Inquiring into Educational Experience

Code

EDUC4316

School

Education

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

In this final module of the course, students plan and undertake a small-scale inquiry in their own schools. The outcome will be a study (or equivalent presentation) which reports and reflects upon the design, implementation and findings of the project. In preparation for the research and data-generation processes, the module considers methodological principles and ethical considerations of practitioner research. Guidance is also offered on the planning, undertaking and presentation of the study itself. 
A research proposal in the form of a formative piece of coursework is submitted to the course tutor for comment at an early stage of work on this module. Students submit an ethics form and gain ethical approval from their tutor before embarking on data collection. Students are expected to undertake their own literature searches and carry out a literature review to support their inquiry.
This module consists of 200 hours of school-based research and study on engagement with electronic materials on Moodle as well as face to face and email discussion with the course tutor. Advice about presenting the research inquiry report is offered by the course tutors. In the course project, students are encouraged to relate their own practice to educational theory. Students engage in independent study into a teacher’s social responsibility through the Schools and Society module in Moodle. They select one aspect of advantage/disadvantage from the strands under the heading ‘Education for Social Justice’ to contextualise their project. The programme of face-to-face interaction includes approaches to research methodology as well as tutorial discussions about the individual projects themselves. 
Students must have completed the research proposal and received ethical approval to be eligible to submit the assignment and for the assignment to be assessed.

Target Students

Available for PostgraduateCertificate in Educational Studies students.

Classes

This module consists of 200 hours of school-based research and study.

Assessment

• 70% Coursework: 15 minute presentation and 5 minute Q and A.
• 30% Coursework: Presentation appendices.

Assessed by end of designated period

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:  
• Understanding of principles of research methodology in practitioner inquiry, including ethical principles 
• In-depth appreciation of an aspect of social justice in education 
• In-depth understanding of the role of practitioner inquiry and its capacity to effect change 
• Understanding of the practices and processes of generating knowledge about educational issues and professional practice

Intellectual Skills 
• The ability to synthesise ideas drawn from research and a range of academic and professional literature 
• The ability to inquire into and critique a particular educational issue

Professional and practical skills 
• The ability to reflect critically, analytically and ethically on educational inquiry and on educational issues 
• Detailed appreciation of a specific area of educational research and discourse 
• The ability to interpret learning situations

Transferable (key) skills 
• Inquiry based skills including the production, analysis and interpretation of educational research data within an ethical framework 
• Critical appreciation of professional beliefs and practices  
• Skills of project management

Conveners

• Mr John Perry