This is what past students commented on the course and how it has enhanced their careers.
I graduated in 1997 and after completing the relevant training I pursued a career as a language teacher. I have always been highly motivated by new ideas and the implementation of new projects, as part of my role as a language teacher I developed a set of multi-media language materials for the Language Centre at Bristol University. As a result I became very interested in the field of e-learning, and this interest culminated in the successful completion of my MSc in Education, Technology and Society at the Graduate School of Education.
The uniqueness of this course is that it offers a variety of approaches to teaching and learning, including workshops under the supervision of Futurelab lecturers and researchers, as well as senior lecturers at the Graduate School of Education who are renowned for their experience in e-learning. I acquired some theoretical and practical knowledge and learnt some innovative approaches, including ‘user-centred design method’ and the use of ‘video-paper’, while acquiring a more critical outlook on the role of technology in education and society.
Over the last two years, while managing the co-ordination of Italian, I completed the course by doing it part-time, and I must confess at times juggling work and study was a challenge but all the hard work has paid off. Not only did I graduate with distinction, but the greater competence acquired in the use of various IT applications within an educational context has made me much more confident in my choice of career. I have finally been able to bring together what I love most: i.e. learning, research and technology, and I hope to consolidate my professional progress within my new full time role at the Institute for Learning, Research and Technology.
At times I had to go back to this great quote from Daisaku Ikeda: “Victory is not easily won. If it is, it will not be a source of pride. What possible gratification, for instance, could a sumo wrestler derive from defeating a child? Only when we fight and win over dire circumstances will our victory shine brilliantly in history.”
I would strongly recommend this Degree course to anyone.
Choosing the appropriate Master’s course was an important yet difficult decision I had to take two years ago, as I had to choose among many good universities and many interesting programmes. When I now look back, it is obvious that I have made the best choice and that is the MSc in Education, Technology and Society at the Graduate School of Education. Seriously, what more could a postgraduate student want than being part of a highly-recognisable and top-rated school, while living in a vibrant and beautiful city for a whole year?
The MSc in Education, Technology and Society suits everyone’s needs, whether a teacher, a computer scientist, a sociologist or someone with just an interest in the ways technology can be an integral part of his/her work. It offers a diversity of courses that are designed in a way that can cover the needs of even the most demanding student. I am a primary school teacher and I am convinced that I have gained much through the course. Easy answers were not readily given to us, and our tutors always tried to lead us towards a more critical pathway as far as the role and the contribution of technology is concerned. I am assured that the MSc has made a great impact to my professional development as a teacher. It has provided me with the necessary theoretical and practical grounding to be confident in doing what I love most, i.e. productively combining teaching and learning with technology.
Being part of this vibrant and lively academic community for a year almost made me feel sad when the Master’s programme came to an end but, fortunately for me, I decided that the school had much more to offer me and I decided to stay for a PhD! The support that I received as a Master’s student, the overall academic and personal experiences that I gained, as well as the feeling that one is amongst the best academics in the field, generate an overwhelming feeling that boosts my confidence and excitement. I just hope that I have something to offer in return for what I have gained.
Being a postgraduate student at Bristol University was a great challenge for me. Not only had I the chance to meet and cooperate with foreign students but also I was able to work with established academic researchers and helpful lecturers, members of the Bristol University teaching staff.
The MSc in Education, Technology and Society is a very good and advanced course, which is suitable not only to people working within education but also to computer scientists, technology staff, language teachers, sociologists and so on. It touches aspects from all three areas (education, technology and society) and offers you the possibility for further study in the area of your interest. The working hours are satisfactory. Of course you need to study but you also have the time for partying, walking with your friends in the beautiful city of Bristol, shopping, relaxing and travelling.
The year I was doing the ETS course in Bristol was the best year of my life. Plenty of experiences and challenges! I now feel more confident with myself and my knowledge. You learn how to think and how to apply your ideas successfully in a real situation. I recommend it to you definitely! Go for it!
The ETS Masters helped me to make the transition from working in IT support and training to a career in Learning Technology in Higher Education. I was interested in learning and teaching, but working in a more IT focused job when I started on the ETS. As well as enjoying the academic content, I appreciated the chance to apply the ideas to my real job through the essays and projects. It helped me to get a job with the Learning Technology Support Services at Bristol University, before moving up to the Learning Technologies Team at the University of Durham. I now manage a small team of Faculty Learning Technologists, looking at the practical issues in developing and supporting e-learning and maintain an interest in the theoretical aspects of the field. I enjoy working at the boundary between technology and learning, and the ideas and theories from the course are still applicable to the job I do now.
I am really glad I chose to study the ETS program. The tutors provided valuable support for me. I learnt a lot from the experience and made great progress. I really enjoyed the time here.
