University of Liege | Version française
Study programmes 2011-2012Last update : 14/06/2012
PEDA1231-1  Deontology

Duration :  15h Th
Number of credits :  
Master in Education Sciences, in-depth approach, 2nd yearFirst semester2
Master in Education, Professional Focus in teaching, 2nd yearFirst semester2
Master in Education, Professional Focus in Adult Education, 2nd yearFirst semester2
Lecturer :  Florence Pirard
Coordinator :  Dieudonné Leclercq
Language(s) of instruction :  
French language
Course contents :  
The deontology addressed in this course initially relates to all functions carried out in the field of training and education (teachers, trainers, educational advisors, educational resource producers, mentors, assessors, researchers, etc.) where the relational dimension and question of power relationships is central. It involves:
  • researching meaning in complex daily practice,
  • consultative work and collaboration with other actors,
  • taking into account existing normative frameworks (beyond the application of procedures and rules),
  • an interdisciplinary approach (psychology, law, communication, philosophy, sociology, etc.).
It involves dealing with questions such as practitioner honesty, responsibility to third parties, confidentiality, professional integrity, information, falsification or plagiarism, etc. in terms of an approach involving various legal, moral and ethical aspects.~
Learning outcomes of the course :  
This course will enable students to:
  • differentiate and identify links between: - deontology, morality and ethics, - norms and values, - confidentiality, respect for professional confidentiality, shared confidentiality, the need for discretion, etc.,
  • identify the diversity of situations in which deontological problems can present themselves to masters in educational sciences,
  • develop reflexive skills based on the analysis of real situations in relation to functions carried out in educational sciences. These skills in particular deal with responsibility towards third parties, protection of private life and freedom of participation, intellectual property and freedom of expression, evaluation,
  • develop a view on the meaning given to deontology in the field of educational sciences based not only on situations covered during class by each student with the group, but also upon deontological or ethical principles.

    By the end of the course, students will be able to:
  • analyse a real situation which poses deontological problems based on their spontaneous representations and personal references,
  • research useful and relevant documentary references in relation to the chosen situation (legal texts, guides, professional articles, scientific articles, etc.) and to conduct, where appropriate, interviews with resource persons,
  • integrate these elements and resources into a critical analysis of the situation, leading to the identification of possible and admissible behaviours,
  • communicate the results of the analysis of the situation to a peer group and to encourage a discussion to go further with this analysis,
  • draft a report which takes the analytical approach into account in its various phases and its conclusions, highlighting the links established with the deontological principles set out in various publications.
Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :  
none
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :  
Each student identifies a situation experienced either personally or by a third person, related to education and asking deontological questions. Based on consultation with different resource persons and documentary research, the student analyses the situation, leading to proposals for both management and preventative measures. The student links his analysis to existing deontological principles. Case analysis will be presented in seminars and will be the subjetc of a written piece of work to be submitted by 16th, December, in order to be orally presented in January.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :  
  • A reading list comprising different types of documents: - scientific articles from different disciplines, - legal texts, - professional documents.
  • Presentations mainly by the trainer on themes in relation to deontological questions and supplemented by one or more resource persons.
  • Analytical seminars of cases collated and analysed by each student.
Five sessions will be given by the trainer on Monday 26th, September, 3th, 10th, 17th and 24th. From 3th, October, time will be set aside during each session for the students enrolled in the course. These students will each present, in a synthetic way, the deontological example which they will treat and present at the end of the training. Each case selected by the student has to be approved by the trainer. On Monday 5th, December, from 5 PM to 6.30 PM, Professor B. Mouvet will talk about the ethics of research.
Recommended or required readings :  
A reading list will be made available to students. This is the basis for work carried out during class and a reference for the analysis of situations carried out by each student at the end of the course.
Assessment methods and criteria :  
By 16th, December, the student gives the teacher the written report related to the chosen case analysis. In January (date and room to be fixed), each student will take part to a half day session during which he will:
  • present the deontological case which he has choosen and the analysis which he has made to his peers, the teacher and the assistant (based on PP presentation),
  • lead a debate based on his presentation,
  • take part to other students' presentations.
Assessment criteria: The evaluation will be based on the student's ability to:
  • explain the deontological aspects posed by the situation and the field to which they are principally referring,
  • analyse the situation by highlighting tensions which characterise it,
  • clearly show, where they exist, the rules, norms or legal references relating to the situation, allowing them to develop a position,
  • put into words the rationale which led them to adopt one position rather than another by taking on the role of the teacher/trainer in the situation. The rationale will take into account both the research elements as well as practical and axiological elements,
  • link the situation being analysed with deontological principles (even if these are not set out in official codes)
  • present their case and analysis in such a way as to allow other students to participate in the discussion during an analytical seminar.
Contacts :  
Florence Pirard, lecturer, contactable by preference by email florence.pirard@ulg.ac.be (office opposite the lift, B32, 2nd floor)
Pascale Camus, assistant, contactable by preference by email (office 2.1., B32, 2nd floor). pascale.camus@ulg.ac.be
Jasna Vorgic, secretary (office 2.4b, B32, 2nd floor) jasna.vorgic@ulg.ac.be


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