About M.A. Education (Elementary)
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) is a dual mode post graduate programme developed and offered by the School of Education at TISS Mumbai in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies Bangalore, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Mumbai, Vidya Bhawan Society Udaipur, Eklavya Bhopal, and Digantar Shiksha evam Khelkud Samiti Jaipur. The programme was launched in May 2006.
This programme with its focus on Elementary Education is offered at a time when the country has taken up universalizing elementary education with a commitment to ensure equality and equity in access and quality of education. Time and again it has been felt that there is a need for specialized personnel in elementary education to contribute to areas such as policy making, curriculum design, teacher education, assessment and research.
For activity and thinking in elementary education to be sound and creative, an understanding of children is necessary in both theory and practice. The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme represents an effort to bring together researchers and practitioners to contribute to developing the knowledge base of elementary education in a manner that is relevant to the Indian context. Please have a look at the video about the programme.
Objectives of the Course
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme intends to enhance orientation, and develop knowledge and competencies which are necessary to strengthen elementary education in the country. The programme aims to develop in its student’s critical and reflective understanding towards various core and foundational educational issues, with a special focus on elementary education in India. The issue based courses in the program are specifically relevant to the Indian context. This course also provides an opportunity to develop expertise in a specific area of study chosen by the student e.g. curriculum, pedagogy, teacher professional development, leadership and management, material development, etc.
Dual Mode involving contact and self-directed learning
The program is spread over four semesters and is conducted in dual mode- approximately 3 weeks of contact classes and 12 weeks of distance learning per semester. This model has been chosen as a way of facilitating students to combine their work with study. The classes in the contact period are conducted during the Institute's vacation periods. Teaching-learning in the distance period is facilitated through weekly assignments, based on the readings and small field based assignments, through a customized learning management system (Moodle).
Programme Structure
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme has 10 courses, out of which 8 are Basic courses and 2 are Optional courses. It includes one component of Field Attachment as well. In general, by studying 3 courses per semester, a student would be able to complete the programme in two years.
The eight basic courses are compulsory and introduce the students to the foundational theories and concepts in core areas of philosophy, economics, sociology, history and psychology. These address the need for an understanding of education in relation to areas such as metaphysics and the nature of knowledge, human nature, human development, learning and cognition, language and thought, the nature of Indian society and culture, education as a means of social transformation and social reproduction, etc. Basic courses introduce the students to important theories, concepts and debates in these areas.
The optional courses can be selected from two groups. Atleast one option has to be chosen from each group towards programme completion.
Group 1 relates to pedagogy areas. It includes courses which relate to school subjects/academic disciplines and examine curriculum and pedagogy in these areas. The courses aim towards comprehending the nature of school knowledge and how children learn. It also includes organization of learning processes covering curriculum, pedagogy and evaluation.
Group 2 relates to thematic areas of contemporary significance. The courses provide opportunities to engage in critical reflection of various issues relevant in the Indian context.
The Field Attachment aims at enhancing the knowledge about practical issues on the ground and innovations in the field of education. It provides the students an opportunity to work in the field and reflect and write on various educational issues related to elementary education. The minimum duration of the field attachment is two weeks, which is to be spent at a site of field activity, either within a government or non-government organization. The Field Attachment is linked to the subject area of one of the optional/basic courses.
Academic Calendar
The programme commences in mid-May every year.
Semester I and III
Contact Classes (~3 weeks): Mid May-1st week of June
Distance (~12 weeks): 1st week of June to Mid-September
Semester II and IV
Contact Classes (~3 weeks): Third week of October to 2nd week of November
Distance (~12 weeks): 2nd week of November to Mid-February
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) is a dual mode post graduate programme developed and offered by the School of Education at TISS Mumbai in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies Bangalore, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Mumbai, Vidya Bhawan Society Udaipur, Eklavya Bhopal, and Digantar Shiksha evam Khelkud Samiti Jaipur. The programme was launched in May 2006.
This programme with its focus on Elementary Education is offered at a time when the country has taken up universalizing elementary education with a commitment to ensure equality and equity in access and quality of education. Time and again it has been felt that there is a need for specialized personnel in elementary education to contribute to areas such as policy making, curriculum design, teacher education, assessment and research.
For activity and thinking in elementary education to be sound and creative, an understanding of children is necessary in both theory and practice. The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme represents an effort to bring together researchers and practitioners to contribute to developing the knowledge base of elementary education in a manner that is relevant to the Indian context. Please have a look at the video about the programme.
Objectives of the Course
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme intends to enhance orientation, and develop knowledge and competencies which are necessary to strengthen elementary education in the country. The programme aims to develop in its student’s critical and reflective understanding towards various core and foundational educational issues, with a special focus on elementary education in India. The issue based courses in the program are specifically relevant to the Indian context. This course also provides an opportunity to develop expertise in a specific area of study chosen by the student e.g. curriculum, pedagogy, teacher professional development, leadership and management, material development, etc.
Dual Mode involving contact and self-directed learning
The program is spread over four semesters and is conducted in dual mode- approximately 3 weeks of contact classes and 12 weeks of distance learning per semester. This model has been chosen as a way of facilitating students to combine their work with study. The classes in the contact period are conducted during the Institute's vacation periods. Teaching-learning in the distance period is facilitated through weekly assignments, based on the readings and small field based assignments, through a customized learning management system (Moodle).
Programme Structure
The M.A. in Education (Elementary) programme has 10 courses, out of which 8 are Basic courses and 2 are Optional courses. It includes one component of Field Attachment as well. In general, by studying 3 courses per semester, a student would be able to complete the programme in two years.
The eight basic courses are compulsory and introduce the students to the foundational theories and concepts in core areas of philosophy, economics, sociology, history and psychology. These address the need for an understanding of education in relation to areas such as metaphysics and the nature of knowledge, human nature, human development, learning and cognition, language and thought, the nature of Indian society and culture, education as a means of social transformation and social reproduction, etc. Basic courses introduce the students to important theories, concepts and debates in these areas.
The optional courses can be selected from two groups. Atleast one option has to be chosen from each group towards programme completion.
Group 1 relates to pedagogy areas. It includes courses which relate to school subjects/academic disciplines and examine curriculum and pedagogy in these areas. The courses aim towards comprehending the nature of school knowledge and how children learn. It also includes organization of learning processes covering curriculum, pedagogy and evaluation.
Group 2 relates to thematic areas of contemporary significance. The courses provide opportunities to engage in critical reflection of various issues relevant in the Indian context.
The Field Attachment aims at enhancing the knowledge about practical issues on the ground and innovations in the field of education. It provides the students an opportunity to work in the field and reflect and write on various educational issues related to elementary education. The minimum duration of the field attachment is two weeks, which is to be spent at a site of field activity, either within a government or non-government organization. The Field Attachment is linked to the subject area of one of the optional/basic courses.
Academic Calendar
The programme commences in mid-May every year.
Semester I and III
Contact Classes (~3 weeks): Mid May-1st week of June
Distance (~12 weeks): 1st week of June to Mid-September
Semester II and IV
Contact Classes (~3 weeks): Third week of October to 2nd week of November
Distance (~12 weeks): 2nd week of November to Mid-February