Personal tools
You are here: Home → The MA Education → Board of Studies 2010-11
Log in


Forgot your password?
New user?
 

Board of Studies

Report and Discussion

MA Education
Board of Studies
Review of the Year 2010-11

 

Minutes of Last Years Meeting

The year has been turbulent with the ending of TDA funding (PPD) for those with QTS, and the ramifications of this in terms of the programme, fees, and our partnership. Government policy is for schools to lead and pay for professional development

The partnership will be re-launched, as Middlesex Partnership for Schools and gradually Midwheb will disappear as a name.  We have articulated the benefits of linking with Mdx. (See http://midwhebonline.org.uk/partnership-discussions)

The desire of the government is that fees will rise to full economic costs (about £2000 per year) but we have held fees to £840 for those with QTS for September 2011 but there may be increases mid year in 2011-12.


There have been many success and developments, e.g.:

•    Incorporation of National Strategic Leadership of Behaviour and Attendance via the Developing Professional Practice Module. And the work of Gerri Gowan's in LB Ealing. Later development of London version post National Strategy.

•    Launch of Whitefield’s Trust and the new partnership delivery of programmes.

•    Growth and Development of Northern Area Partnership based at Chingford School delivering MA programme for LBWF.

•    Development of the relationship with Real Training and NASENCO/MA Inclusive Education as well as CCET module for MA Education.

•    Consolidation of the programme with Trestle Theatre in Drama.

•    Continuation of the relationship with attainment Partnership in D&T.

•    Growth in school based programme e.g. Cuckoo Hall, Edmonton


Core Programme - Hot seats and Research

Our Core programme of Saturdays sessions have focused upon assignments criteria and research. A full programme of hot seats have been arranged for the online community including:
Learning Resources – Monica Johnson
Literature review - Gillian Lazar
Gifted Education- Mehtab Culling
Behaviour – Geri Gowans
Being a Practitioner Enquirer – Ian Terrell
Argument – Gillian Lazar
New Technologies – Derek Wenmoth

This year saw the development of Wednesday research sessions for all groups, which were live broadcasted, and with some being captured on video for asynchronous access. (see http://midwhebonline.org.uk/news/videos-now-available )

Next year the programme has been developed further and integrated with Saturday Core sessions specializing in assignments and projects, the hot seat titles and research sessions pre-specified (see http://midwhebonline.org.uk/hotseats/hotseat-timetable-2011-12 and http://midwhebonline.org.uk/hotseats/core-programme-dates-2011-12)

We intend to build our live broadcasting and archived material from these activities to form the basis of our partnership with schools.


New Partnership Programmes

The development of two associate student modules
•    Professional Practice (30 credits at level 6
•    Advanced Professional Practice (30 credits at level 7)

This facilitated:

1. A new school based route of two modules, in addition to “Developing Professional Practice” (60 credits masters level). http://midwhebonline.org.uk/partnership-discussions/national-college-programmes/national-collge-programmes-and-gaining-credit

2. Development of means for gaining credit for National College Programmes such as MLDP (see http://midwhebonline.org.uk/partnership-discussions/national-college-programmes/national-collge-programmes-and-gaining-credit)

3. Possibility of retrospective claiming for credit on production of a fee and portfolio to our design specifications.

Development of an associate programme with Tribal Inspection for Inspection Training and credit.


The Research Modules

The larger number of research assignment (Action Enquiry and Dissertation) has meant the development of a rolling programme of workshops plus the development of the online materials and discussions. Further development like this will follow next year.


Assignments

Assignments continue to range from the very best distinctive work to the not so good.

The former is remarkable for its insight, and illumination and clear and precise in its methodology and procedures.

The latter often does not follow the instructions in the guidance and does not connect with the material that is given.




Document Actions

Programme

Posted by Jessica Jacob at Jul 12, 2011 11:21 PM
The saturday sessions were very helpful and web class lecture meetings. I was stuck in traffic and couldn't make the meeting on time having to turn back home. It was great that I didn't have to miss anything because you offered the option of a live web attendance. thanks. It was so convenient and helpful.

Jess

Programme

Posted by Ian at Jul 14, 2011 02:46 PM
Thanks for the poistive comment which makes the effort worthwhile.

We have been happy with the developments. I have explained to our ITT Partners and Mentors that these sessions are available to all and opne broadcasted. Anyone doing research can attend or listen in online.

The recording of them is alos useful even though we will never be BBC quality.

However, it is all very expensive- lecturer, online technician, filmer - You need 3 people for each session. The film editing is hugely time consuming. We will continue though.

No grades on Misis

Posted by Ian at Jul 14, 2011 03:07 PM
Some have noted that we changed to not recording grades on Misis. This is new following the last review and rer validation

One person said

" I cannot understand why an individual would work at their best in order to try and achieve a better grade for each module, have their work moderated to then be recorded on my misis account as an ungraded pass"

No grades on Misis

Posted by Ian at Jul 14, 2011 03:10 PM
My answer was:

"I cannot agree that the numerical grade is worthless. As I explained to you it has never been used to calculate the final award. However it serves as an indicator of what he classification would be if it were the third module, the dissertation. This provides you with detailed and specific feedback on the likely dissertation grade. The grade is a useful numerical summary of the description. It is also used by me to match the comments to the judgement made by the tutor. The current system enables experimentation, originality and development without cost and risk to the final award classification and both these qualities are important at masters level.


Your prime aim should be to focus on the qualities of the assignment that makes it a distinction, amongst your peers and tutors, and to put this in the dissertation. This should be you focus in everything you do as a practitioner and researcher. We should not aim at minimum standards to get by but reach for the skies. That’s why you work your best. It’s the quality of the work. It’s not the recoding of a number on a machine that counts.

"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. " Ralph Emerson

Staff Views

Posted by Ian at Jul 14, 2011 03:14 PM
Staff met this week and made a number of poimnts inclsuing

1.Making more use of Saturday/Core sessions especially with distant programmes.
2. Makimng attendance at Saturday and reseaerch sessions compulsory and expected
3.Making attendance at the research workshops compulsory and expected.
4. Expecting more recognition and use of our own course material being used in assignments.
5. Focusing more on measured attainment and impact

3 years

Posted by Chloe Doherty at Jul 14, 2011 05:47 PM
Over the three years I have been mainly very happy with the course
I really like the hands on practical level of work for some units and how they enable you to build on skills to use back at work.
I worked with Janet Wallace on 2 units and found her to be an excellent practitioner.
The online sessions are brilliant as a working mum it has been invaluable to be able to still 'attend' these in the eveings and at weekends. I know things change but some of the key points could be recorded and then the sessions would fit in with the time of year you're doing each bit. As it has worked out this year I attend a core session and then kind of bank it so I can use it when I need it.

i don't think making things complusory would help - at times I have had to prioritise my paid job and missed them. I don't think you can expect a fixed teacher timetable to change. When school support you doing an MA they don't really mean you can go to Trent Park everyother Wednesday

3 years

Posted by Ian at Jul 18, 2011 07:26 AM
yes Chloe, we need to prioritise the capturing of material more for asynchronous use. We will work on it,

BOS

Posted by Beverley Barnaby at Jul 14, 2011 08:25 PM
The Saturday and Wednesday evening sessions have been really useful and the teaching has been good.MIDWHEB has been a helpful resource too!

BOS

Posted by peta griffiths at Jul 15, 2011 02:43 AM
For me the saturday sessions have been the most useful thing. Wednesdays I find the timings are too early and unable to listen with work committments.
I think the website resources need to be sorted abit more clearly, it seems it has grown organically and needs to be structured more clearly. Could not the resources be labelled without reference to when the start date of your course is, surely the research resources are standard for dissertation module start date Sept / Jan, for example?
I have found the hot seats useful at times

Peta Griffiths

BOS

Posted by Ian at Jul 18, 2011 07:24 AM
Thanks Bev.

Programme

Posted by Jacqueline Schembri at Jul 15, 2011 11:19 AM
Being from overseas and certainly not possible to attend the sessions, I have found the online sessions very useful. The live broadcasts were excellent in providing me with all the information I needed. The fact that I could ask questions and be answered back at the same time was extremely helpful. Good support was always available too from tutors. I thank everyone who has been involved in this hard work to provide us with a good service. Keep it up !

Programme

Posted by Ian at Jul 18, 2011 07:23 AM
Thanks Jacqueline. It's worth puttimng our eforst into the broadcasting. We might consider more opne house Q&A sessions. We had one this year.

MA in Education course - school based

Posted by Ellen Elaine Heaphy at Jul 15, 2011 12:21 PM
I would like to thank Middlesex (and Ian) for providing the support, encouragement and knowledge needed to set up this programme at Davenant Foundation School. The course has allowed a number of staff at Davenant, and from local secondary and primary schools, to access M level research. We hope to continue to have a productive, and partnership approach, to creating a first class professional staff.
Elaine

MA in Education course - school based

Posted by Ian at Jul 18, 2011 07:21 AM
Thanks Elaine. Davenant and their local schools is a fantastic example of what can be done. It's a credit to all the staff involved.

Seminars online

Posted by Anthony Skip Basiel at Jul 18, 2011 10:36 AM
Hello
I am pleased that we have been able to extend the reach of the programme by offering the seminars and workshops online by web video conferencing.
yours
Anthony

MA inclusive education distance learning

Posted by Christiana Kefala at Jul 19, 2011 11:35 AM
For me both the hotseats as well as the saturday workshops have been very useful and helpful. I say saturday because it's easier to get some time off from work and kids while wednesday is not so easy. Nevertheless, even the wednesday ones are useful because I can check the material put online later on and usually the information is as good as i would have needed it to be. Live broadcasting is quick and easy and i have felt heard and included on the ones i attended. The hotseats are a good opportunity to share ideas and brainstorm. Thank you for all the support throughout the 3 years.

BOS

Posted by Pamela Diane Charlton at Jul 21, 2011 10:23 AM
Thank you for all your support over the past 3 years. The online discussions have been useful at times. Studying overseas can sometimes feel very lonely but the support from tutors and being involved in discussions with others has helped a great deal. Thak you

Pam Charlton

thank you

Posted by marion craven at Jul 25, 2011 04:15 PM
I would like to sincerely thank Middlesex University for the development I have received as a learner and thinker. In particular Ruth Green who steered me in understanding inclusion and developing projects, Sarah Rosen-Webb for directing my dissertation project, Ian for putting up with my endless questions and for the the Saturday workshop on ideology that enabled me to give the depth needed in my dissertation and my understanding of education for SEN per sa. Additionally thanks to Christine and Joanna for running around after me.
Best Wishes
Marion

Programme 2010/2011

Posted by Zeljko Kovacevic at Jul 27, 2011 11:21 AM
I have attended both Thursday and Saturday sessions at the Trent Park campus whenever I could have time off my college. The material was abundant and I liked the idea that we as researchers are able to get creative while working on a particular topic. It is an advantage to be able to practice the new ideas and practices at work place. The help and the assistance that we received from Ian, Bernadette and their colleagues was great and useful, I hope that will continue in the future modules.

Thanks everyone foir their comments

Posted by Ian at Jul 30, 2011 01:51 PM
Thanks
« May 2012 »
May
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031