Program Overview

What is Education? (CPAS0117)

Key Information

The module "What is Education?" (CPAS0117) is offered by the Faculty of IOE, with the teaching department being Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment. It has a credit value of 30. This module is compulsory for students on the MA Education Programme and its routes, resulting in limited spaces for students outside of these programmes.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

Content

The module introduces students to key debates and topics within the diverse field of education studies. It is centered around six questions posed by Fielding & Moss (2011), encouraging a more critical and nuanced understanding of education and its purpose and role within society. Topics covered include learning theories, pedagogical approaches, digital education, alternative forms of education, social reproduction, inequalities in education, and the aims of education.

Teaching Delivery

This module is taught over 10 weeks, with both a lecture and a seminar each week. Lectures are taught by the module team and expert guest lecturers from the IOE. A flipped classroom approach is used, where students engage individually with required readings before the seminar and a recorded lecture before the discussion with the lecturer. Seminars are led by staff from the MA Education programme, with a total of 3 hours of contact time per week.

Indicative Topics

Indicative lecture topics include:

• Interrogating Education and Learning theories
• Pedagogical approaches
• Digital education
• Alternative forms of education
• Aims of education/curriculum
• Climate change and sustainability education
• Inequalities in education
• Social reproduction
• The psychosocial

Module Aims

The module aims to:

• Introduce students to key ideas, research, policies, and ideologies shaping the fields of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment.
• Examine how educators respond to national and local contexts in developing curricular and pedagogical approaches.
• Promote critical engagement with debates about the aims and practices of education in national and international contexts.
• Consider the impact of different approaches to education on social justice and explore approaches for more inclusive provision.
• Examine the role of education in social reproduction and radical critiques of the education system from psycho-social positions.
• Explore the roles of participants and educators in education and the nature and scope of professional roles of educators.

Expected Outcomes

A graduate of this module is expected to have developed:

• An enhanced understanding of post-graduate scholarship and research.
• A critical understanding of perspectives influencing how societies and individuals understand and practice education.
• The ability to critically apply current debates within the field of education studies to diverse contexts.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

Intended Teaching Term: Term 1, Postgraduate (FHEQ Level 7)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person and online options are available.
• Methods of assessment: 100% Coursework.
• Mark scheme: Both numeric marks and letter grades are used, depending on the module delivery.

Other Information

• Number of students on the module in the previous year varies by delivery mode.
• Module leader: Dr. Lauren Clark.

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.