1. THE SPECIALIZATION
After completing the theoretical and methodological foundation courses and the comprehensive examination, students take the digital pedagogy specialization module, starting in the 5th semester:
- The Digital Pedagogical Assistant specialization focuses on supporting effective, creative teaching through digital technology. During the program, students acquire digital pedagogical and methodological competencies that enable them to confidently provide professional support to both educational institutions and private companies. In the module's courses, students gain a comprehensive understanding of current trends in educational technology and online learning organization, and become familiar with methods of digitally supported teaching and learning in the classroom, at school, and outside school. The specialization's courses cover many different areas of digital education in a practical and reflective way. The courses are connected and build on one another. Assessment is based primarily on seminar, practical, workshop, and project work, while lecture courses conclude with an examination. Students must pass the comprehensive examination before beginning the specialization.
2. THE CURRICULA
The program's curricula for the current and previous years are available on the Registrar's Office website, here.
3. THE THESIS
Depending on the topic chosen, preparation of the thesis may require research ethics approval. The ethics approval is initiated by the supervisor via documents prepared by the student. The approval process may take several rounds: if needed the Research Ethics Committee makes recommendations, based on which the supervisor revises the submitted application. This process, like the research itself, is time-consuming, but proceeds smoothly later on if preceded by proper planning.
We therefore recommend carefully thinking through the thesis topic and thoroughly planning its steps, and contacting the supervisor and initiating the research ethics approval process as early as possible – not during the week the topic-announcement deadline is due. Formal requirements of the thesis are available on the Student Administration webpage.
4. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (PEDB11-144)
Purpose of the Comprehensive Examination
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is for students, before starting their specialization, to demonstrate their knowledge in the areas of study that are determinative for their qualification – that is, what they have learned in the main courses of the core curriculum. Students also use their development portfolio to reflect on their professional development: they explain and evaluate their own work that is linked to the competency areas of the pedagogy competency framework.
Content of the Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination consists of a written and an oral part. The written part covers primarily the content of the lecture-course exams (colloquia). Its purpose is for the student to demonstrate the theoretical knowledge acquired in the core curriculum. Students have 90 minutes to complete the written part. During the oral part, the student shows their knowledge based on their development portfolio, by explaining their own work in 2 competency areas they have chosen from the portfolio. The purpose of this is for the student to be able to reflect on the professional achievements attained so far in the program, summarize their learning experiences, combine and apply their theoretical and practical knowledge while explaining evidence of their development, and set further learning goals regarding their future competency development.
Topics and Procedure of the Comprehensive Examination
5. INFORMATION REGARDING THE FINAL EXAMINATION
The purpose of the final examination is for students to demonstrate the professional knowledge they have acquired in the areas of study determinative for their program and qualification, as well as their professional development leading to general subject-area knowledge.
The final examination includes presenting and defending the thesis/portfolio orally, supported by slides, and answering the questions in the reviewer's report.
After the student's answer, the committee asks further questions about the exam topics. Any member of the committee may ask questions, and a brief professional discussion is held with the student, for which a maximum of 10 minutes is allotted. The oral answer lasts no more than 20 minutes. On the exam day, each student draws a core topic and has 20 minutes to prepare for it. Notes, books and other aids may not be used. Students may prepare an outline (PPT) in advance for the questions about the thesis, the specialization topic and the portfolio.