ACIT5900 Master's Thesis Course description

The master's thesis is a specialized individual research project.

In addition to the research and thesis work, there will be a series of workshops on the academic writing and effective communication of the thesis project. Students will develop an awareness of the conventions of academic writing and the writing process and use a range of analytical tools and methods to develop their writing and writing practices as part of writing their thesis.Guildeline for master's theses at the Faculty can be found here: Retningslinjer for masteroppgaver ved Fakultet for teknologi, kunst og design - Student - minside (oslomet.no)

To begin the thesis project, the student must have completed the three specialization courses in addition to the alternative specialization course. Both common courses need to be completed.

All courses (90 ECTS) must be passed before the written Master's thesis can be submitted for assessment and the oral presentation conducted.

This PhD course focuses on the political dimension of education and digital technologies at macro level (global, national, regional) as well as the consequences for the implementation of digital technologies in the field of practice at the micro level. Theoretically the course is grounded in the field Science Technology Studies (STS). STS represents a humanistic and social science perspective where the unit of analysis is how social and cultural aspects shape the use of technologies in concrete local and social practices. An anti-essentialist understanding of technology stresses the importance of understanding concrete uses of digital technologies within broader cultural, social, political and economic discourses and negotiations in the knowledge age. This perspective represents an important contribution in understanding how scientific research and innovation of digital technologies affects today's education.

Approved by LUI's educational committee 21.03.2022

After completion of the course, the students will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

• has in-depth knowledge of how policies impact the reform of educational systems and how they support or impede improvements in curriculum, teaching, and student achievement.
• has in-depth knowledge about analysing the social dimensions of science and digital technologies in the educational field in both curriculum, teaching, and student achievement.

Skills

• Is able to analyse the political, social, economic and legal dynamics that affect policy development and implementation in the educational field.
• Is able to analyse and critically evaluate the development and implementation of digital technologies in education.
• Is able to analyse and critically evaluate the scientific and political bases for the introduction of digital technologies in education.
• Can integrate STS methodologies into own research projects.

General competence

• Can identify how public policy decision-making related to digital technologies in education at local, state, and national levels have an impact on education institutions, students, and the public.
• Can develop nuanced readings and critiques of current STS literature
• Can integrate STS methodologies and perspectives into the candidate’s own research projects.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

1. A first draft of the Introduction and Background chapters of the thesis, including an asessment of any relevant potential ethical considerations
2. a peer review of another students draft text
3. A second draft of the masters thesis
4. a Process Memo (reflection on the feedback received from the thesis supervisor(s)).

The thesis project consists of the following:

• A written Master thesis (Length: 15,000-30000 words, using one of the available document templates)
• Individual oral presentation (30 minutes)
• Submission of an artefact (either physical or digital) as part of the thesis is optional. Any artefact that has been developed by the student as part of the research project must be approved by the supervisor, the Master Thesis Coordinator must be informed, and the artefact must be made available in such a way to be inspected by the examiners. In the case of a physical artefact, video and images may be used to document its properties, eliminating the need for a physical inspection.

The master's thesis is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• the originality and / or relevance of the issues or research questions to the field of study
• clarity in the development of issues or research questions being addressed
• documentation and use of relevant theory and research, as well as systematic use of sources
• clarity in the relationship between issues / research questions being addressed, the method choices / methodologies employed and the resulting discussions / conclusions
• ability to collect, systematize, interpret / deconstruct and present knowledge in a clear way
• reflection on ethical issues in the research process
• written presentation (clear table of contents, accurate literature references, bibliography and appendices).

Theses are written in Norwegian or English. The oral exam can be taken in Norwegian or English, regardless of which language the thesis was written in.

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E (preliminary grade) in order for a student to take the oral exam. The final grade is set after the oral exam. The grade can be adjusted up or down by one grade based on the oral exam. All exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

Students can appeal against the grade set for the written part of the exam. If the grade is changed after an appeal against the grade, and the oral exam has already been held, the oral exam must be retaken.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

The candidate writes an individual paper, 2000 - 4000 words plus reference list. The paper must be related to relevant themes in the course syllabus. The paper must be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. 

If a paper cannot be passed, the candidate must submit one revised version within a given deadline.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

The paper will be assessed by two course coordinators.

Admission

The admission requirement is a five-year master’s degree (three years + two years) or equivalent qualifications in teacher education, other pedagogical education, educational science, development studies, or other education on equivalent level in subjects relevant for teacher education. In case of a large number of applicants, PhD-students enrolled in the PhD programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education will be prioritised, then students in other PhD-programmes, then academic employees at the Faculty of Teacher Education and International Studies. Applicants that are not enrolled on the PhD-programme at the Faculty of Education and International Studies at OsloMet must send a summary in English of maximum one A4 sheet with relevant information about their own project / area of interest, containing topic, methodology, theoretical approach, and why this course might be relevant for their project.

Target Group

The target groups are PhD candidates / students and scientific staff who want to learn about arts-based research processes and thereby expand their research tool kit. The course is aimed at PhD candidates admitted to the PhD Program in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education and other relevant programmes. It is also open to staff members at OsloMet and other universities / college. The course is also open for candidates from other universities in Norway and abroad.