Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ACA3007

 
TITLE Practicum 2

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 12

 
DEPARTMENT Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education

 
DESCRIPTION The practicum study-unit will engage the student in formative hands-on exposure and experience in the fields of adult education, training and development. During each session of the practicum students are meant to develop/nurture particular competencies, skills or attitudes that testify to a professional and committed vocational work ethic; whilst at the same time consolidating exposure to and analysis and practice of pedagogies, methodologies and resources discussed in other more 'lecture-based' study-units.
During this practicum, students will have opportunities to plan, set-up, manage and evaluate a learning environment that is attractive, motivating and educational for different cohorts of adult learners and/or trainees.

The study-unit delivery involves three seminars, strategically planned at the beginning, mid-way and towards the end of the semester to enhance guide and support of the students' experiences with a vision of equity.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to provide:
1. Formative hands-on networking, exposure and experience in the fields of adult education, training and development, particularly as regards planning, setting-up, managing and evaluating learning contexts that are attractive, motivating and educational for different cohorts of adult learners and/or trainees;
2. Consolidation of face-to-face and online pedagogies, methodologies and resources relevant to a given adult education or training setting; and
3. Development of competencies, skills and attitudes relevant to educators in the fields of adult education, training and development, within a framework of a professional and committed vocational work ethic.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Identify pedagogies, content, methodologies and resources appropriate for the needs and aptitudes of the learners and/or trainees catered for;
2. Review how adult learners and/or trainees learn and engage with the chosen pedagogies, content, methodologies and resources; and
3. Discuss work ethic components relevant to respective learners and/or trainees and learning contexts that testify to professionalism and commitment.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Prepare a scheme of work and lesson plans that are relevant, educational, motivating and ethical for a specific cohort of adult learners or trainees;
2. Formulate and employ assessment tools to monitor learning outcomes; and
3. Analyze the impact that the personal and/or professional background of adult learners and/or trainees has on the learning context and the learning outcomes.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- English, L., & Mayo, P. (2012). Learning with adults : A critical pedagogical introduction (International issues in adult education). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- Higgs, J., & Trede, F. (Eds.). (2016). Professional Practice Discourse Marginalia (Practice, Education, Work and Society). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- Kirkwood, G. & Kirkwood, J. (2011). Living Adult Education: Freire in Scotland. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- Kopp D.M. (2017) What Is Training? In: Famous and (Infamous) Workplace and Community Training. Palgrave Macmillan, New York.

Supplementary Readings:

- Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K., & Robinson, G. (2007). Practitioner Perspectives on the Use of Technology in Fieldwork Teaching. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 31(2), 319-330.
- Garrison, D. R. (2011) E-learning in the 21st century: a framework for research and practice, London, Routledge.
- Gilmore, J.C. (2011). Teaching Practice through Fieldwork Course Design. Western Folklore, 70(3-4), 255-285.
- Marvell, A., Simm, D., Schaaf, R., & Harper, R. (2013). Students as Scholars: Evaluating Student-Led Learning and Teaching during Fieldwork. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 37(4), 547-566.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Fieldwork, Ind Study, Placement, Seminar, Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Fieldwork SEM2 20%
Logbook SEM2 80%

 
LECTURER/S Maria M. Brown (Co-ord.)
Maria Cutajar
Joseph Gravina

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit