EDMPIP-Investigating Practice

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Mrs Barbara King
Email: b.king@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module is designed to complement studentsô€€’ experience of teaching in school. It provides an opportunity for them to consider in depth an aspect of their practice, drawing on research to carry out an investigation to inform and evaluate an investigation of their teaching practice.

Aims:
For students to engage with research in order to inform their teaching and to evaluate the impact on their pupilsô€€’ learning.

Assessable learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the module, students are expected:
􀀕 To be able to identify a focus and implement and critically evaluate an investigation of their teaching practice.
􀀕 To be able to engage with and carry out an investigation in an educational context, finding and critically evaluating relevant literature and developing appropriate methodology to investigate empirically the impact of their teaching practice.

Additional outcomes:
􀀕 Understanding developed through this module will contribute towards the development of the student􀀒s practical teaching.

Outline content:
Students will design and complete an action research project to develop an aspect of their teaching that they will identify in consultation with their tutor. The purpose of this is for them to improve their teaching by engaging with research literature and empirical study.

The first part of this study will involve compiling a review of the relevant research literature. This will lead to a review of the issues surrounding their chosen topic that arise from existing research.
< br /> On the basis of their reading, students will design an investigation of their teaching practice and identify ways of evaluating the impact of this investigation on their students. They will then write up their results, discussion and the conclusions that they draw in relation to their practice.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students will attend two days of lectures and seminars during the spring term to introduce research methods and approaches to finding and reviewing appropriate literature. A one to one tutorial will be provided for each student during the Spring Term to consider the design of interventions and evaluation methodologies. Formative feedback will be provided on the literature review and the research proposal.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The written assignment (equivalent to 9,000 words) will comprise a literature review, a report on the investigation with supporting material.

Formative assessment methods:

•Review of the literature (equivalent to 1,500 words) • Research proposal to inform the investigation and evaluation

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: