Hi!

 

I am just finishing up my Masters degree and would be more than happy to pass on information/material that I found useful:-).

 Hi, Am doing an MEd but thought that there were quite a few different unis and courses on offer. What a great idea to have somewhere on TES where can chat and exchange ideas.

Hi,

I am just putting the finishing touches to my dissertation. I'd be happy to stay in contact. I really liked being able to chat to a colleague at school going through the same experience. It has been a challenge and difficult to fit it in with a full time job.

 Hi there, I've done 90 masters level credits via two universities, and I'm applying to Aberdeen to finish off my masters via online learning. Just sent off my application today for MEd Advanced Professional Studies.

What MEd is everyone else doing?

 If there's enough people surely we can get a Masters section in the forum?

leesey

 Hi there, I've done 90 masters level credits via two universities, and I'm applying to Aberdeen to finish off my masters via online learning. Just sent off my application today for MEd Advanced Professional Studies.

 

Yay, got accepted today! Starts in a couple of weeks, all online. Looking forward to it! That will be me over the half way line to full masters when I start that. Exciting!!

Just want to say Hi and good luck to all M.Ed students. I'm doing mine through the Open University. I did my undergrad with them and get on well with their materials and processes. I've completed the first 60 point module, having sent the final assignment last week and will get the result in December. I'm now starting on the second 60 points which will take me into the applied linguistics and literacy specialism I want to follow. All like to chat with others juggling the hundred and one things and trying to meet assignment deadlines. Is it wrong to enjoy that kind of pressure??? L_M.xx

 I enjoy the pressure too. I know a lot of people don't have the will to do it, so it makes me proud that I can and do.

To be honest, I don't think I'll ever stop studying. I've been (at school or) studying every year in some form for the last 22 years and I just love challenging myself.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their studies.

Hi all, how refreshing to get a Scottish specific slant on CPD (on the TES) and to see teachers enthused about doing a Masters!

I have been considering doing a Masters for some time now, but I don't know of anyone who has done one.  My main question is this:  Which University, which course and how much does the cost vary (if at all) from each institution????

Thanks everyone and good luck with the studies!

Hi daybreak,

 

In terms of which university, that really comes down to personal choice, both in terms of whether you are happy with completely distance learning or looking for some face to face contact, and in terms of what you want the focus to be.

 

Personally, I went with the OU because I've already studied with them and get on well with their methods and materials, and I don't mind only being able to interact with others electronically (although I do try to get to tutorials when they are accessible). They also gave me the option of focussing on my field of interest (linguistics and literacy)

 

For the OU Masters, you undertake 3 modules over three years, each costing just over £1000. I pay mine through the OUSBA scheme which lets me spread the cost of each module over the 11 months it runs for. The interest rate on this is very low, so it works out I only pay about an extra £20.

 

I'm sure there will be others along with infor on their chosen methods, but hopefully this helps you get started.

 

L_M.xx

I'm almsot finished my Masters through the Chratered Teacher route.

I did modules then claimed 6 modules as Prior Formal Learning as I had previously done a Diploma.  Now on the work based project.  Although its been quite stressful and has at times felt that my life has been completely taken over by it it is rewarding.  There is also the advantage of a pay increase.

Whether this is for you will dpend on what you want out of the course.  You can work towards the M.Ed by doing modules if you have no previous relevant Cert or Diploma

good luck

almsot!  almost  just as well OH is willing to proof read uni work!

I am interested too in the OU Masters but I wondered how it is regarded outside of the UK.  I work in a developing country where a Masters from the UK would be fab and they are generally well-regarded and help you to teach older students and university-level students.  I could do it by distance-learning but I am unsure about if it´s worth it....

Sorry I should have been clearer, what I meant was since it is distance-learning, this may affect how well it is regarded.  I have heard there are some dodgy online courses out there.  I´m not saying the OU is one of them. I am just thinking of perceptions when people from other countries look at your CV.

A few pieces of advice I would give to anyone considering doing an M.Ed are study something you are really interested in and find out how to plan and structure a dissertation before launching into it.

There is a lot of work involved if you are also holding down a full-time post so you want to study something which you enjoy and which can, hopefully, progress your career.

Find out from your university supervisor what their expectations are for planning and structuring a dissertation. This may take the form of, for example: Introduction, Review of Literature, Research Design and Methods, Presentation of the Research Findings, Analysis of the Research Findings, and Conclusions.

This will, hopefully, help you to plan and structure your research more effectively, avoid unnecessary re-drafting and save a lot of valuable time. Also check out their preferred system for providing research references and bibliography information so that you maintain a consistent, and professional, approach. (eg. CZERNIEWSKA, P. Learning About Writing. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1992)

Oh, and finally, back-up your work regularly, using different hard drives, discs, memory sticks and anything else you can think of. There is nothing worse than staring at a blank computer screen and fearing you have lost months of precious work!

Been there, done it, got the T-shirt.

Just handed my  very first module in for MA in education and think I've failed totally underestimated the time it would take to do this and have been a bit too blase about it - definitelty a learning curve for me, need to write 'must try harder.' Thankfully there is apparently one chance to adjust it if isn't good enough so I haven't wasted my money and time! Would be happy to link up with a study buddy for a bit of motivation- It has been so long since I formally studied that my references etc are rubbish!!!!

Hi Fionn,

Me too! I've just got my results and got a marginal fail with 49%. I spent 3 months working on it and just couldn't have applied myself anymore than I did. I'm so cross with myself as I've identified exactly where I went wrong.

My initial starting point was overlooked, where I didn't spend sufficient time on planning how to go about my research. I just plunged myself into the layout and added bits and pieces as I went along, which resulted in far too much content being covered, in insufficient depth. My referencing is appaling and I ended up just submitting it after checking it for the 7th million time!

I'm gutted! I'm definitely going to continue but planning is going to be the key this time. I'd love to keep in touch so we can share ideas etc. Let me know.

I undertook a unit in Improving Primary English through Manchester Metropolitan University. How about you?

Hi there, starting the Education Masters award in september - in England - is it the same as the Scottish course?

I have a 1/3 of a Master from doing my PGCE course.....not sure if paying to do the other 2/3 is worth it? Has anyone found their Masters has benefited their job/career financially rather than just helping you be a better teacher? Thanks! PS. Which institutions online are any good?

Heather1987

I have a 1/3 of a Master from doing my PGCE course.....not sure if paying to do the other 2/3 is worth it? Has anyone found their Masters has benefited their job/career financially rather than just helping you be a better teacher? Thanks! PS. Which institutions online are any good?

The new GTCS standards advocate postgraduate study and practitioner enquiry, not sure what they intend to do in the way of rewards. Probably not much. I've found Aberdeen to be very good for distance learning