Developing Professional Identity in Community Education (DPICE)

This course introduces the notion of studying community education in a university setting. Students will draw on their experience as learners and practitioners to consider the process of studying in professional and academic contexts. Students will consider how their experience has shaped the ways in which they learn. The notion of the student’s development as a critically reflective practitioner will form the core focus of the course both in terms of their academic and professional skills. Differing understandings of the meaning of professionalism will be explored and their implications for the practice of community education will be considered.

The course is taught in the first semester and has a rating of 20 credit points.

On completion of this course participants will be able to:

Articulate the notion of the critically reflective practitioner
Evaluate the centrality of experiential learning to informal educational approaches
Design a study strategy plan
Demonstrate academic research and writing skills
Demonstrate awareness of their own learning styles

Professor Lyn Tett is the Course Organiser for DPICE

Lyn says:

"This course helps you to understand how developing your capacity to study is central to your professional development."

You can find out more about Lyn's work and publications at the departmental webpage.

Learning and Teaching Strategies

The course will be taught by a combination of lectures and guided group discussion. Students will be expected to complete 3 hours of class contact time per week, over 11 weeks, approximately 20 hours work on structured study tasks including assessment and approximately 60 hours of self-directed study.

Assessment

Students will submit a portfolio of evidence for assessment which will include evidence of the practical work undertaken in the form of a log or diary, and the completion of specified academic tasks.

Length: 2500 words

CUE has been developed at the University of Edinburgh by John Bamber and Clara O'Shea as part of the Student Recruitment and Admissions 'Transitions' Project in 2006/7. For further information on CUE and on CUE: Community Education contact: John Bamber, Department of HIgher and Community Education, Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, Tel.: +44 - (0)131 - 651 6116, E-mail: john.bamber@ed.ac.uk

Website updated: June 19, 2008