Researching education policy and practice

This unit builds your capacity to research education policy and practice. You will use data, including reviews of literature, policies and professional learning opportunities, to inform your practice and develop an evidence base for this practice. You will apply principles and methods of educational research that you have learned about by developing a research proposal and literature review. You will then demonstrate your capacity to generate and use data ethically and analyse its significance by conducting a small-scale research project. This is focused on examining policies or practice in an education setting, school or classroom, using a range of methods that may include focus groups, interviews, self-study, action research, participant observation, document analysis and artefacts. Finally, you will demonstrate a clear and coherent exposition of the knowledge you have gained through the presentation of your findings to your peers during a poster session, and in a written report. The written report will also include a critical discussion of how your research has supported your professional learning.

This unit is delivered in the final year of your course to provide you with the opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge gained throughout your course thus far. You will demonstrate your capacity to review, consolidate and communicate key knowledge and skills related to your practice and justify reasons for your decisions using research-based evidence in effective ways.