The Modules

Module 27460.

Value: 20 credits

This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of vision and visual processing, as well as the possible effects of ocular and cerebral visual dysfunction for learning and development. This module examines issues involved in assessment, as well as in interpreting assessment information, within both clinical as well as functional settings. This includes knowledge and understanding of the use of a range of approaches for information gathering, including observation techniques and related forms of assessment. You will also be expected to develop knowledge and understanding of the application of different approaches to the assessment and enhancement of visual function, including the provision of Low Vision Aids (LVAs).

Module 27458.

Value: 20 Credits

This module has been designed to enable you to relate your experience to the overall developments in provision for pupils with visual impairment at both regional and national levels. A key emphasis will be on roles and responsibilities within the context of inclusion and the changing role of the specialist teacher and other professionals. The module includes a negotiated programme of visits for you to observe different types of provision for children and young people with vision impairments. You will be expected to keep a reflective journal and undertake a series of focused tasks during these visits.

Module 27462.

Value: 20 credits

This module explores the range of methods available for children and young people with vision impairments to access the curriculum. The module will focus on the possible implications of vision impairments for access in a number of curriculum areas, including communication/literacy and numeracy. You will have opportunities to examine the role of specialist technology in widening access for individual learners with vision impairments, and analyse your own role in the design, implementation and evaluation of appropriate educational programmes.

Module 27464.

Value: 20 credits

Children and young people with vision impairments often require additional opportunities to develop independence skills, including mobility, orientation and daily living skills. Professionals who support children and young people with vision impairments will need to understand therefore how such input can be provided in order to reduce potential barriers to learning and participation. This module offers you opportunities to develop and evaluate forms of intervention most likely to support the social and emotional well being of the children and young people you work with, as well as to consider the role of the different professionals when working within a multi-disciplinary team.

Module 05473

Value: 20 credits

This module will provide you with the opportunity to investigate a particular professional issue and assess its educational and practical significance. The guidance provided will focus on the process of developing a critical, constructive, approach to the definition of problems in the chosen field of study and the evaluation of actions taken to address these problems. The module will allow individual study in special education and/or educational psychology planned according to your special interests and needs in order to permit specialisation under supervision in either a programme of study or a particular aspect of special teaching or form of provision. It is intended that the selected area of study will normally include some forms of practice, for example, in observation and assessment; in the implementation of a teaching programme; the evaluation of curriculum materials or teaching methods.

Depending on the focus of the study, the module is supervised and assessed by Regional and/or Programme tutors.

Module 27466. PGDip Mandatory only

Value 20 credits

This module focuses on the application of existing teaching strategies and the development of new approaches to meet the specific needs of pupils with vision impairments (including those with multiple needs).

The module will enable you to identify and meet the learning needs of pupils with vision impairments by:

• identifying the range of barriers to learning and participation experienced by pupils and devising appropriate strategies to reduce these barriers;
• evaluating assessment criteria and selecting from the range available to meet pupil learning needs and styles;
• adapting and evaluating their own teaching strategies to promote full curricular access; responding to the needs of pupils within the context of the whole class, specific forms of groupings within a class and as an individual;
• analysing and evaluating your own practice with reference to the relevant VIMQ outcomes

The module requires successful completion of a professional development portfolio containing:

• evidence that you have met all the relevant VIMQ outcomes;
• evidence that you have achieved competence in Grade 2 British Braille;
• a critical analysis of a negotiated teaching placement where you will have demonstrated effective classroom management to a visiting assessor appointed by the University.

The module, ‘Practitioner Inquiry in Education’ is designed to help you to plan and carry out a dissertation, which is the final part of your Masters Programme in Education.

It is available in several different modes:

• Lectures and seminars and tutorials for full-time students
• Online study with tutorials with regional tutors for distance education students
• Online study with seminars and tutorials for part-time campus students

Throughout this module, we refer to practitioner research. This is research, or investigation, undertaken by practitioners or those wishing to research educational practice. It is research undertaken by practitioner-researchers who are already working or intend to work in the educational field.

The module enables you to study all aspects of researching for and producing a dissertation. The assignment for the module takes the form of developing a proposal for your dissertation and you will need to complete the module before you embark upon your research.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

• identify your dissertation topic and your main research question and a small set of sub-questions 
• locate a theoretical framework for your research 
• identify an appropriate existing academic literature to review for your topic 
• formulate an appropriate research design for your research questions
• select suitable methods for investigation, collection of and analysis of data
• present your dissertation