This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2019-2020 (archived)

Module EDUC56660: Postgraduate Dissertation

Department: Education

EDUC56660: Postgraduate Dissertation

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	4	60	Available in 2019/2020		Durham

Tied To

X3K107: Intercultural Education and Internationalisation (see Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 for details)
X3K207: Intercultural Education and Internationalisation (International Postgraduate Programme) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2018-2019 for details)
X3K309: Technology Enhanced Learning
X3K409: Mathematics Education
X3K509: Science Education
X3K807: Intercultural Communication and Education
X5K207: Education [with Qualified Teacher Status] (Secondary) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2013-2014 for details)
X9K907: Education [UK]
X9KE07: Education (International Summer Postgraduate Institute)

Pre-requisites

EDUC 44030 Research Methods in Education

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To enable students to research an appropriate educational issue through the use of a justified research strategy and report the outcomes satisfatorily.

Content

The focus of the dissertation will be decided in consultation between the student and the supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Critically appraise a body of literature related to their specialist topic;
Apply an appropriate research approach to their enquiry;
Apply academic and professional ethical codes of conduct in the design and conduct of their research;
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of their research approach;
Appreciate the complexities of educational research;
Report on the outcomes of their enquiry in a scholarly fashion.

Subject-specific Skills

By the end of the module students will be able to :
Locate and analyse independently a relevant range of educational research;
Design and carry out an appropriate educational research study;
Demonstrate an ability to act on feedback;
Write a report in accordance with accepted academic conventions.

Key Skills

Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
Demonstrate an ability to work independently;
Demonstrate an ability to work ethically;
Demonstrate an ability to solve problems;
Demonstrate an ability to manage their time effectively.

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

Workshops on elements of the research and writing process
Tutorial supervision
Resources supplied by tutors and peers
Summative presentation to peers
Formative feedback from tutors
Written summative assessment of a 15,000 word dissertation

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Supervision		As required		9	Yes
Workshops	5		1.5 hours	7.50	Yes
Summative Presentation	1		One day	7	Yes
Preparation, independent reading and writing				576.50
Total				600
				0

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting
Dissertation	100%	Dissertation	15,000 words	85%
		Ethics Application	Pass/Fail	0%
		Conference Abstract	300 words	5%
		Conference Presentation	15 minutes	10%

Formative Assessment

Dissertation proposal - 1000 words maximum. Draft dissertation material 20% minimum. All students are given regular formative feedback from the supervisor on the progress of the dissertation through tutorial discussions and the presentation of draft material.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.