Faculty of Education

We are one of the leading UK centres for applied educational research and evaluation, and a thriving research community.

The Institute has an outstanding portfolio of research grants and publications and is involved in a wide range of national and international research networks and events. Research is led by a professorial team of international distinction.

Project Summary

This studentship will build on exploratory studies undertaken within the Technology, Innovation and Play for Learning (TIPL) research group. The studies focus on understanding how spatial, technical, organizational and pedagogical change have contributed to re-conceptualisations of educational provision. Working with secondary schools in the North of England, we are studying the changing roles of stakeholders, whole-school adoption of student-centred pedagogies such as collaboration and independent learning, and the mediating role of technology in enabling innovation.

Innovation in educational systems supported through technology is high on government agendas and hence the focus of much research. Yet the focus is primarily on schools with traditional spaces and infrastructure, which are undertaking incremental steps towards innovation rather than radical redesigns. The Building Schools for the Future investment programme enabled some schools in England to create new learning spaces and install state of the art technology infrastructure, radically reforming school organisation and pedagogical practices. This studentship will explore and capture the developments and outcomes of such innovations.

The aims:

■  To analyse the complex policy landscape that has shaped secondary school education over the last decade

■  To identify how secondary schools have interpreted and enacted such policies through the redesign of institutional spaces and educational processes undertaken within specific contexts

■  To contribute to theory and understanding of how stakeholders experience such enactments in relation to tensions, contradictions, power relations and resistance

■  To conceptualise the implications for/of technology enhanced and mediated learning of such experiences

We are interested in hearing from candidates with a recent first or upper second in a relevant undergraduate degree and preferably candidates who have a master’s degree that has included research training. Relevant subject areas include education, educational technology, sociology.

The studentship is fully funded by MMU’s Research and Knowledge Exchange and The Policy and Evaluation Unit (PERU) and will cover tuition fees (Home/EU only) and a bursary for a fixed period of 3 years (tax free stipend of £12,000 per year).

There may be opportunities to earn additional income through teaching activities subject to satisfactory progress on the studentship.

Closing Date 21 July 2013

www.mmu.ac.uk/studentships

For more information and how to apply click on the ‘Apply’ button below.