Master of Education

The Digital Education Futures endorsement provides educators and training or support staff with opportunities to develop their knowledge, understanding and professional practice, examine critical issues and build confidence and capability for leadership in this area.

Technology has prompted dramatic transformation and disruption of traditional educational approaches. The pervasive adoption of digital technologies, in all aspects of life, has stimulated educators to develop a deeper understanding of the implications and opportunities that digital technologies provide to enhance learning and teaching. This change has prompted the need for leaders who are able to harness digital change to support effective engagement and understanding of the influence of digital technology in education.

All e-Learning courses are exclusively available by distance learning options.

The MEd (Digital Education Futures) consists of 180 points and can be completed by coursework or a combination of courses and thesis. Those completing by coursework should select 90 points from the Schedule below and 90 points from the Master of Education Schedule A. Those completing by thesis should select 60 points from the Schedule below, 30 points from Schedule C (research methods) and a 90 point thesis (EDEM 690) in the area of e-Learning and Digital Technologies. Please note that students completing by coursework must include at least 45 points from the Master of Education Schedule B (level 9 courses). Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.

The courses for this endorsement include:

• EDEM633 Digital Pedagogies for Enhanced Learning (Level 8)
• EDEM628 Designing for effective learning in digital education (Level 8)
• EDEM626 Implementing Computational Thinking in the Curriculum (Level 8)
• EDEM665 Teaching Computer Programming (Level 8)
• EDEM630 Leading Change in Digital Education (Level 9)

Our programme provides educators and training or support staff with opportunities to develop their knowledge, understanding and professional practice, examine critical issues and build confidence and capability for leadership to transform educational organisations to thrive in this digital society.

In particular, the programme is designed around two strands:

Digital Education and Leadership: For all educators and support staff wanting to better understand the role of digital technology in education and how to better engage with technology for teaching and learning. Recommended structure:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM633, EDEM628
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM633, EDEM628, EDEM630 and one other 30 credit course from Masters Schedule we recommend EDME601
• Masters of Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM633, EDEM628, EDEM630, EDME601, EDME602 and one other 30 credit course from Masters Schedule

Digital Technologies Education: For primary and secondary teachers interested in integrating the DT Progress Outcomes into their classes. to explore the introduction of programming and computational thinking into their classes. Recommended structure:

•  Postgraduate Certificate in Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM626, EDEM665
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM626, EDEM665, EDEM630 and one other 30 credit course from Masters Schedule, we recommend EDME601 or EDEM633
• Masters of Education (e-Learning and Digital Technologies):
  • EDEM626, EDEM665, EDEM630, EDME601, EDME602 and one other 30 credit course from Masters Schedule, we recommend  EDEM633

Students interested in this endorsement may also be interested in events and research of Te Puna Rangahau i-Ako | Digital Education Futures Lab.

The Master of Education (MEd) and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDipEd) endorsed in Inclusive and Special Education are designed for teachers and other interested education professionals who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to inclusion and diversity in education.

Developed by leading educators at the University of Canterbury, the programmes are designed to provide students with the theory, knowledge, and skills to develop their professional knowledge and practice and to enable them to critically examine significant issues related to inclusive and special education and diversity, and, for those enrolled in the MEd programme, undertake research in this field.

The courses and coursework specific to this endorsement cover a range of subjects including philosophy, history and theory in inclusive education, teaching strategies, assessment techniques, and curriculum adaptation and culturally inclusive pedagogy with a particular focus on supporting Māori students and those from a range of cultural backgrounds. Critical and current issues related to  inclusive and special education more broadly are also examined.

The courses for this endorsement include:

Required course:

• EDEM 620 Inclusive and Special Education

Other course options:

• EDEM 618 Dyslexia: Identification and Intervention
• EDEM 622 Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Settings
• EDEM 624 Autism Spectrum Disorders
• EDEM 685 Culturally Inclusive Pedagogies: Motivating Diverse Learners.

Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.

The Leadership endorsement is designed for those already holding leadership positions and positions of responsibility, as well as those who are planning for future promotions in organisations concerned with education and training. The programme is specifically designed to strengthen existing expertise in educational leadership and also to broaden skills and knowledge. The courses provide theory, research and skills to deepen professional practice, critically examine significant issues in educational leadership and management and undertake practitioner or action research in the workplace context.

• EDEM 637 Distributing Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring Click here to find out why I should take this course
• EDEM 638 Teachers as Leaders Click here to find out why I should take this course
• EDEM 641 Educational Leadership and Law in New Zealand
• EDEM 668 The Learning Leader Click here to find out why I should take this course
• EDEM 669 Leading and Managing Decision-Making in Organisations 
• EDEM 670 Leadership as Partnering: Moving Beyond Boundaries.

All Leadership courses are exclusively available by Distance Learning Options.

Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.

The Literacy endorsement critically examines literacy underachievement through a combination of theory and practice. Studies focus on issues in supporting young learners who are at risk, students with dyslexia, as well as examining a wider range of explanations of literacy difficulties. Building on the substantial base of the compulsory course, students are offered an opportunity to explore in depth the complexity of issues in light of current thinking.

Most Literacy courses are exclusively available by Distance Learning options.

Required course:

• EDEM 607 Contemporary Issues in Literacy Education

Other courses:

• EDEM 617 Enhancing Reading Development for Young Children at Risk
• EDEM 618 Dyslexia: Identification and intervention
• EDEM653 Meeting the needs of students with literacy difficulties

Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.

The Teaching and Learning Languages endorsement serves the professional development needs of a variety of teachers engaged in languages teaching, including:

• early years, primary and secondary teachers, and ESOL specialist teachers, who are working with students who are recent migrants, including Pasifika students, or international students;
• teachers of EFL and other languages who are seeking a language teaching qualification, including native speakers of languages other than English;
• generalist primary teachers who may now be teaching language to their students as a result of the introduction of the new Learning Languages area of The New Zealand Curriculum (2007);
• teachers who are supporting Māori students in transitioning from immersion/bilingual programs into English medium contexts; and
• school leaders supporting teacher learning, curriculum development, and/or policy implementation for engaging diverse learners.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Teaching and Learning Languages) consists of four courses: EDEM 631, EDMM 632, one restricted optional course (EDEM 615 or EDEM 633) and one optional course from the MEd Schedule A, totalling 120 points.

The Master of Education (Teaching and Learning Languages) via coursework consists of six courses: EDEM 631, EDMM 632, one restricted optional course (EDEM 615 or EDEM 633) and three optional courses from the MEd Schedule A including at least one Schedule B course, totalling 180 points. Please note that students completing by coursework must include at least two courses from the Master of Education Schedule B (level 9 courses). Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment.

The Master of Education (Teaching and Learning Languages) via thesis consists of 180 points. Students should select EDEM 631 and EDMM 632, 30 points from Schedule C (research methods) and a 90 point thesis (EDEM 690) in the area of Teaching and Learning Languages. 

The courses for this endorsement include:

Required courses:

• EDEM 631 Foundations of Language Acquisition and Learning
• EDMM 632 Issues in Language Acquisition and Learning.

Other courses:

• EDEM 615 Learning and Teaching Languages
• EDEM 633 Foundations of Technology-Enhanced Language Learning.

Teaching and Learning Languages courses are available by Distance Learning Options.

Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.

Our Tertiary Teaching endorsement is grounded in the concepts of ako and whanaungatanga. Our program aims to engage participants within a supportive community of practice to better understand academic practices central to the role of teaching and learning in order to support the success of diverse students in our 21st century Aotearoa tertiary education context.

Planning your Tertiary Teaching endorsement

There are two study pathways for this endorsement. Each pathway has compulsory and recommended courses.

1. The Master of Education 180 point coursework pathway consists of six courses totalling 180 points including compulsory courses EDME601 HEDN611, HEDN612, HEDN613, HEDN614, 30 points from EDEM628, EDEM633, EDEM614, 60 points from Schedule V and a minimum of 60 points from Level 9 courses within your 180 points.
2. The Master of Education 180 point coursework and thesis pathway consists of compulsory course EDME601 HEDN611, HEDN612, HEDN613, HEDN614 and a 90 point thesis EDEM 690. 

Courses are offered through a range of delivery methods with block courses, evening classes, on campus and/or distance available. Please refer to individual course webpages for further details regarding course content, dates, workshops and other attendance requirements. 

Students are strongly advised to check their planned course of study with a student advisor prior to enrolment. Download the full list of courses from MEd Academic Regulations.