Systematic observation in educational research (DUH135)

Content

The course consists of three parts:

1. Participation in a two-day European workshop on systematic observation. At the workshop the students will meet updated knowledge on systematic observation in educational research from international researchers in the field and take part of discussions and seminars.
2. Two days with lectures going into depth of some themes relevant for the subject. The lectures will be held at campus or digital.
3. In addition, a reading component is included that provide participants containing key literature in the field that prepare participants for the workshop and the required documentation.

The two-day workshop will contain lectures that introduce participants to the use of systematic observation in research in kindergarten through high school. During the two days, there will also be lectures addressing methodological aspects of systematic observation (e.g. validity, reliability, and combination with different data sources). Additional, seminars will provide opportunities for participants to put questions related to their own work up for discussion in round table sessions.

For participants unable to participate at the workshop, this can be replaced by an individual reading section. A chosen reading list of about 300 pages within the topic of this course. This self-chosen reading list has to be approved by the faculty in charge for the course beforehand.

Required documentation for participants is either a paper based on a manuscript for a presentation in the seminar part of the workshop or an essay on a topic relevant for the workshop. Participants may alternatively choose to present a poster prepared before the workshop and a short oral presentation of the poster at the workshop. Relevant literature for the reading list is to be included in the paper/essay.

Learning outcome

• By completion of this course, the PhD candidate will:

  • Have a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding systematic classroom observation
  • Have knowledge of research design in observational studies
  • Have knowledge of classroom research and the combination of observational data with other data sources
  • Have knowledge of Classroom assessment scoring system (CLASS) and similar research protocols.

• By completion of this course, the PhD candidate will have gained the following skills:

  • design systematic observational studies
  • consider aspects of validity and reliability of systematic observation studies
  • consider weaknesses and strengths of systematic observation studies
  • critically evaluate aspects of classroom observation studies and apply observational research design to their own Research

• By completion of this course, the PhD candidate will have gained the following general competencies:

  • Knowledge on research approaches to classroom interaction processes and their impact on students’ learning outcome
  • Knowledge on systematic classroom observation
  • Knowledge on theoretical and methodological variety in systematic classroom (observation) research

Required prerequisite knowledge

Recommended prerequisites

Exam

Coursework requirements

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Course teacher:

Study Program Director:

Method of work

The course will consist of lectures and seminars during the two-day workshop. The seminar part welcomes different types of discussions e.g. round table discussion based on participant’s ongoing work.

Workshop language is English; thus English is the teaching language.

Open for

Course assessment

Literature