MA in Adult Learning and Professional Development

A Continuing Professional Development Programme for Professionals Working to Support, Improve and Manage Adult Learning

Programme Leader: Sue Cross

This page provides information about the MA Adult Learning and Professional Development, with an introduction to the programme, followed by module outlines, and further course information including application procedures.

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Programme Specification

The MA in Adult Learning and Professional Development Programme Specification (Word, 72KB) can also be downloaded from this page.

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Introduction

For whom is the programme designed?

This programme is designed to meet the needs of mid-career professionals who support, improve and manage adult learning in the workplace, the community, colleges and universities. Typically, participants will be working in the public, private or voluntary sectors as:
· trainers, designers or managers of training
· educators, curators or librarians
· teachers, lecturers, staff developers or learning support staff.

Applications are also welcome from professionals anticipating a career change (e.g. schoolteachers who wish to re-focus their skills upon adult learning) or those taking new responsibilites in this field (e.g. trades unionists developing the work of union learning representatives).

UCL normally expects MA students to be graduates. Applications from professionals who hold alternative qualifications are welcome and they should contact the Programme Leader to discuss their needs.

All participants are expected to have ready access to C&IT and to have acquired basic skills in its use.

What is the aim of the programme?

The programme is concerned with the extensive and diverse field of adult learning and professional development. It will aim to enable participants to deepen their understanding of their own professional specialisms and expertise through reading, observation and critical reflection (alone and with peers) and to locate and contextualise their own particular practice within the field. Participants will engage with key concepts, theory and techniques for research, enhancing and extending current professional skills and supporting their application to new contexts

The programme consists of nine modules:

What awards are offered?

The programme offers three awards:

• Certificate in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  (Module 1 + (3 or 4) and (5 or 6 or 7 or 8)
• Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  (Module 1 + (2, 3, 4, 5) and two of (6, 7, 8)
• MA in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  (Graduate Diploma modules + 9)

Choice will be guided by the availability of particular modules at certain times.

How is the programme taught?

The programme’s modular framework gives substantial opportunity for students to negotiate the learning agenda around the professional contexts and experience represented, individual learning needs and progression towards successful completion of assessment for UCL awards.

All modules will contain face-to-face contact with tutors and students. This may include: tutorials; seminars; group discussion/work; oral presentation of work; observation of practice; practical exercises; an action learning set.

Independent study will include guided and independent reading; independent research; portfolio preparation. In addition to UCL’s library, CALT students may access the Institute of Education library, which has the widest collection of educational literature in the country.

Writing in a variety of forms will also play an integral part of the learning process, including: descriptive and analytical writing about practice; written assignments; critical reflection on practice through reflective journals (and, for the Master’s award, the preparation of a dissertation).

Module 8 may require residence for up to five days at a training/development centre.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment, depending upon module, will be by one or a combination of the following: portfolio; written assignments; reflective journal; dissertation. As there are no unseen examinations, the final assessment for each award will be a viva which does not itself count for credit.

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Module outlines

1) Adult learning and professional development (30 credits)

This core module will enable students to locate their own experience within the field of adult learning as provided in formal, informal and non-formal contexts. It aims to enhance understanding of key concepts, theory and methods. It will relate current practice to relevant history, policy, pedagogy, theory and ethical perspectives.

2) Quality, consistency and cost effectiveness (15 credits)

How is adult learning and professional development analysed, assessed and evaluated at individual, programme and institutional levels?

The aim of this module is to enable participants to reflect critically upon notions of quality as applied in adult learning and professional development.

How research is conducted and used in adult learning will be reviewed, along with a consideration of the way in which professional practice is controlled, including an exploration of professional ethics, confidentiality and conflicts of interest.

3) Adult learning theory (15 credits)

What are the key concepts and theories which describe and explain the ways in which adults learn and develop the knowledge and skills necessary for professional practice?

This module aims to develop the capacity of participants to critique ideas on the nature of adult learning and to reflect critically upon theoretical perspectives in the light of professional experience, as well as upon their own practice through the application of relevant theoretical perspectives.

4) Policy and perspectives on adult learning and professional development (15 credits)

How has adult learning and professional development been organised, funded and controlled within UK and global contexts?

Participants will engage with such questions to inform and enhance their understanding of their own practice and to increase their capacity to reflect critically upon theoretical perspectives in the light of professional experience.

5) Instructional design and materials development (15 credits)

The module builds upon participants’ theoretical and practical knowledge of adult learning. It will introduce concepts and tools drawn from varied contexts. There will be opportunities for analysis of contrasting approaches and a chance to develop practical ability to design material to promote, support and evaluate the effectiveness of learning.

6) Action learning: a process in practice (15 credits)

What are the educational principles which underlie the operation of an action learning set?

Through membership of an action learning set, participants will explore the principles and practice of facilitating and participating in such sets. It will also enable them to acquire and/or enhance their own interpersonal skills so that they might facilitate sets in the course of their work.

7) Reflective practice: theory and practice (15 credits)

What is reflective practice? How is it used by professional bodies and individuals as a contribution to initial formation and continuing professional development?

This module aims to explore academic and practitioner literature on reflective practice, to develop expertise and to apply necessary techniques in varied professional contexts.

8) Practical environments for adult learning and professional development (15 credits)

Adult learning and professional development occur in a wide variety of settings, often with the chosen environment being related to the field of study and/or an explicit aspect of the curriculum design. The choice of environment (for example museums, galleries, retreat centres, outdoor or clinical settings) and its influence upon learning merit serious consideration. Participants in the module will engage with theoretical considerations through the literature and practical investigation of a range of learning environments. They will critically evaluate the claims made for particular situations in the light of their own observations and the application of relevant theory.

9) Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation module provides the opportunity for participants to undertake an extended, independent professional enquiry into an aspect or aspects of adult learning and professional development. It will enable them to consolidate and develop the knowledge and skills which were the focus of the other modules. The theme(s) of the dissertation will be negotiated and formally approved by the Course Team.

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Course Information

The course team:

Sue Cross (Programme Leader)
Dr Jason Davies
Dr Paul Walker
Professor Stephen Rowland (Academic Adviser)

Other specialists from within the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching and other UCL departments will contribute to the teaching.

Period of study

The programme combines academic study with experiential learning within work or a voluntary context. Its part-time, modular structure provides maximum flexibility enabling participants to progress at an appropriate pace. It is anticipated that The Certificate will take 1-2 years to complete. The Graduate Diploma will normally require 2-3 years. Students may take up to 5 years to complete the MA. Individual modules may be taken as short courses (subject to availability) and academic credit will be awarded13 November, 2009

Course dates

The programme runs from September each year. Participants may join modules at other times during the year. Dates and other information will be posted on this website.

Module meetings

Face-to-face teaching and tutoring will make up between 20% and 30% of the learning time for each module. Details of these sessions will be published on the programme website. Teaching will normally take place at UCL.

Fees

Any accommodation costs for residence at a training/development centre will be added to academic costs. Students would be notified of such costs prior to registration for a residential module.

It will also be necessary for participants to purchase some texts and materials.

How to apply

Application forms are available at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission/index.shtml

You are also welcome to contact:

Sue Cross (Programme Leader)
Email: s.cross@ucl.ac.uk or telephone: 020 7679 1609
or
Carol Massey (Academic Administrator)
Email: c.massey@ucl.ac.uk or telephone: 020 7679 1667

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