Early Years (0-8) Foundation Degree - flexible distributed learning pathway

Teaching

This mode of delivery involves a blended learning approach. You are taught through a combination of some face to face learning opportunities with a significant amount of independent study time online, in the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Blackboard. Students choosing to study in this mode require a basic level of ICT competence and computer and software which enables access to information via the VLE and the web.

In addition, contact with personal academic tutors through the PAT workbooks are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course. You have an opportunity to arrange additional contact through F2F, online or telephone.

You have an opportunity to engage in practice-based learning on a minimum of 2 days a week for full time students and one day per week for part time. This can be in the form of paid work or as a student placement.

Contact time

In a typical month you will have one full day in university, with planned sessions for each module. An Online Learning Activity is also uploaded onto Blackboard, approximately one each month. Typically class contact time will be structured around:

• A review of the OLA
• Introduction to subject areas related to the module

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 6 hours of personal self-study per module per week. Typically, this will involve completing OLA activities and independent reading and research related to specific modules. The Resource List identifies key readings, together with OLA recommendations and signposting during F2F sessions.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The degree is delivered through a partnership which includes senior academics, UW registered lecturers and practice professionals.

Teaching is based on research; 30 per cent of course lecturers and partnership team members have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles or through the respective FE college website.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments. Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments, which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.

Assessment methods include presentations, reports, posters, essays, a long study, practice-based learning portfolios, observations of children's learning, appreciative inquiry and practice-based inquiry and professional reflective journal. Assessment is directly related to current practice expectations and is integrated within all of the course's teaching.

Preparation for summative assessment is structured into teaching methods through the formative processes of active induction, guided exploration, self-organising learner and self-organised learner.

A typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

• Year 1 (Full Time)
  4 written assignments
  Practice Portfolio
• Year 1 (Part time)
  3 written assignments
  Practice Portfolio (to be handed in during second year)
• Year 2 (Full Time)
  3 written assignments
  1 Practice based enquiry
  Practice Portfolio
• Year 2 (Part Time)
  3 written assignments
• Year 3 (Part Time)
  1 written assignment
  I Practice based enquiry
  Practice Portfolio

You have an opportunity throughout each module to submit formative work and will receive formative, constructive feedback and feed forward from tutors (and peers where appropriate) that will support your preparation for summative assessment.

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.