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About the course
Investigate psychological explanations of learning and educational support. You will critically examine research, evaluate educational interventions and undertake a focused study relevant to learners in Southern African settings.
What you'll learn
- Compare psychological theories of learning and development.
- Evaluate evidence supporting an educational intervention.
- Identify ethical limits in assessment and interpretation.
- Design a defensible educational research study.
- Present findings with appropriate limitations and support recommendations.
Requirements
- Entry requires a relevant degree with suitable advanced study or a postgraduate diploma, subject to BMIT assessment of research preparation and supervision. English Language is required.
- African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course content
Sections: 3
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 16
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
12 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Advanced Learning and Development Theory. Critically compare learning explanations and educational implications. You will examine cognitive theory, sociocultural theory, motivation research. Write a comparative theoretical analysis of a learning problem.
- Child Development. Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
- Adolescent Development and Learning. Connect adolescent development with supportive secondary teaching. You will examine identity, peer relationships, cognitive development. Design a response to an anonymised adolescent-learning scenario.
- Educational Measurement and Evaluation. Evaluate the quality and interpretation of educational measures. You will examine constructs, reliability, validity. Critique an educational measure using supplied evidence without clinical testing.
- Inclusive Education. Identify participation barriers and plan accessible learning support. You will examine learning barriers, universal design, differentiation. Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
- Learner Guidance and Support. Plan educational guidance within appropriate professional boundaries. You will examine listening, learning needs, career guidance. Prepare an anonymised support plan with referral decisions.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Advanced Research Design and Analysis. Develop a research design capable of addressing a complex organisational or social question. You will critically synthesise literature, justify methodological choices and assess evidence quality. The module develops the reasoning and analytical preparation required for an independently argued postgraduate research report.
- Education, Inequality and Social Change. Investigate education's relationship with structural social problems. You will examine poverty, exclusion, violence. Prepare an evidence-based educational response to a social problem.
- Classroom Action Research. Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
- Dissertation or Substantial Research Report. Conduct an extended investigation into a focused programme-related problem. You will develop an argument through critical reading, appropriate evidence and sustained analysis. The completed report explains the contribution, limitations and practical or scholarly implications, supported by a transparent record of ethical research decisions.
African History and Pan Africanism
- African History and Pan Africanism 101 (Level 1, compulsory core module): Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201 (Level 2, compulsory core module): Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Assessment and practical learning
- Critical research reviews and intervention case analyses.
- A research proposal with ethical justification.
- A supervised dissertation and oral defence.
Practical application
Design and evaluate a proposed educational support intervention through approved research. Psychometric testing, diagnosis and clinical interventions require appropriately authorised professionals and are outside the assumed scope of this outline.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Advanced Learning and Development Theory
Stage 1: Foundations
Critically compare learning explanations and educational implications. You will examine cognitive theory, sociocultural theory, motivation research. Write a comparative theoretical analysis of a learning problem.
Learning outcomes
- Explain cognitive theory in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between sociocultural theory and motivation research.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing developmental diversity, evidence critique and educational application.
Main topics
- Cognitive theory
- Sociocultural theory
- Motivation research
- Developmental diversity
- Evidence critique
- Educational application
Practical task
Write a comparative theoretical analysis of a learning problem.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Child Development
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Learning outcomes
- Explain physical development in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between language development and social relationships.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing emotional regulation, play and family context.
Main topics
- Physical development
- Language development
- Social relationships
- Emotional regulation
- Play
- Family context
Practical task
Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Adolescent Development and Learning
Stage 1: Foundations
Connect adolescent development with supportive secondary teaching. You will examine identity, peer relationships, cognitive development. Design a response to an anonymised adolescent-learning scenario.
Learning outcomes
- Explain identity in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between peer relationships and cognitive development.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing motivation, wellbeing and school transitions.
Main topics
- Identity
- Peer relationships
- Cognitive development
- Motivation
- Wellbeing
- School transitions
Practical task
Design a response to an anonymised adolescent-learning scenario.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Stage 1: Foundations
Evaluate the quality and interpretation of educational measures. You will examine constructs, reliability, validity. Critique an educational measure using supplied evidence without clinical testing.
Learning outcomes
- Explain constructs in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between reliability and validity.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing fairness, score interpretation and evaluation design.
Main topics
- Constructs
- Reliability
- Validity
- Fairness
- Score interpretation
- Evaluation design
Practical task
Critique an educational measure using supplied evidence without clinical testing.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Inclusive Education
Stage 1: Foundations
Identify participation barriers and plan accessible learning support. You will examine learning barriers, universal design, differentiation. Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain learning barriers in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between universal design and differentiation.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing assistive resources, referral and family collaboration.
Main topics
- Learning barriers
- Universal design
- Differentiation
- Assistive resources
- Referral
- Family collaboration
Practical task
Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Learner Guidance and Support
Stage 1: Foundations
Plan educational guidance within appropriate professional boundaries. You will examine listening, learning needs, career guidance. Prepare an anonymised support plan with referral decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain listening in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between learning needs and career guidance.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing support planning, referral and follow-up.
Main topics
- Listening
- Learning needs
- Career guidance
- Support planning
- Referral
- Follow-up
Practical task
Prepare an anonymised support plan with referral decisions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Advanced Research Design and Analysis
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop a research design capable of addressing a complex organisational or social question. You will critically synthesise literature, justify methodological choices and assess evidence quality. The module develops the reasoning and analytical preparation required for an independently argued postgraduate research report.
Learning outcomes
- Critique a research design
- Justify an analytical approach
- Develop a defensible research proposal
Main topics
- Critical literature synthesis
- Research philosophy
- Design justification
- Advanced sampling
- Analytical methods
- Research integrity
Practical task
Submit a postgraduate proposal with a critical literature review and pilot analysis.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Education, Inequality and Social Change
Stage 2: Core subjects
Investigate education's relationship with structural social problems. You will examine poverty, exclusion, violence. Prepare an evidence-based educational response to a social problem.
Learning outcomes
- Explain poverty in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between exclusion and violence.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing gender relations, institutional responses and social change.
Main topics
- Poverty
- Exclusion
- Violence
- Gender relations
- Institutional responses
- Social change
Practical task
Prepare an evidence-based educational response to a social problem.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Classroom Action Research
Stage 2: Core subjects
Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem identification in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between evidence review and action planning.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing classroom evidence, evaluation and revision.
Main topics
- Problem identification
- Evidence review
- Action planning
- Classroom evidence
- Evaluation
- Revision
Practical task
Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Dissertation or Substantial Research Report
Stage 2: Core subjects
Conduct an extended investigation into a focused programme-related problem. You will develop an argument through critical reading, appropriate evidence and sustained analysis. The completed report explains the contribution, limitations and practical or scholarly implications, supported by a transparent record of ethical research decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Conduct an approved investigation
- Develop an evidence-based argument
- Defend and revise research conclusions
Main topics
- Proposal refinement
- Ethical approval
- Evidence collection
- Sustained analysis
- Argument development
- Defence and revision
Practical task
Complete an independently assessed dissertation or substantial research report and oral defence.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
African History and Pan Africanism 101
Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 201
Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
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Master of Education in Educational Psychology
Course modified date: 13 October 2026
Investigate psychological explanations of learning and educational support. You will critically examine research, evaluate educational interventions and undertake a focused study relevant to learners in Southern African settings.
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