Introducing MSc Digital Education — University of Essex Online
Using technology to make learning more accessible and personalised can open up education to meet everyone's learning styles. If you want to enhance the learning experience by integrating technology into education, then this is the course for you
Dr Kristina Vardanyan, head of the education department at the University of Essex Online tells us about the course and what support you'll receive as an online student.
What is digital education?
Digital education refers to the use of digital technology, tools, and platforms to support, enhance, and transform teaching and learning. It incorporates a range of approaches, including online and blended learning, using digital resources such as:
- e-books
- forums
- video and audio material.
It aims to make learning more accessible, engaging, and personalised, catering to diverse learning styles and enabling students to learn at their own pace.
This is a new course. Why was it introduced?
Digital education is an emerging discipline through all stages of education in which teachers, HE lecturers, and learning designers are 'retooling' and repurposing traditional conceptions of pedagogy for a new learning experience.
The evolving presence of online degree programmes as well as learning and development departments within the private sector give students on this programme the flexibility to augment their current teaching practice or take a new direction within the wider labour market.
The practical focus of the programme also provides students with new skills and a clear understanding of production values, learning design and the connection of education and technology as it evolves and revolutionises learning. In addition to this, as a Masters programme with both a substantive dissertation and research methods module, graduates would be able to utilise these skills if they wish to pursue further academic research.
Can you tell us how the studying online works?
MSc Digital Education is delivered online via a bespoke, innovative, state of the art learning platform, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). There are various ways that students engage with their studies, such as online live sessions to discuss or ask questions, pre-recorded lecturecasts, e-books, and forums.
All our students have access to the Student Support Team and Study Skills Hub with a range of materials aimed at informing, developing, and maintaining students' academic skills on:
- referencing
- academic integrity
- critical thinking skills
- research
- reading and writing
- English language support.
In addition, all students have an opportunity to attend one-to-one support sessions and academic integrity workshops.
Where can the course lead?
On completion of this course, our students will have gained the knowledge and practical skills needed to secure a digitally centred role within education. This could be in management, research, the implementation of new technologies within education, as an education adviser, or simply continue in their current role but with greater insight into digital education.
What types of students would suit this course?
The course is for UK and overseas graduates who require flexible, distance online learning and are interested in taking the course for personal interest, or to enable a greater understanding of how to provide quality online experiences for their staff or students. The Masters is aimed at early-career educational professionals who wish to specialise within public sector institutions, but also those whose aim is to move into the 'instructional design' field.
What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in digital education?
A career in digital education requires understanding diverse roles such as instructional design, online teaching, and technological developments within education, as well as staying informed about rapid advancements in AI and gamification. Building essential skills in e-learning tools and pedagogy is crucial; therefore, our MSc in Digital Education provides the foundational knowledge needed to start a professional career
Find out more
- Learn more about the MSc digital education.
- Take a look at the teaching and education sector.