Research methodology in education

The Master aims at training high quality and autonomous professionals, able to assume direct responsibility in planning, management and organization of research in the field of education with the objective to assess educational actions and  assume positions of scientific coordination in those areas.

The Master’s goal is to enable a dialogue between experts and academics, between school and university and guarantee training aid to teachers of all schools.

Although the Master does not ignore quantitative research, it mainly focuses on qualitative research. This decision is due to the fact that, as goes for research in education, it  finds particularly efficient answers for intervention in the different contexts and for the decision and innovation of procedures, in qualitative methodologies.

Didactics
The Master is divided in lessons, laboratory activities, internships and conferences for a total amount of 60 credits (CFU). The activities are organized as follows:

• Traditional lessons in class 27 CFU
• Laboratory activities/practical lessons 9 CFU
• Internship 17 CFU
• Activities chosen by the student 2 CFU
• Final examination 5 CFU

The main issues studied are about:

• Getting to know and encouraging research in school: becoming familiar with the contexts and their needs;
• Planning a research;
• The basics for methods of research in education;
• Epistemology of research in education;
• The plant of participating research;
• Quantitative methods and instrumentation for research in education;
• Planning, implementation and assessment of  training technologies.

During the Master students will acquire 17 credits for the internship (including the re-elaboration activities) that all participants will have the chance to carry out in their school if  teachers, or at other establishments with the supervision  of the internship coordinator. The final examination consists of the defence of a report about the research carried out during the internship that will be assessed by an apposite commission.

Attendance
Lessons will be held from March to November 2008.  In order to adapt to the school system and to teacher’s needs, traditional lessons in class and laboratory activities will be held mainly from March to July 2008, whereas in autumn they will be less intense. Lessons will take place on Friday (afternoon) and Saturday and during school holidays lessons may be more concentrated.
The final examination will take place by the end of March 2009.

Students must attend at least 75% of the lessons in order to achieve all the credits.
Lessons will be held at Palazzo dell’Istruzione in corso Bettini, 84 in Rovereto.

 
Addressees and admittance requirements
The Master is addressed to those who have a Master’s degree or a pre-reform degree (four year degree) or a qualification achieved abroad recognized as equivalent, along with the qualification to teach in school or a certificate stating that the candidate carried out teaching activities  in schools or in services in the education field.

Admission criteria
A maximum of 30 students can attend the Master; in order for the Master to start there must be at least 15 participants.

Candidates will be selected according to their resumes and the interview which will focus on their knowledge in the pedagogical, psychological and didactic fields. The commission will also consider candidates’ personal motivations and attitudes towards the subject.

Deadlines, fees and scholarships
The deadline to hand in the application form is 15th February 2008.
Application forms (see download box) must be sent to the Dean of the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and also sent to the Ufficio Protocollo Centrale – Via Belenzani, 12 – 38100 Trento. Applications must be received within the deadline and the date on the stamp cannot be considered if the office does not receive the documentation on time.

The enrolment fee amounts to  € 2.500,00 of which  € 1.500,00 must be paid when enrolling.

The Faculty offers 5 scholarships amounting to € 1250,00 each. The criteria for the assignment of a scholarship will be published in a specific announcement for participation.