Community Education Honours Dissertation (U03174)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : EDU-4-CEHonsDis

The Dissertation is a major individual study that will provide students with the opportunity to identify, reflect on and explore an issue that has implications for community education. It will be characterised by independent study, in-depth analysis, critical pro-activity, professional relevance and knowledge of relevant research and enquiry approaches. The thinking and theoretical analysis behind the study should be clear and it should be historically and contextually situated There will not be a presumption in favour of any particular mode of enquiry. An essential characteristic of this element of the course is its commitment to the view that discrimination in the selection of the topic ought to be matched by discrimination in selecting the mode of enquiry. The taught component will consist of lectures and tutorials, covering key themes in research design and methodology for community educators.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Re-theorising Community: Implications for Democratic Citizenship

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Education, (The Moray House School of Education, Schedule C)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Develop an enquiry orientation towards professional concerns.
Consider the values and assumptions that underlie the way issues are defined for investigations and which underlie particular approaches to investigating them.
Engage in the critical appraisal of a variety of examples of relevant literature and research.
Research an aspect of work relevant to community education practice, or theoretical issues or policy considerations.

Assessment Information

A dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words (excluding appendices) on a topic drawn from the broad area of community education:-The form of the Dissertation may be a presentation of facts or ideas from published material followed by a critical observation and research on which conclusions may be based. Alternatively, a choice can be made of the philosophical development of a theme that is then supported by facts and other evidence. In whatever form, it is expected that original thought and research into the chosen subject will be demonstrated, together with a reasoned discussion, with attention paid to the avoidance of a one-sided argument or failure to reach conclusions. The Dissertation must be submitted at the end of Semester two.