Course Title: Contemporary Issues in Education

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Contemporary Issues in Education

Credit Points: 24

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
CUED1223	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2008
CUED1224	City Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Summer2009
CUED1224	City Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2013

Course Coordinator: Dr Berenice Nyland

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2510

Course Coordinator Email:berenice.nyland@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: City - 37.4.11; Bundoora - 220.4.17

Course Coordinator Availability: Mon-Wed (City); Thu-Fri (Bundoora)

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no specific prerequisites other than what is required to enter the Master of Education program. It is assumed that students have experience working in a field of education or a related area.

Course Description

This course examines a number of contemporary issues and debates in education that arise from considerations of the changing social contexts in which learning and teaching take place. Students are introduced to selected examples of sociological theorising by scholars such as Anthony Giddens and Ulrich Beck. The course explores characteristics of late (or post) modernity, globalisation, changes in social order, the rise of reflexively ordered societies, and the advent of the risk society. Students will consider the implications of these theoretical understandings for analysing education practices in topical areas such as: vocationalism, curriculum politics, post-compulsory education, youth at risk, and technology.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Throughout this course, you will explore and develop the capabilities to develop an awareness of significant and current issues involving
• broader education issues locally, nationally and internationally
• an understanding of the social contexts of education
• strategies for incorporating new understandings into professional practices

Throughout this course, you will explore and develop the capabilities to develop an awareness of significant and current issues involving
• broader education issues locally, nationally and internationally
• an understanding of the social contexts of education
• strategies for incorporating new understandings into professional practices

Overview of Learning Activities

You will have opportunities to learn from the critical analysis of current issues relating to broad educational environments as they emerge in policy, media, government and institutional settings. The course will include a series of interactive workshops, professional seminars and on-line activities.

Overview of Learning Resources

References, web links and reading material will be provided throughout the course.

Overview of Assessment

In the School of Education assessment in a 24 Credit Point Course is equal to 8,000 words, or equivalent. In this course participants can expect to engage in the following types of assessment practices:
• written assignments of a theoretical and practical nature
• participation in interactive workshops
• seminar presentations
• online activities