Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2018-2019 (archived)

Module EDUS3332: DISSERTATION

Department: Education (ITE)

EDUS3332: DISSERTATION

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 40 Availability Available in 2018/19 Module Cap Location Durham
Tied to X101

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To enable students to undertake an in-depth study of a chosen topic within their curriculum subject specialism, to draw upon the knowledge and understanding developed through the Research methods module in Year 2, and other relevant curriculum modules, to apply skills, knowledge and understanding in an academically rigorous context.

Content

  • Not applicable, other than it will relate to the student's identified curriculum specialism area.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • a range of contemporary issues in education;
  • aspects of teaching and learning related to the psychology, sociology and philosophy of education;
  • key ideas underpinning the core subject: English, mathematics, science or ICT;
  • methods and approaches suited to the effective planning, organisation and management of the primary curriculum, teaching and learning;
  • research related to the primary curriculum and effective teaching and learning;
  • research methodology suited to various types and purposes of educational research.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • apply educational principles, theories and methods to a research project (dissertation);
  • apply ideas relating research to educational practice.
Key Skills:
  • communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively in written form;
  • manage time and work to deadlines;
  • construct and sustain a reasoned argument;
  • evaluate and make use of information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The dissertation will be supported by individual supervision.
  • This will allow appropriate guidance on approach, organisation of ideas, reading and quality to be given.
  • There will also be timetabled lectures where specialist topics are presented that contribute to the development of students' understanding in dissertation writing.
  • In addition, there will also be an occasional small group seminar session where the supervising tutor's students can come together to present and share their critical reflections on their experiences and progress.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 6 5 during first term 1 hour 6
1 during second term
Tutorials 4 As required 0.5 2
Preparation and Reading 392
Total 400

Summative Assessment

Component: Dissertation Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Dissertation 10000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

Feedback is timed to support the development of the Dissertation. Through verbal feedback at four stages of development in the tutorials and with written feedback on the Part 1: written proposal, - work completed by mid July , Part 2 – scoping the literature - work completed by the end of September, Part 3, draft formal writing - work completed by the end of November in term 2.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University