Developing scholarly practice and becoming an agent for change

This module explores the interrelationship between the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities; the theory and methods of different disciplinary traditions; research findings and current practice. It does this by taking a global and contextualised perspective.

The overall aim of this module is to provide you with a range of analytical, theoretical and reflexive tools to critically engage with your roles and positionality in a reflective way, and to consider how they can become agents for change. The module achieves this by critically examining practices, including co-production with children with disabilities and their families, partnership with schools and disability allies and developing understandings of global, national and local approaches to disability.

This module will give you 20 credits at Postgraduate Masters Level/Level 7.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • demonstrate a coherent and critical understanding of key debates related to evidence informed practice in disability studies and identify gaps and limitations which can be addressed by future research
  • develop their understanding of what it means to engage in research and scholarly practitioner that leads to change and draw on a range of tools that can support this.
  • apply this learning to your own practice as either a researcher or a scholarly practitioner by demonstrating critical awareness of how it can combine the perspectives of people with disabilities, theory, research, reflections in your own practice and data to make a difference in the field of SEND.
  • Show an ability to critically assess and understand professional perspectives on the management of ethical issues related to your work.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of work, enabling you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding of the theory and practical application of the module material. 

You will have one specific formative assessment (where you receive informal feedback, but it does not count towards your module grade) and two components of summative assessment (which are each graded). 

Through this comprehensive range of assessment components, your professional and academic careers will be enhanced.