Program Overview
This three-year, fully online program explores professional practice in education through guided reading and practitioner research. Core modules cover pedagogy, research methods, and dissertation writing. Optional modules allow for specialization in critical reflection on professional development, language learning, or early childhood education. Assessment includes essays, research reports, and a dissertation.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This course is designed for practicing teachers, classroom assistants, heads of department, and managers who want to explore and deepen their professional practice through targeted reading and classroom-based practitioner research. The course is flexible, so you can focus on the topics most relevant to your job. This fully online, three-year program was developed to complement the International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE).
Outline:
This leads to critical reflection on yourself as an educational practitioner and the development of new educational practice.
- Practice-based Inquiry (30 credits): This module allows you to devise and carry out a small-scale research study on a topic relevant to your own practice. Supported by guided readings and online discussions surrounding research methods, methodology, ethics, and the evaluation and writing up of research data, you will reflect on your practice through original research, culminating in a research report.
- Dissertation (60 credits): This module supports you in planning and carrying out a piece of research, usually in your own professional context, and in writing a dissertation. Your research is intended to enhance your understanding of your own professional practice and potentially improve it. An explicit focus will be on research as a catalyst for change, thus, dissemination at appropriate levels will be explored. Students will study a dissertation of their choice that relates to their program and staff expertise. You will also critically consider the nature of innovation in pedagogy, focusing on what innovative pedagogies may mean in the 21st century.
- Language Learning and Pedagogy (30 credits): This module explores key theories and approaches in language learning and associated pedagogies, relevant to today's diverse society, drawing on your teaching and learning experiences, as well as the literature. You will delve into formal language education and the role of the teacher in classroom contexts across various sectors, as well as developing a deeper understanding of the role of language in society, including the relationship between home and school, and heritage/home languages. Classroom and learner practices such as code-switching and translanguaging will be examined, as well as the role of technology and learner motivation in the language learning context. Students will critically evaluate current global issues as well as topics relevant to specific social, cultural, and geographical contexts.
Other:
- The content of the courses is reviewed annually to ensure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn in response to discoveries through research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change, students will be consulted and informed in good time, and reasonable steps will be taken to minimize disruption.
- The School of Education welcomes a vibrant and diverse community, with students based locally, nationally, and internationally. Their research has a direct impact on educational theory, policy, and practice; they support the development of children, families, schools, and learning communities.
- Seminars are interactive, and everyone is encouraged to participate.
- The team of tutors at the School of Education comprises experts in early childhood education, policy and practice, psychological theory of education, and languages and education. Many of their academic staff are internationally recognized in their specialist areas.
Home (2024 annual fee) : £4,333 each year Overseas (2024 annual fee) : £4,333 each year
