MSc Learning and Technology

Key facts

• The programme is delivered entirely online and is accessible to students from countries all over the world.
• The programme has been designed to suit practitioners working across a range of teaching and training contexts.
• Participants will develop professional and personal networks encouraging collaboration, peer-peer learning and support.
• Upon successful completion participants will have the skills and knowledge to be leading exponents of TEL and will be at the forefront of the field.

Course duration

Part-time

MSc 3 years

PGD 2 years

PGC 1 year

Location: Online

Career opportunities

Successful completion of this course will equip individuals with the skills and expertise to exploit new technologies effectively in their teaching or training context. Recent research has shown that, even very young, students now have sophisticated IT skills and expect their tutors to use technology to facilitate their learning; this course will help you match these expectations.

There is a growing demand across the educational environment for individuals who have the knowledge and skills to use technology effectively; successful completion of this course will demonstrate such attributes. Some of our previous students include people working in higher and further education, schools, the NHS and the private sector.

Course content

Each module makes use of a study calendar and content provided through on-line documents, podcasts, video, synchronous and asynchronous conferencing (using text, audio and video), blogs, wiki pages, web links, file sharing and social networking facilities. Participants also take part in activities which involve them using these technologies to collaborate, share reflections and to construct elements of e-learning material that they can evaluate for use within their own professional context.

By experiencing the use of these technologies within their own study, learners gain an understanding and appreciation of how these could be deployed in their own teaching and gain an insight into the nature of on-line study from the perspective of the student.

Tutors (or ‘coaches’) aim to provide a secure and supportive environment within which participants can explore areas of TEL appropriate to their own professional context. Participants are encouraged to participate in forum debates and to develop communities of practice.

Participants learn with and from each other and are supported as they develop independent skills in finding and evaluating information. In all modules participants are encouraged to relate their studies to their own professional context. Assignments are also rooted in professional practice.

Year 1

The first year’s study comprises three twenty credit modules. Successful completing of these three modules constitutes the Postgraduate Certificate Learning and Technology.

Pedagogy and Practice

This module explores the nature of learners and how this influences the mode of delivery and how teaching ‘online’ may differ from conventional teaching.

Technology and Design

This module explores those technologies that can be used to support their learners. Students will apply the knowledge gained to develop practical application of technology within their own professional context.

Implementation and Management

This module examines issues of implementing and managing online programmes. The assessment involves students undertaking an independent project in which they apply knowledge and skills gained to develop a technology-enhanced learning resource.

Year 2

The second year’s study comprises three twenty credit modules. Successful completing of these three modules constitutes the Postgraduate Diploma Learning and Technology.

Innovation and Practice

This module explores the concept of innovation and how innovation diffuses. It examines emerging technologies and practices for learning (e.g. Open Educational Resources, Massive Open Online Courses) and the use of learning analytics.

Accessibility and Assessment in the Digital Age

In this module students will develop an appreciation and knowledge of adaptive technologies, explore the opportunities and challenges afforded by technologies to support learning and learners and examine the role of technology in assessment.

E-research and digital scholarship

This module aims to provide students with the skills required to identify and select appropriate methodologies to prepare and perform a research project in a safe and ethical manner. Students will acquire knowledge and skills to exploit new technologies to inform research and digital scholarship.

Year 3

The final year consists of the 60 credit research dissertation. Students will be allocated a supervisor, with appropriate research or subject expertise, to support them throughout the process of carrying out the research and writing the dissertation.

Students have the opportunity to submit for assessment either a ‘traditional’ dissertation or a journal-format article. The dissertation / journal-format article is an independent study, involving the collection and analysis of data from primary sources, carried out by individual students on a topic of their choice.