London, United Kingdom

What Is Education?

when 15 July 2024 - 2 August 2024
language English
duration 3 weeks
credits 7.5 EC
fee GBP 2585

During the module, students will attend sessions at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) where a range of experts will present their responses to the question: what is education? These responses are underpinned by the critical consideration of the following questions:
1. What is education for, what is its purpose, both here and now and looking to the future?
2. What should be its fundamental values and ethics?
3. What do we mean by knowledge and learning (including formal and informal learning)?
4. What is our concept of education?
5. What is our image of the learners, educators, learner contexts, and of community/society?
6. Who is responsible for education, and what does it mean to be responsible?

Students will be encouraged to consider and share their responses to these questions, in relation to their own contexts

Course leader

Nick Wollaston MAEd MRes NPQH FCollT

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required for this module, but students are expected to have a keen interest in the area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

Understand and have first-hand experience of what it means to study education at a higher level
Be familiar with some of the key ideas underpinning education, as well as with some of the stances taken by world leading experts in education
Have critically considered and reflected upon the nature and purpose of education, particularly in relation to their own contexts
Have critically considered and reflected upon the impact of a range of contexts on the nature and purpose of education
Have developed their own critical and informed responses to questions concerning the nature and purpose of education.

Credits info

7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS / 4 US / 15 UCL

Fee info

GBP 2585: Students joining us for six weeks (two modules) will receive a tuition fee discount.

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