What you will study
This module offers a range of critical perspectives on children’s lives in the early twenty-first century, with a focus on the interplay between theory and practice. The module is divided into two parts, the first of which is built around a reader of 14 specially commissioned chapters by acknowledged experts from several, different fields of childhood and youth studies. Each chapter promotes critical engagement with a range of perspectives about children and young people’s worlds. These authors come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and apply their expertise to areas such as young people and the law, children’s rights, participation and family life. One of the defining features of the module is that it tackles both local and global issues and their impact on children and young people’s lives. Case studies are drawn from global content and therefore this module is very suitable if you are based in any of our four nation states or beyond. This international perspective is enhanced by extended DVD case study material from South Africa and Hungary.
At masters level, you are expected to undertake an extended piece of writing. In the second part of this module you will carry out an original, independent research project or complete an extended literature review. This is focused on a research topic of your own choice about some aspect of children or young people’s lives. You will be supported by a Study Guide and Project Guide which provide teaching on critical literature appraisal, ethics and some common practitioner research methods. Support will also be provided through tutorial work. Please see the Entry requirements for more information regarding your choice between the research project and the literature review.
You will learn
The theoretical background to working with children and young people, contemporary thinking in the field of childhood and youth and the implications for integrated practice. You will also learn how to plan, implement and write up independent research.
Entry
To register for this module you should be prepared for study at postgraduate level and have the minimum of a bachelor's degree (in any subject) from a UK University (or equivalent).
The module is partially assessed by an extended piece of writing on a topic of your choice related to the themes of the module. There are two options for this: a small scale research project or an extended literature review. Each option is equally weighted and valued and this is designed to give you flexibility and to pursue your own interests. However if you wish to undertake the research project and work directly with children you must have an Enhanced disclosure check (see below).
If you are overseas, do not have this clearance, or do not wish to do a research project then you should choose the extended literature review. This will give you the opportunity to explore in depth any aspect of policy, practice or theory relevant to children and young people’s lives. Previous research projects have included a review of bullying policies in schools, government attempts to cut obesity, the role of playgrounds in children’s lives and the impacts of advertising on children. Students undertaking the research project have, in the past, used a variety of methods to understand children’s experiences including participant observation, interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and formal and informal observation in order to understand children’s views of the playground, their peer groups and even their pets. The important point is that the topics for both options are flexible and valued equally so you can choose which one suits you and your circumstances best.
Enhanced disclosure checks for working with children and young people
The research project option in this module is only available if you are a UK resident as you will need to hold the appropriate clearance for your nation and practice setting, such as Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check in England and Wales. an Enhanced AccessNI check in Northern Ireland or be a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme member in Scotland. The check must be appropriate for the setting in which you intend to carry out your research and must bear the same name as given in your post-registration agreement form. You also need permission from your employer to undertake this work. If these conditions cannot be fulfilled then you must choose the literature review option.
Please note: it is a legal, rather than an Open University requirement, that you must obtain these enhanced disclosure checks in order to work with children. This is the responsibility of you and your employer and not The Open University. If you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more, you should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you seek assessment under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
Outside the UK
There is much emphasis in this module on an international, global perspective. Case studies are sufficiently mixed and international students will find much of interest.
Preparatory work
If you wish to undertake original research with children and/or young people you must be resident in the UK as you must have Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). As this can take time to obtain you are recommended to begin the process well before the module starts. Failure to obtain DBS clearance will restrict you to the extended literature option in the second part of the module.
Study materials
What's included
Online resources; including a Module Guide, Study Guide and Project Guide, audio visual material, including a specially made video case study from Hungary, online forums, a website and a specially commissioned printed reader:
Montgomery H., Kellett M. (eds) (2008) Children and young people's worlds: developing frameworks for integrated practice.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
Tutorial support is organised via your regional centre and can include a combination of face-to-face and online tutorial support.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
Two of the assignments will be essay style (2500-3000 words) while the other two will involve collaborative work in the form of producing a wiki and a critical evaluation of a self-sourced journal article. The end-of-module assessment project (EMA) will assess integrated practice knowledge and skills by an extended piece of writing (7000 words).
Your EMA must be submitted electronically.