MA Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf Qualification)(Distance Learning)

Year 2

(Award available for year: Master of Arts)

Learning outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding:
By the end of this programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:
- demonstrate an in-depth, specialist knowledge of current legislation and principles concerned with SEN provision and be able to identify specific implications for deaf education;
- demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how communication and language and social/emotional development can be altered or delayed by the effects of mild to profound hearing loss;
- demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the range of communication needs of deaf pupils and to make critical and objective observations about implications for the learning context;
- demonstrate a critical appreciation of the potential effects of deafness on cognition and learning and be able to apply this to an understanding of different learning styles of deaf pupils;
- demonstrate a comprehensive and analytical understanding of the range of communication approaches in deaf education including the nature of British Sign Language and its use in bilingual/multilingual settings;
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the ear, the physics of sound, acoustic phonetics and speech perception and to use this in the analysis of individual pupil profiles;
- demonstrate a specialist and in-depth knowledge of ways in which amplification systems make effective use of residual hearing and to use this in the analysis of individual pupil profiles;
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the current issues involved in audiological intervention and support including the development of new technologies and the implications of newborn hearing screening.

B. Practical professional skills:
By the end of this programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:
- demonstrate the appropriate skills for the identification, assessment and planning related to the learning needs of deaf pupils;
- deploy a range of effective teaching strategies which ensure maximum access to the curriculum for deaf pupils and learning progress;
- develop pupils' communication, literacy and numeracy skills and ICT capability;
- work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and develop appropriate supportive relationships with parents;
- promote deaf pupils' social and emotional development independence and self esteem in preparation for adulthood;
- demonstrate the flexible communication skills needed to work across a range of settings;
- design and implement a coherent communication programme tailored to the current level of language development of individual pupils;
- assess the amplification needs and residual hearing of pupils and interpret audiometric information;
- operate and maintain appropriate audiological and amplification equipment in a variety of acoustic conditions, making optimal use of residual hearing and speech reading.

Transferable (key) skills

The context of deaf education:
- Critical engagement in professional debate regarding deafness and educational policy and practice;
- Independent study and research at a distance.

Deafness and development:
- Independent critical engagement with research and writings on deafness and early development;
- Critical evaluation and review.

Educational Audiology:
Self direction in the development and evaluation of own specialist technical skills to ensure continuing professional development.

Learning and Teaching in Deaf Education:
- Independent evaluation of own professional practice and of other strategies and approaches;
- Ensuring effective independent professional development.

Critical study:
- Independent research skills including data collection and analysis;
- Application of research outcomes to professional practice.

Professional skills portfolio:
- Self-direction and independent approach to the development of practical professional skills;
- Evaluation of own development and identification of future targets.

Assessment

The context of deaf education:
Present and critically evaluate an in-depth enquiry into perspectives on policy and provision.

Deafness and development:
Apply in-depth of knowledge to a critical discussion of deaf children's early development and evaluate key writings and relevant research.

Educational Audiology:
Demonstrate an in-depth specialist technical understanding of and the ability to critically evaluate the potential of audiological support.

Learning and Teaching in Deaf Education:
Apply an in-depth knowledge of the deaf child as a learner to a critical evaluation of educational management strategies.

Critical study:
Conduct an in-depth enquiry into one aspect of deaf education demonstrating breadth and depth of specialist knowledge, appropriate approaches to data collection, and to critical analysis.

Professional skills portfolio:
- Apply breadth and depth of specialist knowledge of deafness, language development and learning to professional practice;
- Critically evaluate ones own professional communication, teaching and audiological skills.