Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM129: Independent Study 2

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The principal aim of this module is to enable you to develop a stronger understanding of a specific issue relevant to Education.

Specifically, the module aims to:

enable you to develop your understanding of a specific issue in Education
develop your knowledge in a particular field and the pedagogical implications of a specific issue
support your ability to explore a specific issue in an appropriate academic manner
develop your ability to plan, analyse and evaluate academic and practice oriented resource material
enable you to communicate and disseminate the results of your investigation
support your ability to manage your time and to work independently
develop your ability to write in an academic way about a specific issue

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate systematic understanding of a specific educational issue 2. demonstrate your knowledge of a particular educational issue and its pedagogical implications 3. demonstrate critical awareness of a particular educational issue
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. critically evaluate academic and other resource material 5. synthesise material relevant to a specific educational topic 6. present data and findings in a form appropriate for educational contexts
Personal and Key Skills	7. manage your own learning and show the independence required for masters level work 8. demonstrate effective communication by expressing ideas and opinions, with confidence and clarity, to a variety of audiences for a variety of purposes 9. think creatively about the main features of a given problem and develop strategies for its resolution

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The module’s precise content will be decided initially in discussion with the Module Leader and thereafter in negotiation with your ISM tutor. Therefore there is no specific syllabus for this module.

The format of the module will consist of an initial discussion with the Module Leader. At this meeting the initial scope and focus of the topic will be discussed. Following this discussion you will be asked to create a short written outline of your topic of interest. The Module Leader will then allocate a module tutor who will have specialist knowledge of the substantive field of your topic and/or have expertise in the particular methodological or pedagogical approach you wish to pursue. The tutor will develop a project proposal with you.

The module tutor will provide 4 hours of support, the form of which will be negotiated between tutor and student. The tutor may provide guidance for suggested reading material and resources; and advice on methodological/ethical issues, practice/policy issues, academic writing/referencing; etc. depending on the nature of the topic. In addition you will have access to a range of material through the Exeter Learning Environment on-line resources and the university library.

The module should be completed within 6 months.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
8	292	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	8	2 x 2 hour sessions of online self-study to be introduced to the module, establish a topic and share assignment ideas. 4 hours support from a tutor. This may be face to face, by telephone or on-line. The timetable for this support and the specific type of support will be negotiated between tutor and student at the beginning of the module
Guided Independent Study	50	Initial literature search and reading.
Guided Independent Study	122	Main study activity. This will vary according to the type of project or investigation and may include, for example, further reading, data collection and analysis, policy analysis.
Guided independent study	20	Preparation of draft report.
Guided independent study	100	Preparation of components of summative assessment item.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

BERA www.bera.ac.uk