The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory and history of using education as part of collective efforts to try to create a more democratic, equal, just and sustainable society than the one we live in currently. A key question is exactly how (and whether) education is able to effectively promote progressive forms of change in society as a whole. The course looks closely at key concepts, traditions and thinkers in the fields of popular education, critical pedagogy and community organising. Alongside core lectures and seminars, the course provides students with a hands-on opportunity to learn community organizing skills and participate in a community organizing project.

 

Module assessment

As this is a placement based course, the bulk of the assessment is based on active and regular participation in workshops, fieldtrips and community organising project work. 30% of the final mark for the course will be based on a case study report. 70% of the final mark for the course will be based on a portfolio of seven discrete tasks completed throughout the duration of the course.

 

Course learning hours

This course runs over Terms 2 and 3: all lectures and seminars will be scheduled over the ten weeks of Term 2; while the community organising placement project attached to the course runs during Terms 2 and 3. Lectures are 1 hour, seminars are 2 hours; the placement activity is 30 hours.

 

Community organizing placement

As part of the module, all students will have the opportunity to participate in a community organizing project run in collaboration with Citizens UK. While this project changes each year, in previous years, students have worked on: a campaign in support of refugee children in UK schools; a campaign to support children and young people in the UK without access to UK citizenship; and an action research project on how the government’s hostile environment immigration policy is impacting schools, children and families with and without citizenship; a campaign to promote the London Citizens’ Manifesto for youth safety, affordable housing, climate crisis action, immigrant welcome and living wage employment. More information on Citizens UK can be found at: www.citizensuk.org.

 

Limited Enrollment

As this is a placement-based module, the total number of places is currently capped at 38. Students interested in taking this module are asked to write a brief statement explaining how it fits into their past experience, current interests, and future goals. In the event that more than 38 students want to take this module, we will use these statements as a basis for allocating spaces.

 

DBS Checks

UCL now requires that all students taking this module obtain a DBS (criminal record) check, in order to have no restrictions on their placement work in schools. If you do not already have one, a DBS check can be obtained through IOE student services at a cost of about £70.

 