Overview

Associate Teachers will spend a further 41 days in a school setting to continue learning how to become practitioners through experiences gained in lead and network schools. This will involve:

• weekly cluster teaching and review events

• observations and preparatory development

• close to practice research (small scale inquiries)

• integration into the teaching environment

• mentoring and self-reflection

Seminars and activities during Lead School and HEI days will link closely to the content of all second year modules and build on Year 1 experiences.

• Stage 2: Integration (HEI, Lead Schools and Network Schools)

• Stage 3: Development (Network Schools supported by Lead schools and HEIs)

• Stage 4: Practice and implementation (Network Schools supported by Lead schools and HEIs)

• Stage 5: Debrief and reflection (HEI and Lead schools)

The provision for enrichment will enable ATs to observe and support learning in two contrasting settings; a secondary school and an outdoor context or an Additional needs/special school setting. This additional experience will complement the principal practice and enhance understanding of out-of-school learning opportunities, additional learning needs and post-primary development.

Assessment Strategy

Satisfactory (D) 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 (B) All learning outcomes will have been met to a good standard. Knowledge and understanding of the module content will be supported by a good range of theory, practice and research literature. Candidates will have demonstrated good evidence of critical analysis when reflecting on teaching and learning.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 (A) All learning outcomes will have been met to an excellent standard. Knowledge and understanding of the module content will be supported by an excellent range of theory, practice and research literature. Candidates will have demonstrated excellent evidence of critical analysis when reflecting on teaching and learning. 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

• Analyse and evaluate their own professional practice and begin to show the ability to collaborate and establish professional relationships with mentors/tutors as a basis for autonomous development;

• Become increasingly competent in recording and implementing suitable action based research strategies;

• Collaboratively set appropriate targets to work towards and exceed the professional standards for teaching and leadership for the award of QTS.

• Further develop a range of planning and assessment skills to ensure suitable opportunities for learners to develop key skills across the curriculum, the wider curriculum/cross curricular themes and subject based study;

• Reflect effectively on their progress in relation to the professional teaching standards;