Supporting and assessing dissertations and practical projects in media studies degrees: towards collaborative learning

This article is a reflection on one aspect of a research project on effective dissertation support at undergraduate level. Whilst the research project sought to investigate supervision practices across a range of subject areas, an interesting specific focus emerged in relation to dissertations in media studies, where practice and theoretical work can, and often do, intersect. This investigation discusses a range of issues around the experience of supervising and being supervised, within the context of ongoing debates about the relative position and status of practical and theoretical work in media studies. It suggests that a ‘collaborative learning’ approach to supervision might be a fruitful way forward.