Early Childhood & Religious Education (MA)

<div id="tab2" class="tab grid_8 alpha hide-on-small" style="display: block;"> <div class="courseLinks hide-on-medium-down"> <img src="/media/liverpoolhope/styleassets/cssimages/media,975,en.gif" alt="print Icon" style="width : 24px; height : 24px; "> <span><a href="javascript:window.print()">print this page</a></span> <span class="st_sharethis_custom" st_processed="yes"><a href="#">share this course</a></span> </div> <h2>Curriculum</h2> <p>The full Masters award requires you to gain 180 credits, including a dissertation. The curriculum is constructed from 60-credit ‘Blocks’ of provision, from which students will choose two of the combinations permitted. Each 60-credit Block comprises either two 30-credit or four 15-credit modules.</p> <p><strong>Early Childhood block</strong></p> <p>Term 1</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Development of Young Children’s Thinking and Learning in Socio-Cultural Context</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> (30 credits)</span></p> <p>This module studies a range of theories relating to young children’s learning. It briefly visits traditional learning theories of Vygotsky, Bruner, and modern theorists. The majority of the module expands on the traditional aspects by examining attitudes and practices which provide for optimal learning. This examination includes social, cultural, historical and political influences on learning in national and international contexts. There are opportunities for students to engage with international literature and to benefit from the breadth of experiences brought to the debate by students from a variety of backgrounds.</p> <p>Term 2</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Children’s Rights and Participation (30 credits)</span></p> <p>This module will develop an understanding of children’s rights, starting with the UNCRC. It will examine the implications of the convention in national and international contexts, both politically and practically. This course will examine the contemporary meanings of children’s rights and participation. It will analyse the concept of participation in relation to listening and consultation.&nbsp; Through Shier’s (2001) model of participation, it will consider how participation is facilitated in practice. It will enable to students to examine their own ability to facilitate participation through critical reflection. It will also examine the wider implications of facilitation in the context of the children, welfare and the state.</p> <p><strong>Religious Education block<br> </strong>Term 1</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Controversial Issues in Religious Education (30 credits)</span></p> <p>This module examines a range of controversial issues associated with the teaching of RE in academies, primary and secondary schools. Through contemporary contexts issues are explored regarding accurate representations of religious traditions, challenging stereotypes, and the role of textual interpretation for framing religious worldviews. Students will critically analyse teaching methodologies and resources used for exploring sensitive issues in the RE classroom.</p> <p>Term 2</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Context, Curriculum and Purposes of Religious Education (30 credits)</span></p> <p>This module examines the curriculum and purposes of RE and its place within a range of contexts including primary, secondary and post-compulsory education; faith and non-faith schools .Attention will be given to issues inherent in the contemporary RE classroom. The impact of different pedagogies for the teaching of Religious Education will be explored along with a contextual analysis of curriculum design, assessment and the contributions of Religious Education to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After completion of the taught phase (when both Blocks are completed and 120 credits has been successfully gained) then students will begin the research phase, whereby they will study a Research Methods module and then embark on a Dissertation that synthesises the two Blocks that they have studied.&nbsp;</p> </div>