Looking back on my modules from year 2:

Since completing my final assignments for my Second year of Education Studies, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on the optional modules I took this past year.

Before I get started, I would like to note that sometimes the format or content of modules are modified from year to year. Also, these reflections are based on my experiences and opinions whilst I hope these insights are useful, you should way up the pros and cons for each module yourself. 

EQ206: Policies and Politics of the English Education System

• I entered this module expecting to be out of my depth due to my restricted knowledge around politics. However, I tried to be open-minded and reassure myself that as long as I put extra time in to learn the basics and asked all the questions I needed, I would have the opportunity to succeed. 
• Although I learned to love this module as I gained an insight into a new topic I have never explored, I was always completing extra readings just to understand the basics, and this took time away from other modules. 
• The assessment of this module was a presentation, reflection piece and a policy report paper. This variety was something I enjoyed rather than completing a 3000-word essay. Also, by having three assignments rather than one for the module as a whole I found it took off some of the pressure. 

EQ211: Social theory

• Personally, I found this module very content heavy and fell behind with readings some weeks. I definitely think a scheduled reading time each week is helpful to manage this module. 
• This module included a lot of sociological theories and is definitely a module to choose if this is your passion.
• The assessment was a 3000-word essay which concerns a mixture of theories and theorists. The positive of this module is knowing you only have one deadline to work towards, however this can put extra pressure on.

EQ212: Social Justice

• This module involved discussing and evaluating a range of different social inequalities, which was both interesting and eye opening.
• The learning style not only included lectures, seminars and readings but also podcasts and documentaries which helped me to understand the content in a .
• The assignment format was very different to any assignment previously completed. This was because it involved data analysis along with written work. It was quite nice to complete this as it varied from other essay assignments.

EQ209: Children’s literature

• This module was insightful and full of open discussions around a variety of topics linking to children’s literature. I found this module more manageable with the readings and content. 
• The assignment style was a 3000-word essay which involved critically analysing the literary techniques on a piece of children’s literature of your choice. This style of assignment was enjoyable as we had the choice of literature and there are so many options to choose from. I would love to do this module again and take my assignment from a different angle. 
• However, my experience highlighted that I am very indecisive as it took me a while to decide which piece of literature to discuss for my assignment!