Being a Critical Educator module (CO31002)

You will develop your critical understanding of the world. There will be a particular focus on how power is used to favour elites by oppressing certain people and communities.

You will prepare for working with those who are furthest from power. You will learn how to help them better understand how to challenge social, economic and environmental injustices.

You will learn to be better equipped to support people and communities. You will learn to apply critical thinking to understand discrimination and oppression. By understanding this, you will understand the processes that dehumanise them.

You will learn about the process of 'conscientisation'. This is a critical first step of transformational change in the lives of the people that you work with as Community Educators.

What you will learn

In this module you will:

• identify and critique contemporary themes in Community Education
• broaden your understanding of the Community Education domains of practice. You will also learn about their ideological and philosophical underpinnings
• further develop your ability to critically analyse Community Education practice and policy
• merge your abilities to undertake a literature-based inquiry and to present evidence-based arguments
• learn how people and communities are regarded as abnormal on the grounds of poverty, class and their 'value' to economic progress. You will also look into the creation of the 'precariat'

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• identify how systemic injustices undermine our human rights
• identify the role of practice that exposes and challenges these injustices
• identify the need for societal, community and institutional change based on these injustices
• understand the challenges of engaging with mutuality and community-led practice
• understand the danger of stereotypes and discrimination. You will also understand the need to understand the lived experience of the people with whom we work
• understand how different forms of oppression intersect. You will also understand the impact of privilege and how inclusion for some might mean exclusion for others

Assignments / assessment

3,000-word essay (100%)

• set in Week 1
• due in Week 13

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• Lectures (one 2 hour session weekly in semester 1)
• Weekly readings