Unit name | Dissertation |
---|---|
Unit code | EDUCM1900 |
Credit points | 60 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Dr. Jo Rose |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Successful completion of the taught unit stage (120 credits) |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The dissertation unit will enable students to bring together a range of approaches and frameworks introduced during taught units, particularly the research methods strands. It will provide students with experience of using research and theoretical literature to inform research design; designing and conducting a small scale research project; and communicating research in a coherent and cogent manner. Further, the students will be required to draw on previous research methods units in the design, implementation, data collection and analysis of their research. This unit will support students to become critical readers of research literature, to use classroom innovations appropriately within the research process and to become independent generators of research ideas and practice within educational settings. This unit may also function as an important first step in supporting those students who wish to go on to further PhD study by providing the opportunity to test and evaluate their research practices and theoretical approaches.
Aims of the dissertation phase;
In common with other Russell Group universities, the School of Education employs a range of staff including academics external to the University for the supervision of dissertations. This enables the School of Education to ensure personal and individual supervision for students and allows us to utilise skills and expertise of academics who may not be full-time members of staff. In employing external members of staff there is an increased breadth and depth of research knowledge allowing Schools to create the best match between students and supervisors.
At the end of this unit students will demonstrate that they can;
As with the other units, the teaching strategy will employ three broad approaches, where appropriate, with the aims of contextualising as well as theorising issues of central importance, the development of student autonomy, and the individualisation of study and support. However, these approaches will be individualised as befits the nature of dissertation supervision. These are:
Synchronous support involving: tutorials with supervisors; discussions with peers; practical workshops where appropriate to support students with similar needs around dissertation processes and methods.
Asynchronous support including: on-line discussion with individuals and groups, online supervision, peer mentoring, guidance and feedback. Critical use of Web resources will be encouraged.
Research: to provide data for analysis for the dissertation study where appropriate. The use of small-scale empirical studies, observations of professional practice, action research, and sourcing appropriate secondary data will be encouraged and facilitated where appropriate.
Summative assessment:
Completion of 10,000 to 15,000 word dissertation
Further reading will be specific to the students chosen area of research.