R&D Assignment, 1-7
The course is a third-year course and comprises composition of an independent research and development paper. The paper is based on one of the main fields addressed in the programme, pedagogy and pupil knowledge.
The paper should address issues within the teaching profession, connected directly to professional practice or another aspect of educational activities. The main research question should be related to central academic, didactic and/or other pedagogical challenges within schooling.
Candidates will address their experiences and other documented experience through critical reflection and pedagogical reasoning with the purpose of illuminating possibilities for change and development within professional practice.
The paper is an independent written work in which candidates articulate analyse and formulate conclusions to a given research question, in consultation with a supervisor.
Candidates will learn to master the key aspects of academic writing as well to analyse and present their analysis of relevant research from the field.
Credit points are not awarded for completion of the paper, which has a workload corresponding to 10 ECTS. However, candidates are required to complete the paper prior to commencing work on the master`s thesis.
Knowledge:
The student:
- has knowledge about philosophical positions for addressing research questions within higher research and insight into relevant research methods with an emphasis on action learning/ action research
- has knowledge about methodological challenges concerning the study of experiential learning and the study of pedagogical sensitivity (practical knowledge or phronetic inquiry)
- has knowledge about practical, academic and pedagogical challenges in education
Skills:
The student:
- can critically analyse relevant research material related to education and teaching
- can conduct and evaluate development and change in schools
- can employ theoretical and methodological knowledge when designing their own research project and write analytically
General competencies:
The student:
- can work with professional, didactical and pedagogical questions based on real-life examples from schools
- can articulate the necessary measures for initiating and evaluating development and change tasks related to professional issues
- can assume a position in relation to ethical issues within research
In the course of the first semester in the third year, the candidate will develop a research question in consultation with their tutor. The question should be related to practice and should reflect central practical, professional and/or pedagogical challenges within schools. The question shall provide the foundation for a research paper to be submitted at the end of the second semester in the third year.
The research question and methodology must be approved by the tutor/s. Any ethical issues related to collection or management of data must be clarified with the tutor, rector and supervising teacher at the practice school, as well as the parents of the pupils, if relevant.
Compulsory attendance (OD): minimum 80% participation in all scheduled teaching / learning sessions. Approved/not approved. Counts 0% of the combined mark in the course, but must be approved to pass.
Written assignment (OP): A larger reflection text (4000-5000 word) that is thoroughly rooted in research-based knowledge.
The assignment must be professionally oriented and linked to the field of practice or other aspects of the school's activities. The problem should be related to key professional, didactic and / or other educational challenges the school is facing.
The assignment will provide experience with critical reflection on subject didactic and other pedagogical arguments in addition to experiences with own and others say teaching as a basis for change and development in a study of professional practice.
Considered: passed / not passed
