Module overview
Society often sees school as the sole site of learning. Yet people learn from a variety of sources, in a variety of places and for various reasons. The reality is that a great deal of learning takes place in the social and cultural contexts that are offered outside school - informal settings, such as museums, social media, traditional media, hobbies, friends, family and many more. This module will focus on the learning that happens in these contexts.
The module takes a hands-on-approach to understanding how to design learning activities for such environments.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The complex characteristics of learning in informal contexts
- Different types of environments that foster informal learning and identify their specific characteristics
- Relevant theoretical models and frameworks of informal learning
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Engage in reflective practice
- Make information accessible to different audiences
- Successfully work in a group to accomplish a common goal
- Plan and execute learning activities implementing theories into practice
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Reflect on your experience of designing an informal learning activity
- Develop an educational activity that takes place within an informal context
- Apply theoretical models and frameworks to real world situations
Syllabus
Typically, this module will cover:
- The nature of learning in informal settings
- Learning in designed (structured) environments (museums, etc.)
- Learning in unstructured environments (learning at home)
- Integrating informal principles in formal environments
- Game based learning, gamification and serious games
- Learning from media (social and traditional)
- Public engagement
Using the models and frameworks:
- Models and frameworks of informal activities
- Models and principles of public engagement
- Designing thinking and pedagogical design
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This module is taught through a mix of interactive lectures and hands-on workshops along with directed reading and suggested additional research material. Each session will take place in a different location around the university and the city of Southampton (including outdoor and museums).
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 26 |
| Teaching | 22 |
| Completion of assessment task | 38 |
| Wider reading or practice | 30 |
| Follow-up work | 30 |
| External visits | 4 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
During the module, there will be discussions so that the students can receive peer and tutor feedback. The final module assessment will involve in creating a group artefact, delivering it and writing a newsletter item. In addition, each student will write a reflection on the process and what they learnt from it.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual reflection | 25% |
| Artefact or site analysis | 75% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 75% |
| Individual reflection | 25% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual reflection | 25% |
| Coursework | 75% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External