Program Overview

Dissertation on Education and Technology (CCME0043)

Key Information

• Faculty: IOE
• Teaching department: Culture, Communication and Media
• Credit value: 60
• Restrictions: This module is only available to MA Education and Technology students. Note: Students on both campus-based and distance-learning study modes must attend this module synchronously.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

This is the dissertation module for the MA Education and Technology. A dissertation is an extended piece of writing that offers students the opportunity to develop their own academic interests. It enables you to focus in detail on a topic of your choosing, to ask your own questions, and to pursue independent research in that area. It offers you space and time to develop a domain of expertise and the opportunity to engage with a wide range of academic literature relevant to this. In many cases, you will also be supported to generate and analyse data which can make an original contribution to a field of research or practice. The topic chosen usually arises from a student's professional and experiential interest, or as part of developments toward doctoral research. The intended outcome is a demonstration of your ability to ask and address an original research question about education and technology, and discuss it in the context of the existing body of knowledge. You should be able to apply and develop the methods learnt to other contexts as appropriate, including subsequent professional practice and personal life.

The module runs throughout the academic year. It involves taught classes about research design and methods, which support you develop an initial research proposal. This proposal is used to select a supervisor who will provide guidance on how to refine, conceptualise and plan your project and also offer advice and feedback at various stages of the dissertation's development. You will meet with your supervisor in individual supervisory meetings over two terms, and sometimes also in small group meetings with other dissertation students.

By studying this module, you will have the opportunity to:

• Ask critical questions about an educational issue
• Search for, collate, and synthesise a wide range of sources related to an educational issue
• Identify and use appropriate research methods to investigate an issue in the field of education and technology
• Develop your positionality in the wider field of education & technology
• Make a scholarly contribution to the field of education & technology
• Develop a critical perspective, and understand alternative perspectives on an educational issue
• Understand the ethical dilemmas involved in educational research and take appropriate steps to mitigate risks that arise.
• Develop a strong foundation for future independent professional and intellectual exploration.

A dissertation can take two forms: a 15,000 piece of writing, or a 7,500 text plus a functional interactive educational technology prototype.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person, Online
• Methods of assessment: 100% Coursework
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks, Letter Grade

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 39, 0, 9, 2
• Module leader: Professor Caroline Pelletier