N EW MASTERS ’ PROGRAM IN SE Asya Stoyanova-Doycheva Plovdiv University 11-th Workshop SEERE Ohrid 1

M OTIVATION – WHY NEW MASTERS ’ PROGRAM IN SE Too much lectures (theory); The idea about elective courses is not realized (in fact the elective courses are obligatory); Not enough time about practical projects; Don’t use enough a new information computer technologies in education; Unsatisfactory using mixed forms of education th Workshop SEERE

W HAT IS P ROJECT -O RIENTED L EARNING Def.: Project-oriented learning engages learners in some kinds of projects that usually will lead to products. However, the main goal of the process is the learning effect and not the product in itself. “ 'Projects' are tasks of research and development which are limited in time and with which students, individually or in groups, are introduced to the contents and methods of the subject and to autonomous work” ( Burdewick, 2003) th Workshop SEERE

M AIN FEATURES OF PROJECT - ORIENTED LEARNING Proulx (2004:29-36) identifies the following features: A systematic process (i.e. a project is done in stages and needs some "system") Alone or with pairs Under the supervision of a teacher An observable activity Leading to a final product that can be evaluated th Workshop SEERE

M OTIVATION – WHY PROJECT - ORIENTED LEARNING Working in projects may lead to an increased motivation that can have a positive effect on learning. Projects engage learners to connect knowledge, including prior knowledge. Projects engage learners to work with other people, including teachers th Workshop SEERE

M AIN STRUCTURE OF THE NEW MASTERS ’ PROGRAM IN SE The program is organized in 1 year with 3 semesters: First semester : basic education 4 basic lectures Second semester: specialization Students study 2 elective courses (in one specialization) Students develop a module project Third semester: project-oriented learning Students study 1 elective course Students have a choice about the graduation – diploma thesis or state examination diploma thesis – develop as a practical project (extension of the course project in specialization) state examination – training is in project-oriented approach (the exam is based on practical problems) 6 11-th Workshop SEERE

M ASTERS ’ PROGRAM SCHEME 7 11-th Workshop SEERE

C REDITS The total number of credits are 60 Each semester is 20 credits 1 credit = 25 academic hours Each lecture = 5 credits (125 academic hours) Module project = 10 credits Diploma thesis or state examination = 20 credits 8 11-th Workshop SEERE

C ONTINUITY All lectures from the old master’s program are kept; Lectures from the first semester stay obligatory; Lectures from the second and third semester are grouped in specializations and they are elective courses th Workshop SEERE

O RGANIZATION OF THE BASIC EDUCATION Each basic lecture is divided in 4 modules; Each module is led by different lecturer; Seminars are held according to the lecture structure. In the end of the first semester the specialization groups have to be determinate th Workshop SEERE

S PECIALIZATION Each specialization consist of 2 parts: 2 elective courses Module Project developing a digital library with course projects for different specialization in DeLC (our educational portal) ; developing a standard technical specification form of the module projects th Workshop SEERE

P ROJECT - ORIENTED L EARNING Students study 1 elective course Students have a choice about the graduation – diploma thesis or state examination diploma thesis – develop as a practical project (extension of the course project in specialization) state examination – training is in project-oriented approach (the exam is based on practical problems) th Workshop SEERE

F ACILITIES DeLC (educational portal) Preparation of the „educational packages“ for each lecture course – lecture materials, exercises, and references ; Development of a module in DeLC about Module Project Management Upload module projects; Monitoring students activity; Communication between students and teacher; th Workshop SEERE

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