Educational aims
The overall aims of this certificate are to engage students in a systematic review and critical assessment of current ways of working to promote public health, and to provide students with the practical skills, knowledge and understanding to develop, implement and evaluate new forms of practice.
In particular, the module aims to inform and empower people who are involved in promoting health in its broadest sense. It will do this by exploring issues, innovations and dilemmas in the field of public health, health promotion, disease prevention and health education. The emphasis will be on developing the potential for promoting health in a wide variety of ways and at a number of different levels. The intention is to move practice forward by offering opportunities to test and evaluate different strategies and frameworks for action.
Other more specific aims are to:
- investigate and assess alternative conceptual and practical approaches to the promotion of health through a range of case studies of different settings, frameworks and client groups
- draw out and develop ways of promoting public health that address social and economic inequalities and which are culturally sensitive and holistic
- develop students’ skills in researching, analysing and evaluating health information and policy
- endorse an approach to promoting health that is participative, recognises the need for flexibility and mutual goal setting, and respects the rights of individuals, groups and communities to autonomy and control
- encourage partnership and collaboration between different health professional groups, and between health workers, policy makers and lay and consumer groups working in the area of promoting public health
- examine ethical, political and professional dilemmas that arise from new practices and policies for promoting health, and consider how these dilemmas may be tackled.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Knowledge and understanding
The study materials will support your attainment of these outcomes through the learning guides, core texts (copublished books) and a range of audiovisual and/or web-based resources. Learning is directed through a series of activities designed to consolidate and support the overall assessment strategy.
It is envisaged that there will be six tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and an end-of-module assessment (EMA) that takes the form of an essay or reflective account. Throughout the module, the activities will act as building blocks towards the TMAs and the EMA.
Cognitive skills
Cognitive skills will be developed through the study materials. Students will also be directed to research, critically analyse and evaluate information from resources such as web-based and DVD-ROM materials.
Cognitive skills will be assessed through the TMAs, the EMA and your participation in online discussion forums.
Practical and/or professional skills
Practical and professional skills will be developed through the study materials, face-to-face and online tutorials, and by searching the web for health information.
Practical/professional skills will be assessed via the TMAs and EMA as well as through online discussion forums.
Key skills
Key skills will be developed through both the study materials, web-based activities, online discussion forums and email. IT skills and research skills will be developed through searching for and critically appraising literature and working with web-based materials as appropriate for Level 3 study.
Key skills will be assessed through the TMAs and your participation in online discussion forums.