HBEALLB/301/0/2020
College of Education
Honours Bachelor of Education
HBEALLB
General Tutorial Letter 301 for 2020
Introduction to programme
Start here!
This is the first thing you should read from
your package of study materials!
, CONTENTS
Page
1. What is the Hons BEd? ...................................................................................... 3
2. How is the programme structured? .................................................................... 4
2.1 Fundamental learning .............................................................................. 6
2.2 Core learning ........................................................................................... 6
2.3 Elective learning ...................................................................................... 6
3. How will we study the modules? ........................................................................ 7
4. How will the Hons BEd be assessed?................................................................ 8
5. General guidelines for the submission of assignments ..................................... 9
5.1 Preparing for your assignment ................................................................ 9
5.2 Organisation and language ..................................................................... 9
5.3 Structure……… ..................................................................................... 11
5.3.1 Title of assignment ................................................................................ 11
5.3.2 List of contents ...................................................................................... 11
5.3.3 Numbering of assignments ................................................................... 11
5.3.4 Acknowledgement of sources ............................................................... 11
5.3.5 Bibliography and referencing ................................................................ 12
6. Can I get recognition for my previous learning? .............................................. 15
7. What should I do if I have a problem?.............................................................. 15
7.1 Study problems...................................................................................... 15
7.2 Administrative problems ........................................................................ 15
7.2.1 Inventory ............................................................................................... 16
7.2.2 Communication with the university ....................................................... 16
8. What are the Hons BEd exit level outcomes?.................................................. 16
9. Prescribed books .............................................................................................. 17
10. References ....................................................................................................... 18
2
, HBEALLB/301
Dear Student
Welcome to the Unisa Honours Bachelor of Education Programme (Hons BEd).
We are very happy that you have decided to further your studies in Education and that you have chosen
this particular programme to help you to do so. We know that most of you are also working while
studying. One of the great advantages of undertaking in-service professional development by distance
education is that you will be able to carry on working and will be able to try out or test your new ideas
immediately.
As you will read below, however, studying at a distance on this programme does not mean that you will
be working alone. Built into the programme are frequent opportunities for us to exchange ideas and even
to get together in person to discuss problems, share thoughts and generally help one another to enjoy
success.
This general tutorial letter serves to introduce you to the whole programme.
During the course of the year you will receive additional tutorial letters. The 300 series of tutorial letters
deals with issues that affect the whole programme. For each specific module, you will also receive
guiding tutorial letters numbered 101, 102 etc. Tutorial letter 101 for each module will outline the nature
and purpose of that module and will include your assignments. In some modules a Tutorial Letter 501
will be sent to you comprising of study material.
1. What is the Hons BEd?
The Honours Bachelor of Education degree is the initial postgraduate qualification for students wishing to
specialise in education. The qualification serves to consolidate and deepen your expertise in the field of
education and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques appropriate to enquiry
in the field of education.
In short, the purpose of the Unisa Honours Bachelor of Education degree can be summarised as follows:
• to accredit students who demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of
education;
• to develop students’ professional expertise in an aspect of the practices or study of education;
• to provide students with a deeper understanding of some aspect of the professional practices,
institutions and/or systems of education;
• to empower students to achieve some critical distance from the fashionable and conventional
practices and institutions of education;
• to foster progressive thinking in the field of education by developing a cadre of educators with a
wider and deeper understanding of the transformation of education.
The qualification focuses on the development and practice of research competence in an educational
context. Research competence ranges from practising individual activities such as developing your
ability to interpret and summarise arguments in academic articles through to the utilisation of several
reading, writing and number-based skills at the same time in planning, conducting and reporting on a
piece of research. The Hons BEd therefore represents a transition from the practice- and profession-
based nature of your previous studies (e.g. PGCE, BEd, ACE) to a more reflective and academic mode
of enquiry. The table below outlines the academic expectations of learners at these different levels of
study so you can see where you are coming from and where we are hoping to take you to. The table
makes a distinction between:
• applied competence – what you should be able to know, do and reflect upon
• autonomy of learning – the extent to which you can work independently.
3
College of Education
Honours Bachelor of Education
HBEALLB
General Tutorial Letter 301 for 2020
Introduction to programme
Start here!
This is the first thing you should read from
your package of study materials!
, CONTENTS
Page
1. What is the Hons BEd? ...................................................................................... 3
2. How is the programme structured? .................................................................... 4
2.1 Fundamental learning .............................................................................. 6
2.2 Core learning ........................................................................................... 6
2.3 Elective learning ...................................................................................... 6
3. How will we study the modules? ........................................................................ 7
4. How will the Hons BEd be assessed?................................................................ 8
5. General guidelines for the submission of assignments ..................................... 9
5.1 Preparing for your assignment ................................................................ 9
5.2 Organisation and language ..................................................................... 9
5.3 Structure……… ..................................................................................... 11
5.3.1 Title of assignment ................................................................................ 11
5.3.2 List of contents ...................................................................................... 11
5.3.3 Numbering of assignments ................................................................... 11
5.3.4 Acknowledgement of sources ............................................................... 11
5.3.5 Bibliography and referencing ................................................................ 12
6. Can I get recognition for my previous learning? .............................................. 15
7. What should I do if I have a problem?.............................................................. 15
7.1 Study problems...................................................................................... 15
7.2 Administrative problems ........................................................................ 15
7.2.1 Inventory ............................................................................................... 16
7.2.2 Communication with the university ....................................................... 16
8. What are the Hons BEd exit level outcomes?.................................................. 16
9. Prescribed books .............................................................................................. 17
10. References ....................................................................................................... 18
2
, HBEALLB/301
Dear Student
Welcome to the Unisa Honours Bachelor of Education Programme (Hons BEd).
We are very happy that you have decided to further your studies in Education and that you have chosen
this particular programme to help you to do so. We know that most of you are also working while
studying. One of the great advantages of undertaking in-service professional development by distance
education is that you will be able to carry on working and will be able to try out or test your new ideas
immediately.
As you will read below, however, studying at a distance on this programme does not mean that you will
be working alone. Built into the programme are frequent opportunities for us to exchange ideas and even
to get together in person to discuss problems, share thoughts and generally help one another to enjoy
success.
This general tutorial letter serves to introduce you to the whole programme.
During the course of the year you will receive additional tutorial letters. The 300 series of tutorial letters
deals with issues that affect the whole programme. For each specific module, you will also receive
guiding tutorial letters numbered 101, 102 etc. Tutorial letter 101 for each module will outline the nature
and purpose of that module and will include your assignments. In some modules a Tutorial Letter 501
will be sent to you comprising of study material.
1. What is the Hons BEd?
The Honours Bachelor of Education degree is the initial postgraduate qualification for students wishing to
specialise in education. The qualification serves to consolidate and deepen your expertise in the field of
education and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques appropriate to enquiry
in the field of education.
In short, the purpose of the Unisa Honours Bachelor of Education degree can be summarised as follows:
• to accredit students who demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of
education;
• to develop students’ professional expertise in an aspect of the practices or study of education;
• to provide students with a deeper understanding of some aspect of the professional practices,
institutions and/or systems of education;
• to empower students to achieve some critical distance from the fashionable and conventional
practices and institutions of education;
• to foster progressive thinking in the field of education by developing a cadre of educators with a
wider and deeper understanding of the transformation of education.
The qualification focuses on the development and practice of research competence in an educational
context. Research competence ranges from practising individual activities such as developing your
ability to interpret and summarise arguments in academic articles through to the utilisation of several
reading, writing and number-based skills at the same time in planning, conducting and reporting on a
piece of research. The Hons BEd therefore represents a transition from the practice- and profession-
based nature of your previous studies (e.g. PGCE, BEd, ACE) to a more reflective and academic mode
of enquiry. The table below outlines the academic expectations of learners at these different levels of
study so you can see where you are coming from and where we are hoping to take you to. The table
makes a distinction between:
• applied competence – what you should be able to know, do and reflect upon
• autonomy of learning – the extent to which you can work independently.
3
