Preparing for Masters Study Bill Lawson Programme Leader

Preparing for Master’s Study Bill Lawson: Programme Leader MSc Person-centred Practice, Queen Margaret University.

Session aims • Raise awareness of what is expected of you at Master’s level • Offer some advice as to how to meet these expectations

Master’s level study: Questions to consider • How will it be different than UG study? • What will be expected of you? • What do you expect of us?

Stepping up to Master’s level MASTER’S FACETS

Stepping up to Master’s level: Facets of Mastersness: the ways in which we expect you to learn at this level

Stepping up to Master’s level: Autonomy

Autonomy: Taking responsibility for own learning in terms of self-organisation, motivation, location and acquisition of knowledge • What do you DO when you’re demonstrating autonomy when you’re learning?

Stepping up to Master’s level:

Depth (of Learning): • Depth of learning, i. e. acquiring more knowledge and using knowledge differently. For example, engaging in a narrow topic in depth, engaging in up-todate research or taking a multidisciplinary approach

Stepping up to Master’s level:

Abstraction: • Extracting knowledge or meanings from sources and then using these to construct new knowledge or meanings

Stepping up to Master’s level:

Complexity: • Recognising and dealing with complexity of knowledge - including the integration of knowledge and skills, application of knowledge in practice - conceptual complexity, complexity of learning process

Stepping up to Master’s level:

Research and enquiry: • Developing critical research and enquiry skills & attributes • What do you DO when you’re demonstrating you can work with research when you’re learning?

Stepping up to Master’s level:

Unpredictability: • Dealing with unpredictability in operational contexts - recognising that 'real world' problems are 'messy' and complex, being creative with the use of knowledge and experience to solve these problems

Stepping up to Master’s level

Professionalism: • Displaying appropriate professional attitudes, behaviour and values in whatever discipline/occupational area chosen including learning ethical behaviours, developing academic integrity, dealing with challenges to professionalism, recognising the need to reflect on practice

Advice: Writing Rules and Regulations Personal Academic Tutor Reading Planning Librarian

Personal Academic Tutor • Allocated when you start • You will direct and lead – They will then respond accordingly • Meet regularly • Build a relationship • Communicate • Other people to contact • You will get out what you put in

Active reading Think about • Why am I reading - context? • What am I reading – how do I know what to read? • Why am I reading, this, now? Read, with questions – What is the main idea – What is the authors argument? – What evidence is offered? – Is the evidence robust?

Writing • Practice makes perfect • Plan & structure • Send outlines and drafts to academic staff for comment • Mind maps • Proof read and edit ALL work • Referencing • Utilise study skills training available at your chosen institution

Librarians • Essential to your studies because they help you with…. . • Search strategies • Examining electronic databases • Forgetting wikipedia! • Referencing

Rules and Regulations • Read the relevant Programme Handbook • Guidance on – Submissions – Extension – Extenuating / Mitigating Circumstances – Marking process – Plagiarism – Pass marks – Progression

Time management • Planning • Activities – When do you study best? – Classes – What other commitments – Post-class reflection do you have? – Preparation for class – When will you rest and – Other reading relax? – Assignment – What deadlines are there? preparation

What is the independent learner doing ie…. . you? Taking responsibility for learning Developing key transferable skills Actively engaging in their learning Seeking out learning opportunities Setting learning objectives, reflecting on and evaluating their progress

Good Luck!