Rationale
The purpose of this module is to make participants critically aware of their existing practice and its consequences through critical reflection and action research and to give them the means of taking command of their own developing professional capability. Professionals are responsible for their own quality and thus they have a duty to maintain and enhance their knowledge and skill. Implicit in this is the view of the place of teaching as the prime learning environment for the professionals within it. This module gives students the opportunity of developing their knowledge, understanding and practical use of the action research methodology thus allowing them to focus on their own area of development.
Building upon the portfolio and reflective diary developed in the Learning and Teaching: Theory in Practice module participants are encouraged to select a particular aspect of their practice they wish to explore and develop through advanced study, critical reflection and action research with the aim of improving their own practice. With the support of tutors and peers students are encouraged to explore their own strengths and weaknesses together with their career goals and aspirations. Through independent study students undertake specialist study of the aspect of practice and through reflective critiques and action research analyse their own learning.
The module with examine the role of reflective practice in professional development with a focus on the limitations and advantages of reflective practice as a self-evaluative tool and will focus on action research as engagement in reflective practice .practice.