New master's degree in the emotional and social aspects of teaching and learning
08 June 2009
A pioneering master's degree course that will examine the emotional aspects of teaching and learning is being launched by the Institute of Education, London.
The MA Psychosocial Studies and Education, a response to the integration of social care and education is the first course in the UK that will use psychosocial studies as a way of thinking about education. It is aimed at people working with children, young people and families in fields such as youth work, social work, the criminal justice system and early years settings.
"The social and emotional aspects of development are increasingly emphasised in education practice" says course leader Dr Caroline Pelletier. "This course focuses on education as an emotional process that relates both to learners' social context and their identity."
Students will explore the dynamics of social groups and institutions, the emotional aspects of professional practice and the social context of learning.
Dr Pelletier says: "This is the only MA in the country to focus on relationships and identity in education on the basis of research in psychosocial studies."
The launch takes place on Saturday 13 June with a free seminar at the Institute of Education on the benefits of this approach.
ends
Further information from Helen Green, 020 7612 6459, 07734 540 870, h.green@ioe.ac.uk.
Notes for editors
The MA Psychosocial Studies and Education starts at the Institute of Education (IOE) in September. It is a part-time course that runs in the evenings and on Saturdays.
Caroline Pelletier is a lecturer in psychosocial studies and education at the IOE.
The Institute of Education is a college of the University of London, specialising in teaching, research and consultancy in education and related areas of social science and professional practice. The Institute conducts over one-third of the educational research in the UK and last year's Research Assessment Exercise judged that 35 per cent of the work it had submitted was "world leading", while much of the remainder was of international significance.