The module aims to support students to build upon existing knowledge, work, and skills as a practitioner-researcher as they address real-world problems across different educational settings and sectors. Students develop advanced knowledge and skills to develop, design, and conduct research projects that are practice-based, data-driven, and responsive. Students develop, refine, and defend their thesis proposals and conduct a part of said proposal as a pilot research project informed by theory and inquiry, which they then prepare for dissemination and presentation through sophisticated scholarly writing. The year-long module equips students with comprehensive skills in undertaking education research and prepares students to move to the final and more independent EdD thesis stage.
A. Design a feasible educational enquiry project using an appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approach. B. Carry out a pilot of the proposed project including empirical data collection and analysis of the data gathered in a responsible and reflective way. C. Critically evaluate the research of others across a range of empirical and conceptual approaches. D. Draw appropriate, authorised, and well-justified conclusions. E. Develop a plan for dissemination of outcomes to appropriate stakeholders. F. Orally present their project and scholarly writing in a clear and concise manner. G. Make appropriate use of technology, including AI, for research and scholarly writing.
This module employs a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, guest speakers, one-on-one or group consultations, and independent learning. The lectures are both theoretical- and interactive-based to introduce the fundamental knowledge of the module and develop research skills. The materials covered in the lecture lay a foundation for tutorial components, which follow an interactive and research-led project-based approach where appropriate. Online-onsite blended teaching and learning with a flipped classroom strategy provides students with interpersonal relationship skill building, hands-on learning opportunities, and deeper reflective opportunities. Delivery strategies focus on student-centred interactive activities and, where possible, integrating technology to facilitate learning. Students are guided to integrate the lectures and tutorials with real-life problems in their professional workplaces by designing action research, observational research, or participatory research using appropriate research methods, which leads to building up essential research and writing skills for the independent thesis stage and future scholarly publications.