Bachelor of Education Honours in Language Education
Education, Training and Development - Schooling
Purpose and Rationale
Bachelor of Education Honours in Language Education (BEd Honours in Language Education)
Purpose
The purpose of the Bachelor of Education Honours in Language Education (BEd Honours in Language Education) is to prepare learners for research-based postgraduate studies in Language Education. It is designed to consolidate and deepen a learner's knowledge and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of the field. The qualification aims to develop an innovative, socially responsible, reflective, and reflexive researcher who can demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary, historical, and socio-political issues, as well as scholarly research in Language Education. Learners will be equipped to read and write critically, design, and implement a research process relevant to the field of study. The Exit Level Outcomes and associated assessment criteria are structured to prepare learners for high-level theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, enabling them to address the challenges in Language Education effectively.
Upon qualification, learners will be able to:
- Reflect critically on contemporary theories in Education and Language Education
- Engage in disciplinary discourses related to contextual issues in socially responsible ways
- Identify and compare various research paradigms and methodologies
- Conduct independent research/inquiry in Language Education, culminating in a research thesis
Rationale
The BEd Honours in Language Education seeks to address the professional development needs of teachers by focusing on researcher development in Language Education. With the current educational challenges in South Africa, it is crucial for teachers to critically engage with educational concerns and be adept at generating new knowledge through research. The development of teachers as researchers is essential for improving educational practices within classrooms and beyond. This qualification aims to foster a culture of research, scholarship, and innovation by equipping teachers with the skills to identify, conduct, and develop research-based solutions to challenges in Language Education.
The BEd Honours in Language Education serves as foundational preparation for learners to undertake independent research at a postgraduate level. The qualification aligns with the goal of universities to enhance the quality of education and support teachers and schools in addressing learner performance issues within their communities. By developing research capacity and generating new knowledge through basic research, the qualification contributes to national Research and Development needs, the provincial growth and development plan (PGDP), and the regional system of innovation (RIS) in the Eastern Cape.
Reference: Ramaila, as cited by Moodley, 2014:3
Outcomes
- Reflect critically on contemporary theories in Education in general, and in the field of Language Education, in particular.
- Engage in disciplinary discourses related to contextual issues in socially responsible ways.
- Identify and compare various research paradigms and methodologies.
- Conduct independent research/inquiry in Language Education culminating in a research thesis.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Critical contemporary issues in Education and in Language Education are identified.
- Writing reflectively on contemporary issues in Language Education is demonstrated.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Contextual issues through the medium of disciplinary discourse are explained.
- Socially responsible attitudes through the nature of their research projects and in their reflective writing are displayed.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- The characteristics of various approaches to research are identified.
- The various approaches to research are compared.
- The philosophical underpinnings of different research paradigms are described.
- The appropriateness of various research methodologies to particular research problems is assessed.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Conduct research on critical contemporary issues in Language Education is conducted.
- Identify a research problem is identified.
- Consult appropriate literature is consulted.
- Select methodologies that are appropriate to addressing the research problem are selected.
- Undertake data collection and analysis is undertaken.
- Produce a written record of the findings of the research undertaken is produced.
Integrated Assessment:
- The qualification of both formative and summative assessments.
- A variety of formative assessment strategies (e.g. assignments, seminar presentations, contribution to discussion forums, short tests, etc.) will be used.
- Formative assessments will develop students' literacy and research skills, comprehension, and interrogation of key themes/concepts.
- Formative assessments will build students' capacity to develop proficiencies in designing their research proposal, carrying out the research, writing up the thesis, and overall preparation for final exams.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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