Group sessions, as required, will assist participants with defining a line of enquiry and in writing the report. For independent study, participants, with the support of school-based mentors, will observe practice and focus on specific activities in their workplace. They will document this, to share in group sessions and to help them to prepare for their assessment task. Finally students will be expected to spend 15 hours using the course VLE for support. Study for this module will take place over approximately 12 weeks.

30 hours class contact time will include :-
Tutor led sessions - 10 hours
Group discussions - 15 hours
Student presentations - 5 hours
(approximate times allocated)

Students will submit a report of 6000 words (the research project). The topic for the report must be approved by the Course tutor. The report should be structured and include the following sections:
- Title page
- List of contents and appendices
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Findings
- Analysis
- Conclusions and recommendations
- References and bibliography
- Appendices

The project will be given a single mark at 100% (Assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Hammersley-Fletcher, Lowe, Pugh 2006 The Teaching Assistant's Guide: An Essential Textbook for Foundation Degree Students Routledge Falmer
Lowe, M. (2006) Beginning Research Routledge London
Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Project, 4th edition, Buckingham, Open University Press
COHEN, L.; MANION, L. & MORRISON, K.(2000) Research methods in education,(London: Routledge) (370.78)
GILLHAM, B. (2008) Developing a Questionnaire,2nd Edition (London: Continuum Books).
Jamerson. J. Hillier, Y. (2003) Researching Post-Compulsory Education Continuum
SILVERMAN, D. (2008) Doing Qualitative Research,2nd Edition (London: Sage).

VLE; Classroom with projector and internet capability; Access to library services

Group tutorials will focus on the processes of undertaking an individual study and writing a report. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences in the small group tutorials in relation to:
1. defining a topic or theme;
2. establishing a line of enquiry, including consideration of research methodologies;
3. reviewing the literature;
4. collating, sequencing and analysing relevant data;;
5. engaging in critical reflection;
6. problems involved in the process of draft and redraft;