General OverviewThe Master of Education (MEd) in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) programme is designed for participants who have an interest in working with learners of English.
The Master of Education in TESOL is delivered, administered and supported in a blended format, that is, through direct, face-to-face teaching and through the UWS virtual learning environment (VLE).
Each module ‘site’ will typically have the following interactive areas: Main Announcements, Main/Group Discussion Boards, Module Information, Week-by-week Activities and an Assessment Area. In addition to these interactive areas students also have links to module and course documentation, guides on academic writing etc. Every module is constructed around the same basic architecture that ensures continuity for students as they progress. The fact that the Master of Education in TESOL contains a significant amount of online input means that there are some specific challenges - as well as opportnities - in ensuring appropriate and effective student guidance and support.
Our strategy to overcome these challenges includes the following:
Clear online communication protocols: This includes the provision of ‘service level’ statements that ensure that student expectation levels are established prior to embarkation on the programme. This avoids misunderstanding and miscommunication arising.
Appropriate and meaningful online induction: New students to the online environment are provided with a brief online induction period prior to the formal commencement of a module. The induction period is designed to allow all participants to overcome any technical issues and to familiarise themselves with the environment in general terms thus enabling the student to focus on the learning from day 1 of the module.
In general, our approach to teaching and learning online is continually refined in light of experience and best practice originating from local, national and international research in this area. More specifically, the online features of the programme enable learners to work at a time and place to suit both their personal and professional commitments and all modules across the programme are designed using an integrated model of online learning.
The teaching style adopted across the programme is more that of a facilitator. This approach is also designed to foster a ‘community of professional practice’ which is grounded in social constructivist pedagogy and, in this way, learners develop into independent learners who are capable of demonstrating the competences required when studying at SCQF Level 11.
Additional tutorial support to enhance the online student experience will be given to all students by the English Language Unit staff.
Course Structure
To achieve the MEd in TESOL, students must complete 6 taught modules which are each calibrated at 20 credit points, plus a final, single dissertation calibrated at 60 credit points; a programme total of 180 credits as follows:
- Postgraduate Certificate (3 modules, 60 Credits)
- Postgraduate Diploma (3 modules, 60 credits)
- Masters dissertation (1 module, final 60 Credits)
Course Content
Postgraduate Certificate.
New entrants to the MEd in TESOL programme will undertake two of the following core modules:
- EDUC11111 Language Analysis
- LING11007 Theory and Practice in TESOL
- EDUC11067 Educational Research
- LING11006 Second Language Acquisition
In addition, candidates wishing to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL will select and undertake one further 20 credit point module from an options bank (see below).
Options Bank Modules:
- LING11002 English as a Global Language
- LING11004 Language, Identity and Power
- LING11001 Applied Linguistics
- EDUC11146 Technology-Enhanced Language Learning
- LING11005 Teaching English to Young Learners
- EDUC11112 TESOL: The Scottish Context
Postgraduate Diploma.
The PG Diploma level is made up of the remaining two core modules, plus a further option module from the above options bank.
Upon successful completion of the PG Diploma, learners will progress to the final dissertation stage of the MEd award.
Master of Education.
The Masters Dissertation module will involve students designing, implementing, evaluating and writing up a research project in a work related topic of their own choosing.
Part-time Route
A flexible approach to part-time delivery allows candidates to complete the full MEd TESOL programme over a maximum period of three years. Candidates can select which modules, and how many to complete, within each academic year. On completion of all six modules (4 core plus two options), candidates may progress to the Masters Dissertation in T3 of their final year.
Part-time students will normally take 1 core module each trimester, with 1 optional module each year. However, there are various part-time routes through this Master's programme which have been tailored to reflect the background and practitioner status of applicants wishing to take the programme on a part-time basis.
The part-time programme can be taken flexibly with students being given guidance on whether they can take 1 or 2 modules within each trimester. The constants are the Trimesters: Modules cannot be taken in trimesters outwith those identified at Validation of the programme, and outlined in the Programme Specification.
Following successful completion of the MEd in TESOL, students would be able to undertake further study towards PhD or EdD level.
This Programme will be delivered in blended mode: by direct, face-to-face teaching of weekly three-hour classes per module and online through UWS’ VLE. The learning and teaching approaches adopted are compliant with UWS Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy [LTAS]. Coursework associated with each module will include provision for support using e-learning materials and students will make use of e-learning methods such as remotely accessing readings and research journals, asynchronous communication with tutors and fellow students including the use of e-mail and discussion boards. Formative and summative assessments will be used including essays, assignments, individual and group presentations and online discussions. Strategies for personal development planning will be incorporated into each of the modules. Students will be encouraged to plan for the achievement of their personal development goals at the start of each module and plan a review session at the end of each module allowing students to reflect on their personal development in situ and link these developments to their professional profile. Students will be encouraged to plan and review their personal development goals in line with the learning outcomes of each module in relation to the course aims and objectives. The assessment strategies of this programme will aim to support the students in the process of learning and to develop key practical and academic skills. The assessment strategies reflect these dual aims. Assessment regulations will be in line with the University of the West of Scotland Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy. In the MEd dissertation module students will be allocated an academic supervisor. They will agree to communicate at regular intervals for supervision. Students will already have successfully completed a research methods module in the Postgraduate Diploma. On-line tutorials will be offered regularly to discuss general academic issues relating to writing a MEd dissertation. Students must complete research within a learning and teaching setting or other approved focus as agreed with the Programme Leader, Module Coordinator and Dissertation Supervisor. This research will be presented as a thesis that satisfies the University requirements for a MEd thesis (UWS Regulation 8.12).
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