Course content

This course serves as an introduction to the upcoming master's course, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of crafting a scientific project outline based on vocational traditions. It familiarizes students with various vocational knowledge and research traditions, applying a selection of these in their research planning. The project outline acts as preparatory work for the master's thesis in vocational education, emphasizing contextual anchoring within vocational fields, presenting relevant vocational issues, and employing suitable theoretical and methodological frameworks. The course encourages independent and collaborative reading, assessment, and analysis of prior research, theory, and methodological literature.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate has

• Advanced understanding the correlation between problem formulation/research questions and the selection of theory and method for the master's thesis
• Profound knowledge of vocational research traditions
• Advanced understanding of the formal requirements for a master's thesis in vocational education and application in individual tasks

Skills

The candidate can

• Locate, read analyze and critically assess relevant research, theory, and methodological literature
• Contextualize discuss and evaluate one's own research project within existing vocational research and practices
• Critically assess and justify choices of theoretical grounding and methodological frameworks

General Competence

The candidate can

• Design a scientific project outline at a master's level

• Conduct ethical research considerations
• Uphold and promote vocational characteristics in individual research work

Learning methods and activities

The course includes lectures and seminars. Seminars involve feedback from peers and instructors.

Compulsory Activities

Participation in compulsory activities individually and in groups is required, including presentations and other compulsory tasks during the sessions.

Compulsory assignments

Completion of three compulsory assignments (oral, digital/multimodal, and written) related to a problem formulation, theoretical grounding, and methodological framework. Approval of these tasks is necessary to be allowed to deliver the exam.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory work according to course description

Recommended previous knowledge

Prior vocational subjects encompassing vocational, pedagogical, and vocational educational perspectives. Completion of all first-semester subjects in the Master's in Education, vocational studies, is recommended before starting this course.

Course materials

Books and articles in English and Norwegian/Scandinavian languages. A reading list will be provided at the beginning of the semester. The reading list also involves self-selected literature relevant to each student's project outline/master's thesis.

Credit reductions