BSc Education

Year of entry: 2023

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Course unit details:
Teaching & Learning Literacy

Course unit fact file
Unit code	EDUC22012
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 2
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Offered by	School of Environment, Education and Development
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

This unit aims to:

develop and build on knowledge and understanding relating to theories of literacy
enable students to understand the underlying social and psychological complexities of the acquisition of written language
develop an understanding of the principles underpinning the National Literacy Framework operating in UK schools.

The course will cover the following areas:

the acquisition of literacy before starting school
the relationship between home and school learning
what makes a good reader
approaches to teaching reading
the assessment of reading performance
the emergence of writing
reflective writing
the National Literacy Framework
the assessment of writing performance
bi-literacy: literacy in more than one language
digital literacy

Aims

This unit aims to:

develop and build on knowledge and understanding relating to theories of literacy
enable students to understand the underlying social and psychological complexities of the acquisition of written language
develop an understanding of the principles underpinning the National Literacy Framework operating in UK schools.

Learning outcomes

Category of outcome	Upon successful completion of the unit, students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding	demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which children come to understand the relationships between signs and meaning demonstrate an understanding of the teaching methods used to develop children’s literacies demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between social context and acquisition of literacy
Intellectual skills	develop critical analysis skills using primary and secondary data demonstrate the capacity to use and critically reflect on prior research in the field of literacy acquisition demonstrate an awareness of the debates surrounding children’s literacy acquisition
Practical skills	demonstrate and develop academic writing skills demonstrate the capacity to use and debate with academic research on literacy acquisition develop and demonstrate communication skills with adults and children
Transferable skills and personal qualities	demonstrate report writing skills demonstrate communication and group work skills

Syllabus

The course will cover the following areas:

the acquisition of literacy before starting school
the relationship between home and school learning
what makes a good reader
approaches to teaching reading
the assessment of reading performance
the emergence of writing
reflective writing
the National Literacy Framework
the assessment of writing performance
bi-literacy: literacy in more than one language
digital literacy

Teaching and learning methods

The course will blend tutor-led input in lectures with group work which is largely student-led, and practical work outside the classroom.

Knowledge and understanding

demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which children come to understand the relationships between signs and meaning
demonstrate an understanding of the teaching methods used to develop children’s literacies
demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between social context and acquisition of literacy

Intellectual skills

develop critical analysis skills using primary and secondary data
demonstrate the capacity to use and critically reflect on prior research in the field of literacy acquisition
demonstrate an awareness of the debates surrounding children’s literacy acquisition

Practical skills

demonstrate and develop academic writing skills
demonstrate the capacity to use and debate with academic research on literacy acquisition
develop and demonstrate communication skills with adults and children

Transferable skills and personal qualities

demonstrate report writing skills
demonstrate communication and group work skills

Assessment methods

Assessment task	Word Length or Equivalent	Weighting within unit
Individual presentation	10 min presentation and handing in of PPT presentation	30%
Assignment	3,000 word essay	70%

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