able to make use of the ideas in their everyday working lives, to the benefit of themselves and of their pupils.

Thesis/Dissertation/project work
The essay assignments are designed to enable students to follow aspects of the programme which most interest them and which they find most useful in their professional lives. They are expected to demonstrate a grasp of theory and show evidence of reading, but there is also an expectation that theory will be applied to practice.

The dissertation may be written on any aspect of the programme which has particularly interested the student. It is likely to be based on a combination of theory and observational material but might include some limited empirical research.