Masters degree in Education - Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge and understanding of:

• the relationship between research and the various kinds of educational practice to which it can relate
• recent research into effective practice in one area of education
• current debates, concepts and issues in the studied area of education and their relationship to wider political, economic and social developments
• ethical frameworks and measures appropriate to educational contexts
• the processes entailed in carrying out a small scale research enquiry.

The skills listed below under Cognitive skills, Practical and/or professional skills and attributes, and Key skills are integral to the achievement of these learning outcomes.

The knowledge and understanding specific to particular modules are detailed in the prospectus, module guides and study materials.

If you choose particular combinations of modules, you may choose to have your qualification designated, in which case specific learning outcomes are as follows:

Applied linguistics

The core modules for this designation of the qualification assume you have experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages. In this context the modules:

• equip you with skills for analysing English, as it is used in social context
• enable you to make a critical evaluation of relevant research in applied linguistics and related fields
• enable you to evaluate English language curricula and methods used to teach English
• enable you to apply what you have learned to your own professional circumstances.

Leadership and management

The core modules for this designation of the qualification assume you have experience in teaching, the advisory service, educational administration or an allied field. In this context the modules:

• equip you to identify problems and questions in areas of interest and to design study plans or research strategies to deal with them
• enable you to make a critical evaluation of advanced literature
• provide the necessary methodological grounding and other skills required for the areas chosen
• equip you with professional skills relevant to work and consultancy.

Equality and diversity

The core modules for this designation of the qualification assume you have experience in special educational needs/inclusive education. In this context the modules:

• equip you to identify problems and questions in areas of interest and to design study plans or research strategies to deal with them
• enable you to make a critical evaluation of advanced literature
• enable you to reflect critically on your own practices in the light of evidence from research
• provide the necessary methodological grounding and other skills required for the areas chosen
• equip you with professional skills relevant to your work.

Cognitive skills

The ability to:

• define and appropriately utilise key terms, concepts and theories in educational research
• apply and refine critical thinking skills in relation to reviewing literature and research
• critically interpret, assess and deploy research methodologies and their evidence.

Note: the development of these cognitive skills is integral to your study that enhances your knowledge and understanding of particular aspects of education.

Practical and/or professional skills

Demonstrate the capacity to:

• read academic publications pertaining to specific educational research topics proficiently and with confidence
• appraise, review and critically and reflexively formulate arguments relevant to education
• critically reflect on the area of your own practice
• produce and present written text employing a suitable writing style appropriate to specific academic genre that uses and cites source materials correctly and appropriately.

Note: the achievement of the above learning outcomes within particular educational settings will require you to demonstrate discipline-specific practical/professional learning outcomes, such as discourse analysis. These are detailed in the study materials.

Key skills

Demonstrate the ability to:

• work independently on a project or extended assignment involving the analysis and presentation of materials and issues
• produce original texts to communicate ideas concisely and effectively in written work which shows clear expression and coherent structure
• investigate an issue of practical or policy or theoretical relevance to your particular context or professional area take personal responsibility to complete an extended and varied programme of learning which required sustained and independent application
• use information and communication technology appropriately for information retrieval and communication purposes.