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 Academy, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.

IDEA Academy’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 listed in this application.

The possible posts that this course prepares for are:

• Kndergarten Educator III

Overall assessment of this programme consists of two main components:

1. . Modular Assessment carries 90% of the final grade.
2. The Dissertation carries 10% of the final grade.

1. Modular Assessment

For the majority of modules, lecturers are guided to develop and assign a minimum of two assessment tasks. Once the assessment tasks are developed by the lecturer, these go through a rigourous internal verification process to make sure that they are subject, level, and load appropriate.

All formative and summative tasks aim to provide the learner with an opportunity to produce evidence of his/her competences aligned to the learning outcomes of the modules and enhance his/her learning in the process. Furthermore, the tasks may include different forms of assessment which allow and promote students’ knowledge in the area, critical engagement and other transversal skills that are required in the field (e.g., online discussions, in-class discussions, case studies, etc.).

The mode of assessment varies and may include in-class tasks and home-based written assignments using diverse assessment tools which may include case studies, reports, proposals, essays, presentations, group work, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.

Students will be assessed in other forms during the placement.

The modular score achieved at the end of the study programme modules is calculated by summing up and working an average of the overall grades obtained in all of the study modules.

The final grade achieved by the modular component of the programme is calculated by working out 90% of the modular score obtained for the study modules.

For successful completion of a study module the student is required to achieve an overall pass mark of 50% except in the Placement where the student is required to obtain a minimum of 50% in both assessments.

All assessments aim to provide the learner an opportunity to produce evidence of his/her competences aligned to the learning outcomes of each individual Module.

2. Dissertation Assessment

Assessment of dissertations is primarily based on:

• Depth of understanding of the theoretical framework;
• Application of appropriate research tools;
• Critical approach to analysis, interpretation and evaluation of research findings;
• Depth and level of argumentation build-up;
• Scholarly presentation meeting academic standards.

Assessment of Dissertation is described in further detail in Section 27: Dissertation at the end of the Study Programme.

The overall grading system for this programme is as follows:
86-100% Pass with Distinction
56-85% Pass with Merit
50-55% Pass
0-49% Fail