Foundation Disciplines

The Foundation of Education disciplines aim to provide aspiring teachers with the critical theoretical knowledge necessary to underpin their professional practice.

Foundation Disciplines consist of:

• Introduction to Assessment and Examinations in Post Primary Education*
• Irish Educational History and Policy*
• Applied Psychology in Education*
• Inclusive Education*
• Educational Philosophy and Theory
• Sociology of Education

*completed before students begin their first School Placement

Professional Studies

Professional Studies focus on the student teacher’s specific subject area. These modules work together to develop student teachers’ competence and confidence teaching their chosen subjects.

Professional Studies consist of:

• Major Pedagogy (Subject 1) – started before students’ first School Placement
• Minor Pedagogy (Subject 2) – started before students’ first School Placement
• Digital Learning*
• Advanced Pedagogy and Research

*completed before students begin their first School Placement

In Year 1, students attend two pedagogy subjects (Major and Minor Pedagogy). The first (Major) will be the subject that they intend to teach full-time in schools. Students attend seminars and workshops in both their Major and Minor subjects in Year 1 and specialise only in their Major subject as an Advanced Study of Pedagogy in Year 2. The purpose of the modules in pedagogy are to introduce students to the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching and learning in their subject area. Literacy and numeracy are included as key components of each pedagogical subject area. Teaching in each subject is shared by a team of full-time members of the School and part-time staff, many of whom are also practising teachers.

Each pedagogy subject area aims to develop in students:

• the ability to reflect on and evaluate their own practice;
• a working knowledge of relevant research into pupils’ learning and an appreciation of the importance of pupils being actively engaged in their own learning;
• an appreciation of the importance of developing positive relationships with pupils, based on principles of equity and inclusiveness;
• a rigorous approach to inclusive planning, combined with the ability to make considered choices from a range of inclusive teaching methods and resources;
• a knowledge of approaches to the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy which can be implemented through their subject curriculum;
• a knowledge of the content of their subject[s] as required for the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examination syllabi.

School Placement

School Placement consists of two modules:

• School Placement (Year 1)
• Advanced School Placement (Year 2)

The School Placement module involves four hours per week of the taught School Placement module before the students begin their School Placement (from September to December).

During the Year 1 PME School Placement module, students are exposed to a wide range of topics which help to prepare the students for placement. Topics include:

-       Lesson Planning

-       Creative & Inclusive Teaching

-       Positive Classroom Management

-       Creating our Teaching Philosophies

-       Differentiation

-       Assessment (Assessment for Learning; Assessment as Learning; Assessment of Learning)

-       Feedback Strategies

-       Special Educational Needs

-       Curriculum Planning (to include Planning for Transition Year)

-       Embedding Global Citizenship in our classes

-       The Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct

-       Voice Projection & Communication Skills

-       The Transition from Primary School

-       Restorative Practice

-       Relational Pedagogy

-       Assistive Technology

-       Quality Education

-       Home School Links & Working with Parents

-       School Completion Programme

-       Literacy & Plain English

-       Student Voices to include Post Primary student voices’; adult learner voices; alternative routes to education voices

-       The School as a Learning Community; to include legislation relevant to the school and classroom

-       Student Teacher Well Being

This module is designed specifically to ensure that our students are as prepared, informed and as responsive as possible for their first School Placement.

The practical School Placement is a major element of the programme and students accepted for the programme must source two placements in two different schools. In accordance with the Teaching Council of Ireland guidelines, at least 40% (24 weeks) of student time over the two years of the PME must be allocated to School Placement, involving between 200-250 hours of direct teaching (200 direct teaching hours is a minimum).

Over the two year programme, students source their own school placement in different educational settings to reflect the socio-economic and cultural diversity of society, including all girls/boys/mixed gender, Designated Disadvantaged, multiple languages, and Gaelscoileanna.

School Placement Requirements

• Location - All School Placements must be within an 85 km radius of Trinity College.
• Type of Post-Primary School - Placements must be conducted in a ‘recognised’ Department of Education funded post-primary school.
• Teaching Hours - Student teachers must teach 9 hours per week in their Major subject and 1 class per week in their Minor subject, over 12 teaching weeks (plus complete Structured Observations and Structured Reflections as outlined in question no. 7 above).
• Two Different School Placements - Student teachers are not permitted to undertake two School Placements in the same school i.e. student teachers must undertake School Placement and Advanced School Placement in two different schools. School Placement must comprise a minimum of two placement settings incorporating a variety of teaching situations, class levels and school contexts, which may include Irish medium schools. Therefore, students must secure a different school for their Advanced School Placement in Year 2.

Electives

Students may choose one elective in Year 2 from a range of electives, including:

• Literacy and Numeracy
• Citizenship Education within Wellbeing
• Global Citizenship Education
• Drama in Education
• Arts Education
• Irish Traditional Music
• History of Education