Learning and Teaching (top-up)

Attendance is one day a week with additional home study. This course can be studied either full or part-time. The full-time course is over one academic year and requires 1,200 hours of study. The part-time course is over two years.

The course provides an opportunity to examine what lies behind contentious educational issues and a chance to take part in some of the key debates that surround education and schooling. It is suitable preparation for applying to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) programmes in Key Stage 1 and 2. For those who want to gain QTS at secondary level, additional subject study will be required. For those who do not want to progress to QTS, the course offers an understanding of education which will be useful to those aiming for careers allied to teaching such as learning mentors.

The course comprises four modules of study, each of which is interlinked, and a dissertation of the student's own choosing, worth 40 credits. There is scope for students to individualise learning and follow special interests by changing the way assignments are approached.

• This is a course designed to fit in with your employment in school
• Modules are designed to help you develop excellent models of practice underpinned by theory
• There are no examinations
• You are supported by a dissertation supervisor and tutorials from teaching staff
• There is a large online component to the course
• The course can be extended from one year to two years
  

The course is comprised of the following five modules:

Issues of Equality in Educational Settings

This module investigates the ways in which gender, 'race', ethnicity, social class, sexuality and disability can influence children's differing experiences of education.

Professional Practice in Education

This module involves understanding what it means to be a professional in education. The emphasis is on using professional knowledge to justify elements that are included in educational programmes.

Educational Debates in Learning and Teaching (online)

This module takes an innovative approach to learning by means of electronic conferencing, in which students investigate and debate key issues in education.

Research Methods in Education

As a companion module to the dissertation, this module introduces students to data collection methods, research methodology, how to write research reports and the ethics of research in educational settings.

Dissertation

With the support of an academic tutor, students conduct independent, small-scale research and present their findings in the form of an extended study.

Who is the BALT for?

The BALT is a 'top-up' degree designed to follow on from a Foundation Degree in Learning and Teaching or similar qualification. Students need the equivalent of 120 CATS points at level 5 and 120 CATS points at level 4. In addition students need recent experience of classroom work either as a support worker (teaching assistant, learning mentor, etc) or as an unqualified teacher. The one day a week attendance model is designed to accommodate students who are also working four days in schools but students need not be in current employment. Access to an educational institution is needed to complete assignments. The course is suitable for oversees trained teachers whose qualifications are not recognised as degree level in the UK, as well as for all education staff with sub-degree level qualifications who need to top-up to honours degree level. If you are in doubt about your qualification please contact us.

Assessments include; written assignments and reports, practical projects, individual and group presentations; there are no exams.

A range of teaching and learning methods is used within each module. One module is entirely online. You will be involved in discussion of ideas and interactive learning. Learning strategies include lectures, seminars, group work, case studies, presentations, reflection on practice, analytical assignments, tutorials, individual learning and observations.

Overall, we want you to think of your course in terms of co-operative pooling of experience and engagement in co­operative activity. It is recognised that the teaching and learning strategies involved should exhibit variety so as to broaden your experience.

The BA (Hons) Learning and Teaching degree provides a degree level qualification that allows application to a programme for qualified teacher status (QTS) via an employment-based route or through further study on a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). It is also suitable for careers in education that do not require QTS.