A A A

Syllabus

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme, students will:

Demonstrate their commitment to the standards of professional conduct as set out in the Teaching Council’s Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers
Recognise the role of teachers as active partners with school management and parents in developing a positive environment for teaching and learning
Communicate effectively with pupils, colleagues and members of the wider school community
Evaluate the underpinning principles of the primary school curriculum and apply these principles to ensure that effective assessment, teaching and learning strategies provide a creative and enriching learning experience for all pupils
Evaluate the factors that promote and hinder effective learning and apply this knowledge to develop effective and creative assessment, teaching and learning strategies that recognise the individual potential of all pupils and provide for the holistic development of each child
Plan, implement and evaluate lessons in every subject area of the primary school curriculum taking account of integration and linkage across and within those subjects as well as using the underpinning active methodologies identified in that curriculum
Select and employ classroom-management strategies that support differentiated learning in a safe, interactive and challenging environment across a range of classroom situations
Identify and critically evaluate contemporary debates about the nature and purposes of education and the social and policy contexts in which the aims of education are defined and implemented
Plan to improve the effectiveness of their practice through continuous reflection on that practice; seeking, accepting and acting on constructive advice
Demonstrate their linguistic knowledge and skills to teach the curriculum
Plan, implement and evaluate lessons in Religion that take account of the religious and ethical ethos of particular schools

Syllabus

The aim of the programme is to provide degree holders with the educational tools and applied knowledge to become informed, reflective and pedagogically proficient primary school teachers. The syllabus is divided into seven modules as follows:

Teaching Foundations

The aims of this module are to:

Familiarise students with the underpinning concepts of the foundation disciplines of education and to consider their contribution to educational policies and practices
Enable students to develop a conceptual framework that will inform their practice
Promote critical debate and reflection on education today

Teaching Pedagogy 1: Physical, Arts and Early Childhood Education

The aims of this module are to:

Provide students with knowledge of the role of play in teaching and learning in the Early Years classroom
Enable students to examine effective strategies for assessment, teaching and learning in the Early Years classroom
Examine the six central methodologies of the curriculum in the context of the various subjects
Afford students the opportunity to critically examine effective strategies that enhance pupils’ learning in Physical and Arts education

Teaching Pedagogy 2: Language, Literacy and Numeracy

The aims of this module are to:

Provide the student with a knowledge of the guiding principles of the curriculum
Examine the six central methodologies of the curriculum in the context of the various subjects
Highlight recommended assessment strategies to appraise effectiveness of pupil learning in the context of the various subjects
Enable students to critically examine the role of assessment in enhancing pupil learning
Afford students the opportunity to critically examine effective strategies for developing language, literacy and numeracy in the primary school classroom
Ensure that student teachers are able to integrate technology into teaching and to use technology as a tool to promote inclusion

Teaching Pedagogy 3: Social, Scientific, Personal and R.E.

The aims of this module are to:

Examine the six central methodologies of the curriculum in the context of the various subjects
Highlight recommended assessment strategies to appraise effectiveness of pupil learning in the context of the various subjects
Enable students to critically examine the role of assessment in enhancing pupil learning
Afford students the opportunity to critically examine effective strategies that enhance pupils’ learning in social, scientific and personal education
Inform students about the fundamental beliefs of different faiths, including the Roman Catholic doctrine, and explain how they are applied in the teaching of Religious and Ethical Education in primary school classes

Gaeilge

The aims of this module are to enable students to acquire knowledge and expertise in the following language skills:

Grammatical accuracy
Vocabulary
Reading
Comprehension
Aural comprehension
Oral language
Writing
Pronunciation
Appropriate contextual use of language

Teaching Practice

The aims of this module are to:

Introduce students to classroom practice
Initiate the practice of reflection as a teacher
Enable students to consider the role of the teacher in facilitating pupil learning
Afford students the opportunity to observe best practice in a classroom
Highlight the theories of effective assessment, teaching and learning and their application to real classroom situations
Provide students with the essential teaching skills and competencies to teach in the modern classroom

Advanced Teaching Practice

The aims of this module are to:

Provide students with advanced teaching skills and competencies to take full responsibility for teaching all day
Afford students the opportunity to observe best practice in diverse educational settings that take account of a range of pupils’ abilities
Provide students with the knowledge and skills to participate fully as professional members of a school community