Creative Education MA

Learning is a complex process influenced by various psychological and pedagogic models that shape our contemporary understanding. This unit will introduce you to influential models such as behaviourism, constructivism, experiential learning, and critical pedagogy, exploring the philosophies and epistemologies behind them and their implications for teaching practice. You will reflect on and critique your own pedagogic practice through different teaching philosophies, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of alternative models and analysing the origins and implicit values of your existing approach. You are expected to actively research beyond theoretical materials, delving deeper into areas of particular interest and familiarizing yourself with the debates and discourse around them.

This unit explores the history of creative education with a global perspective but a focus on the UK. Through a series of lectures, workshops and activities you will be tracing its roots from the 16th century Academies of Rome and Paris through to the formalisation of higher education in the twentieth century. You will learn about the key institutions, philosophies, and legislation that shaped today’s landscape. This will include some of the political and legislative events that have shaped the sector including the Coldstream and Summerson reports, the Dearing Report and the Teaching & Higher Education Act 1998. This unit will develop your historical knowledge of approaches to creative education and equip you to think critically about contemporary discourses and arguments. Through reflection and experimentation, you will gain greater insights into the implicit assumptions and values of your own teaching practice.

This unit will require you to take charge of your own learning and navigate a collaborative project with support and facilitation from the course team. You will gain direct experience of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as you work together to investigate a contemporary issue within the creative Higher Education sector, leading to a final group presentation that will be an opportunity to propose solutions to a public audience within the university. You will be expected to become familiar with some of the Higher Education sector’s main channels of communication, and to develop an awareness of current policy discussions. This unit is an example of co-creation through collaboration, and you will be expected to manage the complexities of a group research project, developing your interpersonal and professional project management skills.

Carrying out academic research is an essential part of a Lecturer’s activities within Higher Education. On this unit you will learn about the range of research activity that takes place within creative practice, from practice-based enquiry through to publishing in journals and participating in conferences. As academic journals play an important role in research you will be taken through the peer-review process and investigate the house-styles of leading journals, including citations and the construction of an academic bibliography. You will undertake a general survey of academic journals and compare some of their differing demands in terms of form, style and content, identifying those which are most appropriate for your own discipline and interests. You will be encouraged to try out contrasting methodologies to compare the kinds of outcomes they generate. You will explore research methodologies, dissemination, and think about impact within and beyond academia.

The Major Research Project is the culminating part of MA Creative Education and builds on the taught units of your course so far. It will deepen your understanding of educational research, and the strengths and challenges of carrying out sustained research in education that reflects your own professional priorities. Through researching an aspect of professional practice within your own subject specialism or professional practice, you will be challenged to enrich your knowledge of relevant education-related issues. You may have developed your ideas during earlier units and can build on key points during your research. The subject of your research will be of significant importance to you and your professional practice. There is the freedom to determine your own agenda in negotiation with the course team, and the opportunity to contribute to best practice and pedagogic research within your own institution.