EDMAPR: Academic Research and Practice

Module code: EDMAPR

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 and Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Michael Kilmister, email: m.kilmister@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( TAKE EDMAPI AND TAKE EDMAPD ) OR ( TAKE EDMAP1 AND TAKE EDMAP2 ) (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides an opportunity for students to advance their knowledge and understanding in a specific area of academic practice through a small-scale research project. This module seeks to recognise the integrated nature of the academic’s role, and as such, students may choose to focus on an area of pedagogic interest, or the organisation, leadership and/or management of professional practice. Dissemination of project outcomes is a requirement of the module, via a number of options to be agreed during the planning stage.

Students are supported during the module by two supervisors: the first, normally a discipline-specific supervisor, agreed with the student; and the second, the module convenor (or their nominee). The project should be in an area of interest and strategic relevance to the student’s department/school and/or the University, agreed by the supervisors.

The module enables students to build on the knowledge, skills and understanding developed during EDMAPI and EDMAPD by exploring a specific higher education context in greater detail, and by engaging with particular elements of the Professional Standards Framework, depending upon area of interest.

Aims:
To explore good practice, and apply theory to practice, in a specific higher education context

• To develop an argument for a considered and well-informed point of view on a topic, supported by reference to literature
• To consider national and/or University quality assurance and enhancement policies
• To encourage the development of reflective practice leading to continuing professional development and improvement
• To promote engagement with the relevant dimensions of the UKPSF.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate academic literature on an area of academic practice to develop a coherent rationale and plan to conduct a small-scale research project drawing on appropriate methodological approaches
2. Collect, analyse and present the data using appropriate illustrative techniques to address the aim and objectives of the project
3. Critically evaluate the findings of the project with reference to relevant pedagogic literature
4. Critically reflect on the research process and implications for effective practice in their context, with reference to the PSF

Module content

This module enables students to explore a specific area of interest by carrying out a small-scale research project of interest and strategic relevance to their department/school and/or the University. Content will therefore depend upon the specific area chosen.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The research project is supported by two supervisors, one from ADE and one from your school. A short series of workshops will be run by ADE to help shape your project and identify ways of conducting the research process. The remaining contact time takes the form of one-to-one supervisory meetings.

Study hours

At least 6 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

This module is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass each item of assessment to pass the module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Participants on the module will be able to ask for feedback from their academic tutors on sample pieces of writing. A bespoke writing workshop will be run during the semester 2 assessment period to support participants understanding of the assessment process and criteria.

Reassessment

Additional costs