My Life, My Future

On successful completion of the module you will be better able to:

• Explore different aspects of your own lived experiences with compassion and curiosity
• Understand and apply a range of theoretical lenses to your own experiences and identity
• Critically analyse your own experiences and identity, applying this to your past, present and future self
• Develop your reflective and creative skills to create an autobiographical work
• Develop your collaborative and independent working skills 

As a class, we will explore some key theoretical ideas and reflective methodologies to help you curate your own personalised learning experience that will take you forward into your autobiographical project. The critical theories might include but are not limited to intersectionality, feminist theory, queer theory, disability theory, Marxist theory, post colonial theory, and ecological theory. We will explore sociocultural constructs and considerations such as gender, sexuality, neuro-normativity, religion, ethnicity and attitudes to family. We will consider how our views of ourselves change over time and impact the way that we view others, considering in particular our positionality in relation to our studies, work, careers and the wider world. 

This module will provide a safe and inclusive space for you to explore (privately and in collaboration and discussion with others) your own lived experience. In-class activities will help you consider different aspects of your identity and experience. Although you will be provided with a range of critical theories and ideas to structure your thinking and analysis, you will be able to select the perspectives and ideas that are most interesting to you for further consideration. 

Workshop sessions will be used to introduce critical and cultural theory and ideas, and to help you reflect on your current identity as a student at Imperial, as well as to consider your previous experiences and imagine your own future(s). 

You will have lots of opportunity for in-depth discussion and for private reflection. All assessments are completed during class time with extensive individually tailored feedback and the support of the module leader. 

We recognise the interrelated nature of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and do not consider individual SDGs in isolation.  We adopt a systems-based approach that recognises their cross-cutting nature.

In this module you will have the opportunity to focus how your own experiences and hopes for the future.

In particular, we may reflect on issues related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

In your final project, you will be able to select which SDG you wish to focus on. 

You will be encouraged to keep a journal during the module, completed in class time each week. A range of reflective techniques will be introduced to help you explore different types of journalling. This will not be graded but will help you complete the reflective submission, where you will be given six prompts to respond to – which may draw from your journal or you may answer separately. You can respond to the questions in writing, visual or multimedia submissions with the equivalent 100-200 words. 

You will also complete an autobiographical project. The project will be of your own design, but must demonstrate personal reflection, autobiographical insights and engagement with a critical theory of your choice. You may submit in any media, with an equivalent word length of 1200 words. This will be accompanied by a structured questionnaire submission to elicit the technical details of your project of no more than 800 words in length. Completing the required elements and technical aspects in the questionnaire leaves you free to be as creative as you like in your project submission. 

• Practical: Reflective submission - short responses to six prompts equivalent to 100-200 words per prompt (20%)
• Practical: Project Questionnaire - approximately 800 words (40%)
• Practical: Autobiographical Multimedia Project - self designed project, equivalent to 1200 words (40%)

All assessments are completed in class time with extensive individually tailored feedback and support from the module leader. This doesn’t mean that you need to complete your work sitting in silence in the classroom – rather it means that you are given the class time to flexibly work on your assignments. Sometimes you might want to work in the classroom or online with your teacher or with other students – but sometimes you might prefer to work at home, in another space or even at another time of the week. The key thing is that you have the support of your teacher on hand for unlimited feedback and support during the time period when you are working on your assessment, and there will be optional activities provided in the classroom that will assist you in completing the assignment to the best of your ability. Within the class there will always be space for quiet working, as well as more social and collaborative spaces.

• Requirements: You are expected to attend all classes and undertake approximately 85 hours of independent study in total during the module. Independent study includes reading and preparation for classes, researching and writing coursework assignments and preparing for other assessments.
• This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 6 module. For an explanation of levels, view the Imperial Horizons Level Descriptors page.‌‌