Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

Teacher Education in year one introduces students to foundational aspects of initial teacher education. Students are introduced to the literature on effective teaching and a range of key professional issues are considered, including models of teacher development, The Standards for Initial Teacher Education and teacher's conduct, ethics and the law. The importance of reflective professional learning is explored and developed. Key aspects of practice are introduced with attention to areas such as communication, discipline, classroom management, curriculum and planning. Moving beyond subject boundaries students will learn about their role in contributing to a whole school focus on promoting literacy across the curriculum. As a major component of this course, under the theme of supporting learning, students will study child development, theories of learning and essential aspects of cognition.

One or two hour long sessions per week over two semesters. This pattern will not operate over the normal duration of the semesters due to periods on school experience.

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

Assessment

The course will be assessed through the combination of three elements:

Generic Teacher Education

Examination (1 hour) (35%)

Written Assignment (1000 words) (35%)

Preparation School Experience

Project or assignment (500 words or equivalent) (30%)

Students must achieve a minimum grade of D3 for both School Experience Preparation and Generic Teacher Education. Students can be required to resist one or more of the assessment elements.

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

Teacher education in year one, across all concurrent programmes, looks to explore and establish foundational values, ideas and professional dispositions. This is a significant year in terms of helping student to reflect seriously about the teaching profession and this choice of vocational career. Students will engage with a range of foundational knowledge and with the idea of reflexive forms of professional learning and practice. Students will also be prepared for school experience in the context of the approaches to teaching and learning, and specialist knowledge, required by their subject areas (i.e. music, technology or religion/philosophy).

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding across a range of basic professional issues, including effective teaching, models of teacher development, The Standards for Initial Teacher Education and teacher's conduct, ethics and the law.

2. Display an emerging understanding of reflective approaches to professional learning.

3. Recognise and begin to reflect on key aspects of basic practice, such as good communication, discipline, classroom management, curriculum and planning for learning.

4. Display an emergent understanding of their role in contributing to a whole school focus on promoting literacy across the Scottish curriculum.

5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of foundational ideas, approaches to considering child development, theories of learning, essential aspects of cognition and the language of psychology.

6. In preparation for teaching practice, begin to select and display necessary initial knowledge and skills within their subject domains.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

80% or better attendance at all classes and lectures

Students must attain a satisfactory threshold in subject School Experience Preparation (D3) and in the generic Education aspect of the course a pass (D3) must be achieved.