Core modules

The core modules available to students include the following:

Core Module: Reflecting Upon Practice (PD50189)

Credits: 30

The module aims to provide participants with a framework to enable them to reflect critically on their professional development and their current practice, and as a result enable them to formulate an appropriate professional development action plan.

The module will introduce participants to a professional development model that involves: reflecting on their personal and professional development; engaging with the debates and professional enquiries that have led them to their professional thinking, philosophies and views; reflection upon their current approaches and learning and teaching practice; a self-evaluation of professional development needs and directions.

Core Module: Research Methods for Professional Inquiry (PD50177)
Credits: 30

The purpose of this module is to introduce you to research methodology and methods. In the course of the module you will develop an appreciation of what is entailed in conducting research in a professional field. The module content will follow the stages of research, starting with the research problem/question through to the presentation of findings.  This module is also intended to prepare you to progress on to a small scale enquiry and to begin to think about the academic research process and the task of developing and conducting a research study.

Core Module: Dissertation (PD50206)
Credits: 60

The culmination of a Masters programme is a substantial piece of work which will contribute to the development and enhancement of professional knowledge and practice for the writer and others across a range of professional fields. Students are expected to show that they can exercise independent critical judgement and that they have command of the necessary research processes required to carry forward and report a systematic investigation, either empirical or philosophical. They are also required to show that they can apply what they have learned through their studies to set up a project which will inform research or will explore an aspect of practice. A study of this professional standing and worth must be well planned and resourced, engage with research and public theories, be critically reflective and explore the assumptions that underpin practice.

 

Optional Modules
The optional modules available to students include the following:

Leadership, change and Organisational Development (PD50175)
Credits: 30

This module introduces participants to the concept of leadership and its role within strategic development, organisational learning and communities of practice. Participants will explore and critically appraise the significance of leadership, its relation to management and impact on organisational development. With reference to current literature and research, participants will examine theories of leadership and how leadership differs from management within organisations. It also asks participants to explore the key principles of vision and values, culture and climate. Participants will be asked to consider personal and professional values and the notion of a systems view in the context of guiding organisational change.

Innovation in Education (PD50192)
Credits: 30

This module will allow participants to investigate the development of education and curriculum and consider relevant theoretical models. This will include consideration of what constitutes innovation in education backed up with reference to relevant theory, research and policy. Students will engage in critical analysis of the political, socio-economic, cultural, historical and technological factors that drive and influence educational reform. During the module students will evaluate recent examples of educational innovation and critically evaluate the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of these drawing on theory, research and policy. Ultimately there will be a consideration of implications for the student's future practice in light of a deeper understanding of the subject of innovation within education.

International Education (PD50194)
Credits: 30

This module provides practitioners the opportunity to develop their professional knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes in relation to International Education. It provides a critical understanding of principal theories and concepts associated with International Education. Students explore this field by studying key concepts such as citizenship, intercultural awareness, multicultural education, international and comparative education. The focus of the course enables practitioners to develop a school/work-based initiative related to International Education by providing an overview and reflecting on their own international, national and institutional policy and practice context.

Collaborative Working (PD50214)
Credits: 30

Students will be able to critically analyse different approaches to collaborative working and the factors impacting on their effectiveness. They will also be able to evaluate collaborative inquiry methodologies. Students will have the opportunity to work with, and learn from, professional peers from a wide range of backgrounds across the Masters Framework. The module assessment will be tailored to student's prior experiences and professional expertise.