Course Catalogue

Education

This module will provide participants with the opportunity to investigate a particular professional issue and assess its educational and practical significance. The module will provide opportunities for professionals to: - Further extend their knowledge and understanding of practitioner research approaches - Develop an empirical base for the analysis of theory and practice, the application of research methodologies appropriate to the nature of the identified area of enquiry. - Develop critical faculties in relation to the application of methodologies in workplace settings. - Design, plan and construct a small scale research project

Outline Syllabus:Research paradigms The nature of a professional research activity and its relationship to concepts of professionalism, qualitative and quantitative Ethical issues in researching professional practice Selected research methods drawn from the following: - The use of literature and other evidence - Selected statistical techniques including quantitative and or qualitative surveys/questionnaires - The use of interviews/focus groups - The use of observation techniques - Issues related to validity, reliability, objectivity and subjectivity - Approaches to reporting and disseminating research

Module Overview:
This module will provide participants with the opportunity to investigate a particular professional issue and assess its educational and practical significance. The module will provide opportunities for professionals to:

• Further extend their knowledge and understanding of practitioner research approaches
• Develop an empirical base for the analysis of theory and practice, the application of research methodologies appropriate to the nature of the identified area of enquiry
• Develop critical faculties in relation to the application of methodologies in workplace settings
• Design, plan and construct a small scale research project

Additional Information:This module is part of the PG Diploma in Teaching Learners with a Visual Impairment delivered in collaboration with St Vincent's School. The module will allow individual study and application of research skills in professional practice planned according to your special interests and needs in order to permit specialisation under supervision in either a programme of study or a particular aspect of special teaching or form of provision. It is intended that the selected area of study will normally include some forms of practice, for example, in observation and assessment; in the implementation of a teaching programme; the evaluation of curriculum materials or teaching methods.