ED2S078 - Practice Based Research 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ED2S078
Module Title: Practice Based Research
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Post Compulsory Education
Faculty Sub Group: Post Compulsory Education
Module Leader: Alison Straker
Module Team: , Mandy Evans, Phill Jones, Jodie Rees, Janet Best, Amanda Symons, Melanie Smith, Jodene Jenkinson, Leigh Webber, Matt Eggerton, Alexandra Clarke, Sara Davies
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100508 - post compulsory education and training
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

To develop reflection and analysis of own classroom practice, in order to identify and address a meaningful area for development.

To extend understanding of how theory relates to practice in an identified area for professional development

To develop skills, understanding and confidence in research design and ethics, by designing a small scale action research project

To develop professional communication skills and professional insights by gathering and analysing qualitative data from a range of sources e.g. discussions with learners, interviewing colleagues

To extend professional communication skills and digital literacies by sharing research-in-progress using innovative media

Content Summary

Participants design a small-scale, qualitative research project (following an action research cycle) to investigate and address an area of their own classroom practice which they have identified as an area of concern . Participants will then design, prepare and deliver interventions to address their concern.
The taught content of the module will develop understanding and practice of learning, teaching and practice-based research e.g.
• addressing individual learning needs within whole group teaching
• identifying areas for development in own understanding and practice
• recognising how reflective practice can develop into an action research cycle
• research ethics and your project
• learning from your learners: supportive and participatory interview and other data-gathering practices
• identifying and gathering evidence from learning and teaching events

This module embeds the following cross-cutting themes:
• Professional and ethical standards
• Supporting the teaching and research nexus
• Developing literacies for learning and professional life
• Authentic and socially-situated learning

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 25
Seminar 5
Work based learning 10
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 55
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 5
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a professional, ethical and learner-centred approach to designing and implementing practice-based research.
LO2 Design and implement effective interventions to address identified concern and evaluate own practice, using more than one source of data.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 A detailed research protocol and ethics considerations. 0 800 15 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Present an aspect of your action research in progress, using appropriate innovative media and including plans for evaluation of your project. A written report of all stages of your action research, with appended data as appropriate 0 N/A 85 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Appleby, Y. & Barton, D. (2008) Responding to people’s lives – developing adult teaching and learning: practitioner guides Leicester: NIACE

British Educational Research Association (2018) Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research 4th Edition [online] https://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/BERA-Ethical-Guidelines-for-Educational-Research_4thEdn_2018.pdf?noredirect=1 (accessed 21 August 2019)

Forster, C. & Eperjesi R. (2017) Action Research for New Teachers: evidence-based evaluation of practice London: Sage

Koshy, V. (2010) Action Research for Improving Educational Practice: a step-by-step guide 2nd Edition London: Sage

McNiff, J. (2017) Action Research: all you need to know London: Sage

Peart, S. (2014) Equality and Diversity in Further Education Northwich: Critical Publishing

Spenceley, L. (2014) Inclusion in Further Education Northwich: Critical Publishing