Postgraduate Students

In the Professional Master of Education programme, professional placement occurs over two years and positions the classroom and school as places to learn to teach and to learn about teaching. PME School Placement 1 (PME649) is generally a paired placement where students engage in a series of observation and teaching tasks designed to develop their understanding of pupils as learners. Students will have an opportunity to teach lessons from the curriculum areas which are explored earlier in Semester 1. Students will plan for the implementation of the Primary Curriculum (1st – 4th class), reflect upon strategies for teaching and learning employed, and assess pupil learning. Throughout the placement, students will engage with college tutors and class teachers in critical reflection in respect of how their teaching influences pupil learning. 

Overview

• Partnered placement (two students per class)* in Middle Classes (1st – 4th)
• Focus of placement: Beginning to Teach – gradual increase in teaching workload, each student will teach 2/3 lessons per day
• Students teach a range of curricular areas
• College tutor supervision engagements to mentor and assess students on placement (Pass/Fail module)
• Class teacher as informal mentor and provides verbal advice/feedback to students 

Teaching Schedule 

During PME School Placement 1, students will each teach a minimum of 2 lessons per day (13 lessons each week) across a range of curricular areas that have been explored during the semester.

• Micro-lesson (2 x lesson @ 30 – 45 min)
• Mathematics (4 x lessons @ 40 - 45 mins each)
• Drama (2 x lessons @ 45 - 60 mins each)
• Music (2 x lessons @ 30 mins each)
• PE (2 x lessons @ 30 mins each)
• Science (2 x lessons @ 45 - 60 mins each)
• English (4 x lessons @ 45 mins each)
• RE (4 x lessons @30 mins each)
• Visual Art (2 x lessons @ 45 - 60 mins each)
• SPHE (2 x lessons @ 30 mins each) 

Teaching Focus

Students will teach all areas of the curriculum (topics to be agreed with the teacher) Incrementally increasing teaching schedule.

Co-operating Teacher’s Role

Facilitating the student’s observation and teaching and providing informal non-evaluative feedback. Guidance to be provided to all co-operating teachers. 

Information for Co-operating Teachers

College Tutor

Supervision engagements to mentor and assess students on placement (Pass/Fail).

All students begin Placement in January. The schedule changes in Febuary, depending on the duration of the midterm break.

Supporting the Student Teacher on Placement.