EDMPIP: Investigating Practice

Module code: EDMPIP

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 40

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr Mark Aitchison, email: mark.aitchison@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE EDMPRT (Compulsory)

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: 29 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed to complement students’ 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.

For students to engage with research in order to inform their teaching and to evaluate the impact on their pupils’ learning.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify a focus and implement and critically evaluate an investigation of their teaching practice.
2. 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.
3. Develop understanding, which will contribute towards the development of students' practical teaching.

Module content

Students will design and complete a 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.

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.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will attend lectures and seminars during the spring term to introduce research methods and approaches to finding and reviewing appropriate literature. Online teaching opportunities will complement the introduction to research methods and discussions on their proposed investigation.

A one to one tutorial will be offered during the Spring Term to consider the design of interventions and evaluation methodologies.

Study hours

At least 9 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

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this 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.

Proposal for the action research project they are undertaking will be submitted to help shaping the project and considering ethics.

Reassessment

Additional costs