Education - MA

To gain the award of MA Education you need to complete a total of 180 credits.

Students are able to select a personalised route through the MA from the following modules, until they have accumulated a total of 90 credits for phase one:

Phase one modules

Transformational Dimensions of Lifelong Learning (30 credits)

This module will provide opportunities for personal reflection, library based enquiry and/or empirical enquiry into the transformational dimensions of lifelong learning within personal and/or social contexts.

Independent Study (30 credits)

This module takes the form of a literature review on an area of interest or relating to an aspect of practice of the student. During the initial phase the focus will be on identifying a specific area and developing a plan, strategy and study programme relevant to the chosen area.

Teaching for Learning (30 credits)

The syllabus will have a focus on improving the educational outcomes for learners in educational settings. The core of the focus is on understanding teaching and learning and some content will be negotiated to reflect key priorities in educational settings.

Beginning a Career: reflective practice for newly qualified teachers (30 credits)

Priority areas for development will relate to the particular needs of individual NQTs, but will encompass issues to do with professional values and practice; knowledge and understanding; and teaching. By developing through two professional progress review points the student will have collected and critically reflected upon a range of evidence about progression through their induction year. This utilises the work NQT's (Newly Qualified Teachers) do as part of their NQT year.

Evidencing Learning from Experience (30 credits)

This module covers:

• an exploration of what constitutes a 'learning event' and 'learning outcomes' of an appropriate level;
• an autobiographical perspective on professional learning;
• identification of evidence of professional learning and presentation skills for an effective portfolio.

Phase two modules

Once students have reached a total of 90 credits they move to phase two of the MA - the Researching Education Dissertation. Phase two is a set pathway which has a research focus. It consists of two modules as follows.

Researching Education (30 credits) - a taught course at UWE for 12 weeks

This module will examine approaches to educational research and how this supports professional enquiry and development. It will look at practitioner and action research as well as case study approaches to understanding educational and professional action. There will also be a focus on research methods, the processes of analysis and presentation of argument as well as an examination of ethics and theoretical frameworks.

Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation focus is on the execution of students' empirical research and writing up their theories. Sections likely to be included are: Introduction; Contextualisation; Methodology; Data Collection and Analysis; Implications; Recommendations and Conclusions.

The delivery of modules offered will vary and will include the following:

• Attending taught sessions, workshops and discussion groups.
• Research in your workplace.
• Portfolio routes.
• Writing up an area of work you are already engaged in.
• Independent study.

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The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

The MA is a flexible modular programme and can be spread over five years. Taught modules take place on weekday evenings, starting at 17:00.

Assessment is by a variety of methods including written assignments, directed tasks, posters and short oral presentations.

For more detail see our full glossary of assessment terms.