Dissertation
Module Description
Overview:The dissertation is a mandatory component designed to engage students in producing original research on a defined topic, enhancing their depth of knowledge and skills within the Early Childhood Education field. This comprehensive project aims to cultivate advanced research capabilities and foster a nuanced understanding of the subject matter aligned with the program’s objectives.
Competences:
- Establishing a Research Territory: Students will demonstrate the importance of their research area, review existing research, and uphold ethical research standards.
- Creating a Niche: They will identify gaps in existing research or extend the knowledge base, contributing to ongoing research and development in the field.
- Occupying the Niche: Students will clarify their research purpose, formulate questions or hypotheses, present findings, and articulate the value of their research.
Knowledge Goals:Students will gain insights into both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including mixed methods, and develop critical thinking about topic selection, ethical considerations, data access, and the structuring of their research paper.
Skills Development:
- Application of Knowledge: Students will identify and define a research problem related to Early Childhood Education, connect it to theoretical frameworks from the program, and detail the significance of the issue.
- Literature Compilation: They will gather and synthesize relevant historical and contemporary literature to support their research.
Upon completing this module, students will be equipped to autonomously conduct significant research, contributing to the field of Early Childhood Education with professionalism and academic integrity.
Entry Requirements
Candidates who apply for this course will possess:
- A full qualification at MQF level 4 in Early Childhood Education and SEC/Ordinary Level passes in Mathematics, English and Maltese.
OR
- 2 Advanced Level passes and 2 Intermediate Level passes including 2 subjects from Mathematics, English, Maltese.
A pass at SEC/Ordinary Level in the subject that is not presented at advanced/intermediate level from the 3 specified above. - In the case of students who do not possess all the formal required academic qualifications, then the RPL process could be applied such that if evidence of equivalent learning, related to the area of study of this programme, is found then the applicant could still be accepted in the course. Such RPL process will subject applicants to an interview held with a board of experts within the field, chosen specifically by IDEA College, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.
IDEA College’s RPL policy can be accessed through this link
Furthermore, it will be advised to students at entry point that before going on placements, they will need to be in possession of:
- The POMA (Protection of Minors Application) certificate.
- A first-aid certificate prior to commening placement practice.
- A valid police conduct certificate.
Target Audience
This programme has the following target groups:
- Individuals who are approaching the field of Early Childhood Education.
- Individuals who have been working in the field as a means of capacity building.
- Individuals looking to advance to Kindergarten Educator III role.
Career Paths
This programme aims to equip the target audience with the knowledge, skills and competences.
The possible posts that this course prepares for are:
- Kndergarten Educator III
How you’ll be assessed
This module shall be assessed through a dissertation not shorter than 12,000 words and no longer than 15,000 words to be submitted via an online portal.
Dissertation Grading Structure:
- Between 86 and over – Pass with Distinction.
- Between 71-85 – Pass with Credit.
- Between 56 to 70 – Pass with Merit.
- Between 41 and 55 – Pass.
- 40 and less– Fail.
Final, MSc Artificial Intelligence qualification grade is a weighted score of:
- Final Modular Grades – 90%
- Final Dissertation Grade – 10%
Learning Outcomes
Competences:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
1: Establishing a Research Territory
- Show that the general research area is essential, central, interesting, problematic, or relevant.
- Present and review items of previous research in the area.
- Be conscious and responsible for the ethical aspects of research and development work.
2: Creating a Niche
- Indicate a gap in the previous research, or extend prior knowledge in some way.
- Contribute to research and development work.
3: Occupying the Niche
- Outline purposes or state the nature of the present research.
- Comply research questions or hypotheses.
- Announce principal findings.
- State the value of the present research.
Knowledge:
Students will be able to critically analyse the rationale, significance and implications of the following topics:
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Mix Methods
- Topic Selection
- Research Questions and Hypothesis
- Structure of the research paper
Skills:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:
- Identify a research problem with a managerial perspective within the environment.
- Relate the problem to some relevant theory studied in this programme.
- Formulate the research problem precisely · Explain the significance of the study.
- Generate interest in the problem by giving a comprehensive overview of the background to the problem.
- Compile relevant historical and currently available literature / secondary information in and around the field of study.
Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences
The learner will be able to:
- Navigate through the online learning platform to find assignments, discussion boards, literature, tutorials etc.