MA Education - online learning

Program Overview

The MA Education is a fully online, career-focused master's program designed for education professionals. The program combines practical work experience with theoretical knowledge, tools, and techniques to enhance career success. Delivered asynchronously, it allows students to study at their own pace and on their own terms, making it convenient for working professionals. The program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, reflective practice, and research-based decision-making in education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Education is a 100% online, career-focused master's degree designed for educational professionals, including teachers, trainers, tutors, and educators from various backgrounds. The program aims to reinforce practical work experience with theoretical knowledge, tools, and techniques to enhance career success as an educational practitioner. This online MA Education program focuses on providing content and context directly relevant to the work of educational professionals in diverse settings, including schools, colleges, universities, and public sector organizations. The program is flexible and asynchronous, allowing students to study anytime, anywhere, and on any device, making it convenient for working professionals.

Outline:

The MA Education program is a 180-credit, 2-year part-time program consisting of core modules and a 30-credit research project. The program features six start dates per year, providing flexibility in terms of enrollment.

Core Modules:

• Critical and Reflective Practice in Education: Encourages critical reflection and evaluation using an evidence-based approach to practice and continuous professional development.
Students develop knowledge, enhance writing, research, and study skills following academic conventions. This module allows for analyzing and evaluating literature, research, policies, and developments within the professional context.
• Inclusive Practice: Develops critical awareness of issues related to inclusion and additional learning needs, enabling practitioners to develop positive attitudes, policies, and practices supporting the engagement and achievement of all individuals in education and community settings.
• Mentoring and Coaching in Education: Fosters a critical understanding of the value of mentoring and coaching in developing and improving professional practice.
It explores the importance and purpose of peer observation of learning and teaching, allowing for critical reflection on good education practice. It identifies the potential impacts of professional development through coaching, mentoring, and classroom observation on raising standards, improving pedagogy, and enhancing the quality of learning and teaching through advanced professional activity.
• Theory and Philosophy in Education: Develops a critical and systematic analysis of the links between the study of philosophy, education, research, and academic practice.
Students critically evaluate philosophical approaches and relevant theories currently influencing education in their context. This module also encourages critical reflection on personal educational values and how they serve as a reference point for practice.
• Learning Technology in Education: Critically evaluates the meaning and role of learning technology in education.
Students critique learning technology within their contexts and experiences by analyzing relevant literature, policy, legislation, and practice. It also encourages critical examination of the role of technology in making education accessible for all.
• Critical Pedagogy and Anti-Oppressive Practice: Explores the relationship between formal education, informal education, and critical pedagogy.
This module critically examines how education can be used to constructively challenge inequalities and imbalances of power in society. Students reflect on their practice to ensure they work inclusively, democratically, and in an anti-oppressive manner.
• Planning, Assessment, and Feedback: Introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, deliver, evaluate, and provide feedback on learning in various educational contexts.
Students are encouraged to reflect on practice, develop and enhance teaching approaches based on theoretical models of learning, and consider the impact of feedback on the learner. The module considers approaches to teaching and learning within different international contexts, introducing the principle of constructive alignment.
• Critical Thinking, Reasoning, and Argument: Evaluates the nature of critical thinking, reasoning, and argument skills.
It critically appraises arguments for teaching such skills in educational settings. Students develop and critically evaluate strategies for teaching these skills in educational settings.
• Research Methodology: Explores the philosophical and theoretical frameworks that underpin educational research.
Students examine, critique, and evaluate different research methodologies considered when proposing and conducting the research project module. The module aims to help students put forward a coherent research strategy aligning concepts of philosophy, ontology, and epistemology to pose and answer a research question related to their work-based practice.
• Research Proposal: Prepares students to engage in a significant work-based research project.
Students demonstrate a deep understanding of the philosophical roots of educational research by proposing a research area, researching an initial question, and arguing for a coherent research design for their chosen research question.
• Research Project: Enables students to critically and systematically apply research theory to practice-based research.
Students demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate existing research using a range of current texts and seminal sources. They collect and analyze research data, demonstrating critical analysis and evaluation skills.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a flexible, asynchronous learning model delivered entirely online, allowing students to learn at their own pace and on their own terms. Students engage with peers in discussion groups, sharing their professional experiences and learning from others. The program features a tailored online learning environment designed for interaction and support.

Careers:

The MA Education program is designed to help education professionals succeed in their careers in a range of contexts. North Wales Management School has strong relationships with major employers, leveraging them to inform and shape the program's content. The university is ranked in the top 10 UK universities for employability for part-time students, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in preparing graduates for career success.

Other:

The program emphasizes the importance of combining practical experience with theoretical knowledge and continuous personal development for success in the field of education. The online platform and delivery method make the program a convenient option for working professionals who want to enhance their skills and knowledge. The program is also supported by a dedicated Student Success team, providing assistance from enrollment to graduation.

Total programme fees: £6,000 Per 15-credit module: £500 Payment is accepted through the online student portal and must meet the payment deadline.