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College of Education

Master of Teaching and Learning

About the Master of Teaching and Learning

The Master of Teaching and Learning degree develops research skills and investigates theories and practices of teaching and learning related to the delivery of curriculum in educational organisations within a context of pressure for change brought about by the impact of competing social, political and economic ideologies with the aim of improving the professional praxis of teachers and trainers.

Rationale

Teaching is becoming an increasingly complex and contested professional activity which requires teachers to be equipped with intellectual understandings of the teaching/learning process, the ability to analyse and respond thoughtfully to changing expectations and demands, and the practice of developing their own professional skills through reflective research. These understandings and skills can be developed by experienced teachers who have the time and commitment to interact with and question the literature in the light of their personal experience and the influences of their colleagues, students and communities. Existing pre-service and short term in-service teacher education courses do not offer the opportunity for experienced teachers to investigate the relationships between theory, their own teaching practices, and the contexts in which they operate.

The Master of Teaching and Learning (MTchLn) has been developed for teachers working in adult education, schools and early childhood centres. It addresses a significant gap in the professional development of educators from many different fields, by providing a considered programme of courses and research opportunities which encourage teachers to articulate and reflect on their personal conceptions of the processes of teaching and learning. It takes cognisance of the teaching environments in which they work, and offer a range of perspectives, both theoretical and critical, from which teachers can reassess their practice, and the frameworks on which they base their practice.

The advantages of a postgraduate programme of teacher development, especially one in which teaching experience is a pre-requisite, are:

• opportunities for reflection on experience and improved practice
• the expectation of a strong theoretical component of postgraduate work
• an approach to study that requires developing independence in the student.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Aims

The MTchLn aims to develop educators who practise critical and reflective thinking, are able to conduct independent research, who can apply theoretical and practical research within their teaching, and can take leadership in the intellectual, professional and social climate of schools and other formal and informal teaching and learning institutions.

Graduates will demonstrate a depth of knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning processes and systems to a level which allows them to be informed influences on educational environments.

The course aims to foster:

• in-depth and critical understanding of the theoretical underpinning of a student's own and others' educational practices
• self-reflective and self-critical practice
• active participation in current debates on the theory and practice of teaching and learning
• knowledge about and experience in educational research
• skill in preparing, implementing and presenting research.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the degree of Master of Teaching and Learning, graduates will be able to:

• reflect on, and critically evaluate, their own educational practices and assumptions in the contexts of relevant research, theoretical and ideological perspectives, and New Zealand's cultural diversity
• critique and apply theoretical models relevant to their practice
• propose and carry out research within their areas of educational activity and interest
• evaluate and critique their own and others' research findings and methodologies
• develop new practices as a result of their own research, and the research or theoretical work of others
• articulate their own perspectives on teaching and learning through publications, seminars and workshops
• assume leadership in the field of teaching and learning.

More Information

View the Professional Development Handbook (PDF, 314KB) for more information.

For more information Freephone in NZ 0800 VARSITY (827 748).