Researching Practice

The route seeks to introduce teachers into the debates and ideas surrounding the development of teachers as researchers: to understand international and national policy and practices, engage with examples of teacher research in schools in the UK and beyond and to take part in their own school based research activities. Teachers will take part in a research methods course which will support their research activities and develop knowledge in this area.

This central aim can be broken down into eight component objectives.

The objectives of the route are to enable students to:

1. understand and be able to discuss with confidence the debates surrounding teachers as researchers
2. become familiar with an appropriate range of intellectual and methodological traditions within educational research
3. become skilled and critical readers of educational research
4. develop knowledge in depth of some substantive area of education and educational research
5. develop their capacity to frame research questions and devise appropriate research designs
6. develop confidence and competence in using a range of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to gathering, analysing and interpreting evidence
7. develop their skills in presenting research-based evidence and argument
8. gain practical experience of educational research through conducting a small-scale investigation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of research techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature applicable to their specific educational domain;
• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
• demonstrated self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.

Continuing

Students wishing to continue from the Master of Education to PhD or EdD are required to achieve a mark of 70 or higher for the thesis.

The Researching Practice MEd is offered as a blended learning route. This means that the route will be offered online via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will therefore take part in teaching sessions via Moodle VLE (held on either a Tuesday or Thursday between 5 - 7pm you will be asked to choose your preferred day). Preparation for these teaching sessions will be via the course materials on the Researching Practice Moodle site. Weekly Faculty attendance will therefore not be necessary. You will be required to attend 5 Saturday conferences per year. The conferences will be an opportunity to develop and enhance the ideas you explore via the online component.

You will be allocated a personal supervisor and be entitled to the normal hours of supervision; but you might choose to have supervisions via email, Skype and telephone, as well as face to face.

Course Attendance

You will be required to attend five Saturday conferences each year: two in Michaelmas Term, two in Lent and one in Easter term. Confirmed conferences dates are as follows:

• Sat 23rd September 2017 - first day of attendance and induction day
• Sat 11th November 2017
• Lent term - Elective conferences. Up to two Saturday conferences depending on which elective you choose, usually scheduled in February and March. Dates for elective conferences will be confirmed at the November conference.
• Sat 2nd June 2018

You will also be part of an online learning group, with an allocated tutor who will be working with you and your group on the course materials and course online discussions on a weekly basis. These online discussions, which will reflect both course content and small research tasks which you will be asked to undertake, take place on Tuesdays/Thursdays in term times and will be held between 5-7pm. You are required to be available to take part in these.

Additionally you will have a supervisor to support you with writing your thesis. Supervisions (online and face to face) are at times arranged by negotiation between yourself and your supervisor.

IMPORTANT: This course is only open to students who have completed the Postgraduate Advanced Certificate in Educational Studies (PACES) at the Faculty of Education. 

• First Academic Reference
• Second Academic Reference
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