This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module offers students the opportunity to investigate a higher education topic of their own choosing, in detail and with academic support. This may take the form of, for example: a literature review on an agreed topic; a small-scale educational research study; a research report on a topic or project related to academic practice within their own discipline; a conceptual study of specific educational ideas, practices or principles.
Your investigation may take the form of, for example:
• a literature review on an agreed topic
• a small-scale educational research study
• a research report on a topic or project related to an aspect of academic practice within your own discipline
• a conceptual study of specific educational ideas, practices or principles
These are only examples, and you are encouraged to identify a topic that is of real interest to you.
10 hours
This module is only available to members of staff who have to complete the PGCHE as part of their probation.
Assessment for this module is in two parts, both of which must be completed and passed.
Part 1: 15-minute presentation on the progress of your investigation. Students are not expected to have finished their investigation at this stage. The main focus of this assessment will be the generic learning outcomes.
Part 2: 3,000-word piece of written work. The specific form of the written assessment will be negotiated between the student and the tutor, and approved by the module convenor. The main focus of this assessment will be the subject-specific learning outcomes.
A core reading list will be prepared for each student relevant to the subject of the individual investigation. Students will also be expected to identify relevant reading with the support and guidance of a tutor, making use of the range of educational literature and journals now available to the program through the Library and through the VLE, and discipline-specific materials where appropriate.
General texts are likely to include, for example:
Murray, R. and Moore, S. (2006) The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach, Open University Press
Rowland, S. (2006) The Enquiring University: Compliance and Contestation in Higher Education, SRHE/Open University Press
Tight, M.(2003) Researching Higher Education, SRHE/Open University Press
Journals: Studies In Higher Education; Teaching in Higher Education; British Educational Research Journal; etc.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
By the end of the module, students will have:
• Identified a higher education topic (for example an educational concept, practice or policy) for academic investigation and provided a rationale for their choice;
• Identified and evaluated relevant literature (or equivalent) to provide a context for their investigation (which may be specific to a disciplinary area, form of educational practice, etc.);
• Carried out a small-scale investigation of a topic relevant to the study of higher education;
• Analysed the results and drawn reasoned conclusions from the investigation;
• Identified relevant sources of material for the investigation of an educational topic;
• Demonstrated the capacity to gather, evaluate, analyse and utilise material relevant to the academic investigation of a higher education topic;
• Evaluated their own practice in the design and conduct of an education investigation;
• Communicated the content of an educational investigation effectively for an audience outside academic educational researchers.
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