Overview

This module focuses on the content and pedagogical subject knowledge of Associate Teachers' within the six Areas of Learning and Experience.

ATs will study the importance of addressing learners’ needs within the Four Purposes of Learning, and how subjects are situated within the Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs). ATs will also develop enquiry skills and investigate how learners learn in in the Primary age range as well as considering those with neurodiverse needs, developing as reflective teachers who can improve teaching through researching their own practice.

The module will be delivered through Subject Studies lectures and seminars and AoLE Days in Network Schools.

The module aligns with the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership in Wales, and provides a scaffold for the ATs' demonstration of the standards in practice within primary education. In addition, the strands of research literacy, core academic skills development and meta-cognition inform the module throughout.

Associate Teachers will study:

• A range of current evidence-based approaches to the teaching of pupils in the 3-11 age range within all Areas of Learning (AoLE), enabling Associate Teachers (ATs) to teach effective lessons in context. All approaches will be analysed within the contexts of established learning theories.

• Theories and principles of assessment and how they are linked to practice in terms of pedagogy, learning and notions of progress for pupils in the 3-11 age range and those with neurodiverse needs across the curriculum and AoLEs;

• The nature and aims of the subjects, cross curricular skills and AoLEs within the Curriculum for Wales including transitions from pre-school provision and to secondary.

• How literacy, numeracy and digital technology across the curriculum can be developed and applied effectively to the target age-range;

• How ATs’ personal literacy, numeracy, digital and thinking skills can be developed, and applied across the curriculum and for the 3-11 age range;

• How tutors and mentors model the use of Welsh in context and within the AoLEs. ATs will have the opportunity to develop use of the Welsh language within the AoLEs, whether they are a beginner or a fluent speaker who wishes to enhance their writing skills.

• The methods, methodologies and ethics appropriate to a small scale professional enquiry.

The Four Purposes of the curriculum areas will be embedded throughout the module, developing children as:

• ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives;
• enterprising, capable contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work;
• ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world; 
• healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

Research Methods and Methodology

The content and delivery of the module will encourage ATs to offer advanced critical review of the importance of being consumers and producers of age specific pedagogical research. They will analyse, synthesise and critically reflect on the spectrum of research that informs teaching practice specific to age range and AoLEs. ATs will also be encouraged to offer advanced critical evaluation of practice-based or close-to-practice research. The module will encourage mastery of what it means to develop a ‘culture of enquiry’ within self-improving school systems (such as within individual departments), schools as learning organisations, and the importance of developing and participating in Professional Learning Communities. ATs will also be given the opportunity to undertake a small scale practice based enquiry.

Progression in Bilingualism

ATs will study the aims and goals of bilingual education from the different perspectives, to include the specific issues associated with assessment of bilinguals, and the expected and realistic outcomes for different types of bilinguals. ATs will be taught subject specific bilingual pedagogical approaches, alongside those with a more general application (to include trans-languaging, monolingual/bilingual discourse).

ALN, Inclusion and Differentiation

Barriers to learning will be explored critically with particular attention given to additional learning needs (ALN) including neurodiversity in a variety of curriculum subjects within the 3-11 age range. ATs will reflect critically on how complex social, cultural, emotional and personal influences may affect learners' progress. ATs will explore how to plan and provide for those who speak English or Welsh as an additional language.

Health and Well-being

They will study how to develop the role of learners as ethical and informed citizens of Wales and the wider world, ensuring that the health and well-being of learners is promoted where appropriate and to embed equality and diversity in all aspects of their practice.

The module content will be delivered in a variety of modes and contexts. University and school-based lectures, workshops and tutorials will be complemented by online learning and school-based activities. A detailed calendar of sessions and content can be found on the course websites (Blackboard). Note there will be additional school-based days where ATs will study the six AoLEs within a school context.

The module aligns with the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership in Wales, and provides a scaffold for the ATs' demonstration of the standards in practice . In addition, the strands of research literacy, core academic skills development and meta-cognition inform the module throughout.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -All learning outcomes will have been met to a satisfactory level. Knowledge and understanding of the module content will be supported by a satisfactory range of theory, practice and research literature. Candidates will have demonstrated satisfactory evidence of critical analysis when reflecting on teaching and learning.Students will have developed their study skills to a satisfactory standard and will be able to communicate to a satisfactory standard in a professional and academic context. -good -Most learning outcomes will have been met to a good level. Excellence in some learning outcomes may balance satisfactory attainment in others.A good knowledge and understanding of the module content will be supported by a good range of theory, practice and research literature.Candidates will provide good critical analysis when reflecting on a significant range of teaching and learning styles.Students will have developed their study skills to a good standard and will be able to communicate to a good standard in a professional and academic context. -excellent -Most learning outcomes will have been met to an excellent level and all learning outcomes will be at least good.A deep knowledge and understanding of the module content will be supported by an extensive range of theory, practice and research literature.Candidates will provide excellent critical analysis when reflecting on a wide range of teaching and learning styles.Students will have developed their study skills to an excellent standard and will be able to communicate to an excellent standard in a professional and academic context.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically analyse the nature and aims of subjects and AoLEs within the Welsh National Curriculum.

• Design, implement and critically evaluate a small-scale practice-based enquiry.

• Plan, teach and critically evaluate lessons which are informed by research and principles of teaching and learning across the range of subjects and AoLe;