Education (Top-up)

Program Overview

This Staffordshire University BA (Hons) Education top-up program is designed for working professionals in education or early childhood studies. It offers flexible blended or distance learning options, allowing students to enhance their knowledge and skills while continuing their work. The program emphasizes reflective practice, connecting academic study to professional experience, and prepares graduates for a range of careers in the education sector.

Program Outline

Education (Top-up) - Staffordshire University

Degree Overview:

Overview:

This top-up BA (Hons) Education course is designed for work-based students who already hold a foundation degree in Education or Early Childhood Studies. The course focuses on building on your knowledge and experience of working in education through study at higher education level. The course is designed to be flexible and meet your personalized needs, interests, and experiences. It builds on your current and previous practice within your workplace setting.

Objectives:

• Deepen your professional understanding and subject knowledge.
• Build your self-confidence and belief in yourself as a professional learning practitioner.
• Study modules with a specific focus on Early Years provision and practice or with a more general focus on Education.

Description:

This BA (Hons) Education program is offered on two pathways: Education or Early Years. Both pathways lead to the same degree but offer different modules to specialize in one area or the other. The program is designed to be flexible and can be completed through either blended learning or distance learning. Distance learning is conducted entirely online via Microsoft Teams. The program requires online attendance for teaching sessions, seminars, and tutorials. It is designed to fit around your paid or voluntary work within an educational setting. Teaching sessions are delivered online for four hours per week over the course of three semesters.

Outline:

Program Content:

• Focuses on you as a learning practitioner, providing the opportunity to build self-confidence, self-knowledge, and self-belief, while developing an understanding of your own skills, attributes, and abilities.
• Offers a flexible approach to learning using online teaching sessions for convenience.
• Allows you to choose modules with a specific focus on Early Years provision and practice or with a more general focus on Education.

Structure:

• Delivered online for four hours per week over three semesters.
• Can be completed through blended learning or distance learning.

Modules:

Education Pathway:

• Changes And Developments In Education (20 credits)
• Doing Education Differently (20 credits)
• Individual Study Project (40 credits)
• The Reflective Practitioner (40 credits)

Early Years Pathway:

• Doing Education Differently (20 credits)
• Embedding Literacy And Numeracy Approaches In The Early Years (20 credits)
• Individual Study Project (40 credits)

Assessment:

Assessment Methods:

• Coursework assignments
• Presentations
• Individual Study Project
• Exams (depending on the chosen modules)

Assessment Criteria:

• Understanding of key concepts and theories
• Critical analysis and evaluation of relevant literature
• Application of knowledge and skills to practical situations
• Clarity and coherence of written and oral communication
• Ability to reflect on your own learning and development

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• Online lectures and seminars
• Group discussions
• Independent study
• Work-based learning activities
• Guest speakers
• Field trips

Faculty:

The program is taught by experienced academics and practitioners with expertise in education and early childhood studies.

Unique Approaches:

• Emphasis on you as a learning practitioner
• Flexible learning options to fit your work schedule
• Choice of modules to specialize in your area of interest
• Opportunity to apply your learning to your own practice

Careers:

Career Paths:

• Teacher
• Early Years Practitioner
• Educational Administrator
• Family Support Worker
• Play Worker
• Learning Support Assistant

Opportunities:

• The program prepares you for a variety of careers in educational settings, children's centres, care and family support, educational administration and management, play work, and learning support.
• You can also use the qualification as a steppingstone to further study, such as PGCE, Schools Direct, Schools Direct salaried, and School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) routes.

Outcomes:

• Graduates of this program are well-prepared for employment in the education and early years sector.
• Many graduates go on to further study or find employment in their chosen field.

Other:

• The program is suitable for students who are already employed or volunteering in an educational setting for at least four hours per week.
• Students will have access to a dedicated careers team and the University's extensive learning resources.