How we will deliver your course in 2021: Education (undergraduate)

Placements:  

Students are expected to complete a placement of a minimum of 72 hours during each year of their studies. Under current circumstances it might be more difficult for students to complete these hours. (Although, it is worth noting that no academic credits are attached to the placement hours themselves). To address the potential challenges of finding and completing placement, students will be able to complete this component of the programme in a variety of potential ways: 

1. A minimum of 72 hours of placement as has previously been the case; 
2. A minimum of 72 hours of engagement with alternative sources of information regarding educational practices or workplaces: e.g. online classes (video tutorials, etc.), education documentaries, video recorded lessons,  journalism/tv news regarding educational workplaces and practices, other teaching experiences (e.g. teaching a family member cookery or a skill, etc.)
3. A combination of the above. 

Students will need to keep a detailed record of what they have engaged with and how. These experiences will be used as the basis for final assessments related to placement. 

Field trips:  

We normally offer a compulsory field trip at level 5 (the Big Day Out) during term 1 with visits to sites on London’s South Bank (e.g. National Theatre, Koestler Exhibition at the Festival Hall and the British Film Institute). Depending on access to these venues, this field trip will be offered during the academic year in situ or online. The aims of the field trip can be covered whether in situ or online. There are no academic credits attached to this fieldtrip.  

Optional trips to other cultural and educational institutions will be offered if government and university guidance permit. 

Placements:  

Students are expected to complete a placement of a minimum of 72 hours during each year of their studies. Under current circumstances it might be more difficult for students to complete these hours. (Although, it is worth noting that no academic credits are attached to the placement hours themselves). To address the potential challenges of finding and completing placement, students will be able to complete this component of the programme in a variety of potential ways: 

1. A minimum of 72 hours of placement as has previously been the case; 
2. A minimum of 72 hours of engagement with alternative sources of information regarding educational practices or workplaces: e.g. online classes (video tutorials, etc.), education documentaries, video recorded lessons,  journalism/tv news regarding educational workplaces and practices, other teaching experiences (e.g. teaching a family member cookery or a skill, etc.)
3. A combination of the above. 

Students will need to keep a detailed record of what they have engaged with and how. These experiences will be used as the basis for final assessments related to placement. 

Field trips:  

We normally offer a compulsory field trip at level 5 (the Big Day Out) during term 1 with visits to sites on London’s South Bank (e.g. National Theatre, Koestler Exhibition at the Festival Hall and the British Film Institute). Depending on access to these venues, this field trip will be offered during the academic year in situ or online. The aims of the field trip can be covered whether in situ or online. There are no academic credits attached to this fieldtrip.  

Optional trips to other cultural and educational institutions will be offered if government and university guidance permit. 

We will offer a flexible curriculum delivery, taking account of changing government and university guidelines and in consultation with our students, to ensure a safe, quality experience for our students.

Study blocks will be delivered primarily in-person on campus with Panopto recordings available after taught sessions. The teaching hours and balance between lecture and seminar input will remain consistent with previous years. One term study blocks are comprised of 10 weeks, x 3 hours per week of taught input. Two term study blocks are comprised of 20 weeks x 1.5 hours per week of taught input. All of this teaching is planned for in-person on campus.

All study block and assessment block leaders will have online and/or in-person on-campus availability for students to book, as required. Staff will be flexible and will meet students according to their preference – i.e. online, in person on campus or a mixture of both.  

Assessments:

We assess students using a mixture of approaches including, for example, essays, reports, presentations and blog writing. Where student placement hours cannot be completed due to COVID-19 restrictions or challenges, an alternative assessment is available.  There is no change to assessments.

Support/resources:

Support Group/Individual tutorials are scheduled within the taught Study Block contact time to help students engage with the content, provide support and address related queries.

Personal tutors, as part of Tutoring@Brunel, assist students in their development as reflective practitioners, learners and support them through the period of their study. Guidance/support is also provided by the Programme Lead, through termly tutorials, communications, and support for the whole cohort. Furthermore, support/guidance is offered by colleagues from Academic Skills Services (ASK), and the Brunel Language Centre who work closely with the BA team in supporting students throughout the programme, and includes contribution on Study blocks, individual/group appointments/ additional writing workshops, practice sessions.

The ASK provision is embedded within the curriculum and the Academic English programme will support the programme in terms of 1-1 support, presentation feedback for the related assessment blocks, and question and answer sessions for dissertations.

Tutorials:

Tutoring@brunel will continue with group tutorials offered on campus during terms 1 and 2. One-to-one tutorials will be offered online or on campus.  

Study blocks will be delivered in-person on campus with recordings available after taught sessions. The teaching hours and balance between lecture and seminar input will remain consistent with previous years.  

All study block and assessment block leaders will have online and/or on-campus availability for students to book, as required.   

Tutorials:

Tutoring@brunel will continue with group tutorials offered on campus during terms 1 and 2. One-to-one tutorials will be offered online or on campus.  

Assessments:

No change to assessments. Where student placement hours cannot be completed due to COVID-19 restrictions or challenges, an alternative assessment is available.