Postgraduate diploma in Education (pgde) 2010 - 2011

Please note:  The following information is the proposed  programme of this course.

INCOMING PGDE 2010-11 STUDENTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING PGDE DOCUMENTS FOR COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION TO THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION IN ORDER TO STRUCTURE YOUR ACADEMIC AND PRACTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE. 

Introduction

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at NUI, Galway provides the professional knowledge, understanding and pedagogical skills required to become a teacher at post-primary level.  It is a one year full-time programme for graduates and is recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purposes of registration as a post-primary teacher in Ireland and the EU, as well as other English speaking countries.  The Teaching Council of Ireland is the sole authority charged with teacher registration in the Republic of Ireland. The status of a Primary Degree determines the subjects a registered teacher is qualified to teach. Further information can be obtained from http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/.  All questions about the status of primary degrees should be addressed to the Teaching Council at (01) 6106863/4.

The programme is wide-ranging and equips student teachers with the theoretical and conceptual tools necessary for developing creative and flexible approaches to teaching and enables them to address the potentially complex and manifold educational needs of a diverse constituency of pupils in the age range 12-18.  In recognition of the varied and changing roles for the teacher in today’s schools, there is also a concern to develop skills in collegiality, team-work and whole-school planning and development, in addition to an understanding of educators' ethical and legal obligations, in loco parentis.

The PGDE Course for the 2010/11 cohort is proposed to commence on Wednesday Sept 1st 2010, with a completion date at the end of May 2011.

The PGDE in NUI, Galway has the following components:

1. Educational Sciences:  Psychology of Teaching and Learning (incl. Special Educational Needs), Adolescence, Diversity & Social Justice, History & Structure of Irish Education, Philosophy of Education  
    
2. Professional Studies of Education: Teaching & Learning, Curriculum & Assessment, ICT in Education, Catering for Diversity
   
3. Teaching Methodologies: Subject and specialist methodologies  
    
4. Professional Practice: Teacher as a professional, School as a Learning Organisation, Reflective Practice, Educational Technologies (incl. general resources development)
   
   
5. Teaching Practice: Practical Teaching in the School Context

Through the taught components of the programme students are introduced to conceptual frameworks and relevant issues within the disciplines and professional studies of education and to a variety of teaching strategies, materials and approaches to classroom management which are important for achieving teaching and learning objectives.  In addition student teachers are supported in practical teaching placements which provide them with a rich experiential base for the development of their potential as teachers.  Tutorial sessions throughout the year enable the development of critical reflective thinking which supports individual professional development and helps to integrate theory and practice. 

Teaching Practice

The Teaching Practice component of the course involves a minimum of 110 hours of teaching practice in a recognised post-primary school in the subject or subjects taken to degree level.   From September 2010 placement on teaching practice in the PDGE programme in NUI Galway will occur according to one mode of placement, a Block mode, and this will involve two teaching blocks a year totalling approximately 13 weeks. 

Note: From September 2010, the School of Education in NUI Galway will no longer be supporting the Sequential mode of Teaching Practice

In addition, student teachers must also complete a period of observation in primary and post-primary schools.  This provides students with an initial experiential base for their subsequent training. The School of Education (NUI, Galway) determines dates/timeframe for the School Experience/Observation period in September. 

Meeting Teaching Council Requirements:
Formal registration as a teacher in the post-primary school system in the Republic of Ireland is possible on completion of the PDGE. It is not within the remit of the School of Education, NUI, Galway to advise or inform on a teacher’s recognised teaching subjects in order to be appointed to an incremental position within a post-primary school. In order to be appointed to an incremental teaching position in a post-primary school, the teacher’s recognised teaching subjects are determined by primary degree subject(s).  It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that they meet the conditions prescribed by the Teaching Council for teaching a particular subject(s) in the second level system in Ireland.  If you have any questions as to whether or not your primary degree entitles you to teach in Ireland at second level, please contact the Teaching Council.

Please note:
Students who will be entering schools to carry out teaching practice as part of their Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) studies in autumn 2010 will be subject to a Garda Vetting procedure.  At the offer stage, post 01 April 2010, if you are successful in securing an offer on any of the PGDE programmes, then the Postgraduate Application Centre will record your acceptance of that offer of a place.  However, your registration on the programme is subject to compliance with the University's policy on Garda Vetting.

For a list of schools approved Teaching Practice please click on the link below. 

List of schools approved for Teaching Practice 2010 - 2011      (103KB)

Note: This is the approved list for 2010 - 2011.  Please consult the School of Education directly for an updated list.  If your "school of choice" is not on this list please email mary.flemingnuigalway.ie 

Assessment for the PGDE

Assessment for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education is by continuous assessment with a strong emphasis on integration and application.  Assessment tasks are closely aligned to the learning outcomes of each course and in addition, they are designed to promote and reward the student teacher’s capacity to integrate theory and practice.  Students are expected to apply learning from each of the elements of the programme with their own personal experience on teaching practice in a reflective and critical manner.

Application for the PGDE 

Application for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education is made through a central application procedure, and not through the University.  The closing date for applications is usually 1st December in the year preceding the Postgraduate Diploma in Education year.  For further details contact:

The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) Ltd.,
1, Courthouse Square,
Galway.
Tel:  + 353 (0)91 549 260
Fax:  + 353 (0)91 563 056 
Web: http://www.pac.ie/pgde  

Applications for 2010 intake will commence in September 2009.  Course code: PEG01

For details regarding Progranme Fee for 2010 - 2011, please contact the Fees Office   

For further information on the PGDE in NUI, Galway contact:

School of Education,
National University of Ireland, Galway,
Ireland.
Tel:  353 (0)91 492195
Fax:  353 (0)91 494538
Email: education nuigalway.ie

Please note: Before applying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, it is essential that prospective applicants verify that primary degree subjects will ensure eligibility to employment in an incremental position within the post-primary system in Ireland.  Being awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Education only guarantees eligibity to register as a post-primary teacher in Ireland.  A primary degree is the determining factor for approval of qualifications by the teaching council and hence employment in an incremental position.

Web: http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/

Please note: The School of Education, NUI Galway is not responsible for the content contained on external websites.

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