伦敦国王学院

Overview

The MA in STEM Education welcomes students seeking the knowledge and skills to drive educational change in response to our increasingly technological and science-rich world. The MA in STEM will provide a national, international and practically-oriented understanding of the ways in which core debates across formal and informal STEM education can shape responses to pressing social and environmental questions. National and international interest in encouraging STEM subject uptake and career pathways has increased over the last decade, driven by concerns about the shortfalls in filling technical and professional roles across a range of engineering, science and technology related sectors. These concerns are further amplified when we consider the skills likely to be needed by future generations in an increasingly technological society and to address the challenges of environmental sustainability. Whilst urgent, the response required is complex, necessitating an understanding of international education systems, the separate STEM subjects, including their shared elements and processes as well as their distinctive features, policy directives, new pedagogical approaches such as project-based learning, computational thinking and the variety of STEM-related contexts.

Course detail

Our programme is designed to provide students with an advanced and comprehensive understanding of key contemporary debates concerning STEM-related education, including policy, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment issues alongside global concerns about equity, social justice, economic growth, climate change and sustainability. It provides both an international and national focus, looking at both formal educational systems and the wider context of education. There is a strong emphasis on critiquing research literatures and policy documents and developing first-hand knowledge of research methodologies. The programme encourages collaborative working, building professional networks and asking research questions pertinent to your own contexts and challenges.

Teaching and assessment

Our teaching approach is underpinned by a philosophy of participation and collaboration. You will be expected and supported to complete a significant amount of guided self-study alongside working collectively with peers and your teachers. Learning modes used are planned to offer students variety and flexibility in their study, ensuring students can align their projects with their personal interests and commitments. A variety of modes of assessment are used to support and assess your academic progress and to help you develop other capabilities that are valued in educational settings. 30-credits modules will be assessed through modes including: traditional academic essays (2,000-6,000 words), mixed-media presentations, personal learning diaries and designing and making artefacts/models. The dissertation module assessment will be assessed on a 16,000-word dissertation. High quality formative assessment and feedback is used across the programme to reinforce your learning and development.

Career prospects

The MA in STEM Education provides a rigorous intellectual and practical grounding for: aspiring and current STEM faculty heads and senior leaders working in local authority, academy trusts and private chains, locally, nationally and internationally; aspiring and current education staff working in STEM-related organisations including private firms, government departments, Societies, professional institutions and informal learning contexts (e.g. museums, science centres, maker-spaces). The programme will also provide a good basis for STEM graduates with aspirations to work in organisations that shape the STEM education policy and communication agenda.