Tutors
Rachel Mazyck, Jennifer Chung, Richard Ratcliffe
Aims and Objectives
- To develop the ability of students to make basic comparisons of educational issues between the US and UK, and
internationally
- To encourage students to explore the UK educational system and reflect on their own experience of UK classroom
practices
- To provoke students to think critically on core issues of UK education and educational policy
- To promote students' understanding of the social themes of UK education
- To require students to engage with a variety of current comparative education research
Learning outcomes
- Critical observation and reflection on classroom experience
- The ability to summarize classroom experiences and compare and contrast UK and US education systems
- The ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different education policy approaches, and form judgments
on the basis of evidence.
- The ability to summarize and critically review academic arguments
- The ability to present material orally in a clear and effective way
- The ability to marshal arguments lucidly, coherently, and concisely in written form, and produce a considered
research essay with appropriate bibliographic references
- Self-direction, self-discipline and enhanced observational skills in thorough and thoughtful journaling
Brief description of the course
This Comparative Education course is proposed to be co-taught by a three final year doctoral candidates from the
Education Department, the University of Oxford. The course is broadly organized into four sections. The first part
provides an overview of the UK education system, the second a comparison of key themes in UK education, the third
introduces relevant international comparisons and benchmarks, and the fourth is based around student contributions
based on their US and UK experiences. Throughout the course, the students will be asked to draw on their experience
gained in UK classrooms. They will also be provoked to take an active and critical position on the various reading
tasks requested of them as these relate to their classroom experience.
Modes of assessment
Students will be assessed on the basis of:
- Continual class participation, including evidence of reading
- Journal which logs, assesses and reflects on the similarities and differences between the US and UK educational
system as witnessed and experienced in their school placement
- Contribution on the basis of their journal to a group discussion on teaching in the UK
- Presentation of the research paper comparing and contrasting an aspect of the UK and US educational system
- A comparative research essay (10-12 pages) to be completed by 28 June
