Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education

90 HNUE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE DOI: 10.18173/2354-1075.2018-0172 Educational Sciences, 2018, Volume 63, Issue 9, pp. 90-96 This paper is available online at MEASURES OF ORGANIZING THE MODULES DESIGNED IN CREDIT-BASED TEACHING FOR A PEDAGOGICAL COURSE IN UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION Tran Luong Department of Educational Psychology, School of Education, Can Tho University Abstract. The article mentions the concept of the module, teaching module, organizing module in credit-based teaching; structure of teaching module, basic characteristics of teaching module, basic functions and characteristics of organizing the teaching module and measures of organizing the modules designed in credit- based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education including: Designing module in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education; Implementing the process of organizing the modules designed in credit- based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education; Identifying and providing the needed conditions for designing and organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course effectively in universities of education. Keywords: Measure, module, credit, pedagogical course, organizing. 1. Introduction Modules are a common form of credit-based teaching which can be measured, accumulated, assembled. Learners will be appropriated degrees according to their study completion in both compulsory and optional courses. Therefore, modules are opened, flexible, inter-connected, democratic and humanistic. Teaching and learning based on modules is the latest trend and suitable for the mode of credit-based teaching. Module based curricular allow learners to choose the suitable ways of learning according to their personal conditions, abilities, styles, experiences and paces; develop the creativeness and problem solving skills; enhance the self-study, self-exploring ability, self-assessment in learning outcomes; ensure the interconnection and consistency between different curricular in the national education system. Currently, the structure of pedagogical syllabus at university of education is generally content-orientated. Therefore, it is not suitable for the credit-based teaching systems. The students learning outcomes for Pedagogical course was lower than general expectations. The educational module has been researched for a long time for example [1-9], [11-12], Received January 6, 2018. Revised August 2, 2018. Accepted September 7, 2018. Contact Tran Luong, e-mail address: [email protected] Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a pedagogical course in 91 However, the previous researches have only researched design educational modules. The measures of organizing module design and the necessary conditions to ensure this organizing module design will run well and smoothly have not been researched yet. In other words, so far, researching educational modules have not been researched yet systematically and synchronous from designing, organizing and conditions to make sure this process is implemented effectively. Therefore, the implementation and application modules into the teaching practice still faces many obstacles, difficulties and ineffective. The reality shows that in universities of education in Vietnam there was a general course and Pedagogical course in particular has been designed in a module but just stopped at the stage of design, have not been implemented and applied in reality of teaching. One of the reasons is because teachers and students do not know the general process of organizing module design and not know the process of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education in particular. Basing on the above reasons, researching the “Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education” is necessary. Researching the measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course systematically and synchronous from designing, organizing to required conditions to make sure this process is implemented effectively in universities of education. 2. Content 2.1. Teaching module 2.1.1. Concept of teaching module Module is a criterion unit in technique or a structure or functional button, is an integral professional unit. Teaching module is criterion, a relatively independent unit which can be assembled or detached depending on goals of the users. It is specially structured to satisfy learners’ needs, hobbies, abilities, conditions; contains objectives of teaching modules, intended learning outcomes, contents of teaching modules, teaching strategies (teaching methods), learning outcomes, testing and assessment as well as learner support systems. They link together to form a unity and integration [8], [10], [12-14], [16]. 2.1.2. Structure of teaching module The structure of a teaching module consists of the following components: name or title of the module teaching, teaching objectives, intended learning outcomes, teaching contents, teaching strategies/teaching methods, examination and assessment of learning outcomes and learner supports [12]. 2.1.3. Basic characteristics of teaching module A teaching module has the integrity, individuality (personalization), integration, development, self-examination, and evaluation and learner promotion and the size of teaching module depending on the mount of knowledge or skills components in teaching module 2.1.4. Some basic functions of teaching module - A teaching module is both teaching materials for teachers and self-study material for learners. Tran Luong 92 - Due to the relative independence of the teaching contents, modules can be “assembled” and “disassembled” to set up a diverse and abundant curriculum. 2.2. Organizing module in credit-based teaching 2.2.1. Concept of organizing module in credit-based teaching Organizing module in credit-based teaching is the process of implementing the teaching procedures according to the credit-based teaching established including: introducing the name of teaching modules, testing and assessing the conditions for implementation of teaching modules; overviewing the teaching modules/teaching modules’ topics; explaining the necessity for learners to learn and study them; identifying the objectives of the teaching modules; identifying the intended learning outcomes; testing and evaluating the inputs; presenting the educational contents/ teaching module’s subjects; teachers’ instructions for self-study; students’ preparation and implementation of self-study plans; reporting on the self-study products in class in the forms of presentations, group discussions, seminars, etc; testing and assessing the learning outcomes of teaching modules. 2.2.2. Characteristics of organizing the teaching module - Connection of modules in curriculum: In the curriculum, modules can be connected in a spacious or linear network. The spacious network connection enables learners to simultaneously attend several modules in an allowable period, depending on their capabilities and conditions. In the linear connection, learners attend each module in an allowable period. - Selectivity: In a curriculum with different types of teaching module connection (spacious network and linear connection), learners can choose learning modules to complete the defined curriculum. - Independence and connection of teaching modules: help the curriculum with the high flexibility and applicability. A module-based curriculum is always open. - Learners must complete a workload in a unit of knowledge or skills of such module, corresponding to the specified learning time unit. - Assessment of learning outcomes: Every module must be assessed separately and completed before moving on to a new module. - Combination and inter-connection of curriculum: Some similar modules may be jointly applied. 2.3. The relationship between module and credit- based teaching - Credit-based teaching based on the division of the curriculum into modules which can be measured, accumulated, put together to get to systems degree depending on criterions of the a given combination; is open, flexible, combine, democratic and humaneness; maximum convenient for students; developing the learners’ self- learning role, self- studying role, creativeness, solving problem ability and responsibility. - The classes in credit-based training are arranged and organized according to each teaching module. - In credit-based teaching, many various teaching modules are showed for students choosing to accumulate depending on level. Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a pedagogical course in 93 - In credit-based teaching, there is stipulation the volume of textbook and reference material for students reading for each teaching module. The exam questions base on the requirements of teaching modules and volume of prescribed teaching and learning materials. - In credit-based teaching, the students have the right to choose the leaning schedule, teaching modules which are suitable for their ability, hobby and conditions. However, choosing the teaching modules to accumulate for students depends on the length of study period (1 year or 1 semester). The number of minimum credit or the number of maximum credit permits students to choose depending on specific prescribing of each university. The teaching modules which were accumulated by students at this degree and university can be able to maintained and used for other degree and universities. Credit-based teaching develops the learners’ self- learning role, self- studying role, creativeness, solving problem ability and responsibility. - In credit-based teaching, evaluating the results of learning by mean of credits of teaching modules. Evaluating the results of learning is process evaluation implementing that module. 2.4. Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education 2.4.1. Designing the module for a Pedagogical course in credit-based teaching in universities of education 2.4.1.1. Objective Designing the modules for a Pedagogical course in credit-based teaching in universities of education for organizing them to enhance the results of learning of students for this course 2.4.1.2. Approach to design the module for a Pedagogical course in credit-based teaching in universities of education In this dissertation, the modules for the Pedagogical course were designed using available textbook-based design (modularisation) and the (developing) capability-based approach. 2.4.1.3. Implementing the design module for a Pedagogical course in credit-based teaching in universities of education The current pedagogical course curriculum (applied for high school teacher teaching) at the universities of education is composed of 4 parts as follows: General issues of pedagogy; teaching theories; educational theories and management in schools, from which 4 modules were designed including: General issues of pedagogy; Teaching theories; Educational theories; and Educational management in schools. The structure of each module consists of module name, number of credits, conditions for implementation of the teaching module, teaching objectives, intended learning outcomes and teaching contents, teaching strategies/teaching methods, learning outcome examination and assessment system and learner supports system. 2.4.2. Implementing the process of organization the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education Tran Luong 94 2.4.2.1. Objective Organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education to enhance the results of learning of students for this course 2.4.2.2. Approach to organization the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education The approach to organization the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education is “learner-centered” – learner-oriented teaching, satisfying learners’ demands. 2.4.2.3. The process of organization the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education The modules design in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education is implemented basing on process including 11 steps as follows: Step 1. Teachers name the name of teaching module; Step 2. Teachers and students inspect and evaluate conditions for implementation of teaching module; Step 3. Teachers briefly introduce about teaching module; explain the reasons for learners’ need to learn and study this module; Step 4. Teachers state objectives of the teaching module; Step 5. Teachers and students set out intended learning outcomes for the teaching module; Step 6. Teachers examine, evaluate the inputs for students and feedback; Step 7. Teachers and students identify contents of teaching module; Step 8. Teachers instruct self-learning and self-study (in terms of individuals or groups); Step 9. Students prepare self-learning, self-study plans and execute them; Step 10. Teachers guide students to make the reports on the outputs of their self- learning and self-study in the classroom in the forms of presentations, question, group discussions and seminars, etc; evaluate the reports on the outputs of their self-learning and self-study and feedback in the classroom; Step 11. Teachers organize examinations and summative assessment of learning outcomes of module and feedback. 2.4.3. Setting up and supporting the conditions for effectively designing and organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education 2.4.3.1. Objective Setting up and supporting the conditions for effectively designing and organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education 2.4.3.2. Setting up and supporting the conditions For effectively designing and organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education needs to setup and support the conditions following: Measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a pedagogical course in 95 - For the pedagogical course: Modules for the pedagogical course should be designed in compliance with the principles, process of designing and organizing module design in the credit-based training; - For teachers: Teachers need to have the skills to design the module for a Pedagogical course in the credit-based teaching; +Teachers need to have the skills to organize the module design for Pedagogical course in the credit-based teaching; -For students: Students need to have the skills to learn the module design for a Pedagogical course in the credit-based teaching; need to have the skills to self- learning, self –study: need to have the skills to plan and implement self- learning and self –studying plans; need to be active, independent, self- aware, creative, cooperate in learning and studying; need to have enough time for learning and studying; the size of classes should be maintained in a moderate number; references, learning materials, facilities and should be fully equipped. - For advisers: To need to have advisers who expert in being designed curriculum, contents of knowledge in curriculum, position of modules which are organized at their university to guide students choosing the modules to plan for themselves. That plans is suitable for both requirements of course and each student. - For universities: The teaching and learning equipment need be fully equipped, the teaching and learning plan must be clear and specific. 3. Conclusions For organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education effectively requires to implement synchronous the measures of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a pedagogical course in universities of education including: Designing module in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education; Implementing the process of organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course in universities of education; Identifying and providing the needed conditions for designing and organizing the modules designed in credit-based teaching for a Pedagogical course effectively in universities of education. REFERENCES [1] Butcher, C. 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