Undergraduate Students

Year 1

For information about Professional Placement Year 1, click here.

Year 1 students will undertake School Placement 1 and School Placement 2.

• Placement 1 is College-based. 
  Lectures address protocols for classroom observations, professionalism on placement, engaging with school and college personnel while on placement and reflective practice.
• Placement 2 occurs on Mondays in February and for a two week block in March. 
  Students teach a range of curriculum areas.

Schools

If you would like to host students for School Placement 1 and 2, please contact Eoin Martin in the MIC Education Office on +353 61 204394.

Year 2

For information about Professional Placement Year 2, click here.

Year 2 students will undertake School Placement 3.

School Placement 3 is a six-week placement that will take place in April and May. The student is based in a school of his/her choice and in a class between Third and Sixth. The placement combines whole-class teaching of the selected class for three weeks as well as structured participation in school-wide teaching and learning initiative.

Year 3

For information about Professional Placement Year 3, click here.

Year 3 students will undertake School Placement 4.

School Placement 4 takes place in an alternative educational setting.

Year 4

For information about Professional Placement Year 4, click here.

Year 4 students will undertake the Extended Placement.

• Students are based in one school from September to November and participate in school-wide teaching and learning initiatives, as well as teaching.

Schools

If you have queries in relation to this placement, please contact Eoin Martin in the MIC Education Office on +353 61 204394.

School placement occurs over four years and positions the classroom and school as places to learn to teach and to learn about teaching. 

Students complete one School Placement in Year 1, in the spring semester, having undertaken a College-based placement preparation module in the autumn semester. Students will not be in schools in the autumn semester and the spring semester placement runs for fifteen days throughout a two-week teaching block.

Professional Placement 1 (Autumn Semester)

Preparing for Placements

• College based (pass/fail)
• Lectures address protocols for classroom observations, professionalism on placement, engaging with school and college personnel while on placement and reflective practice

Professional Placement 2 (Spring Semester)

January/February/March

Students are gradually introduced to whole class teaching on Placement 2. Two Mondays are for college- based SP and students begin to teach on two Mondays and throughout the two-week block.

• Four Mondays and Two Week Teaching Block
• Partnered placement
• College-based SP on the first two Mondays
• It is the students’ first teaching placement (1st - 4th class)
• Students teach a range of curriculum areas
• Students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of relevant personal and professional attributes throughout the placement
• Assessed by students’ tutor on Pass/Fail basis
• Co-operating teachers provide non-evaluative constructive guidance to students
• Students mentored and assessed by College tutors

In Year 2, Professional Placement is scheduled in the Spring semester as outlined below. The placement includes designated class teaching and participation in whole-school learning initiatives.

Professional Placement 3 (Spring Semester)

April- May

• Six week placement
• The student is based in a school of his/her choice and in a class level between 3rd and 6th
• It is a non-partnered placement
• The placement combines whole class teaching of the selected class for three weeks as well as structured participation in school-wide teaching and learning initiatives.

Teaching Schedule

To be confirmed each year in the Autumn semester.

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.

College Tutor 

Supervision engagements to mentor and assess students on placement.

Professional Placement 4: Alternative Educational Experience

The Alternative Educational Experience placement affords students the opportunity to experience educational settings outside the primary school.

• Placement in alternative educational settings
• The student is based in a professional setting of his/her choice (e.g hospital schools, SEN schools, with SET teachers etc.)
• It is a non-partnered placement
• The placement involves observation and assistance
• A minimum of 50 hours over a minimum of 10 working days is needed during May – August
• Assessed by coursework

The Extended Placement

The Extended Placement is scheduled in the autumn semester (September - November) of Year 4 and is the final placement undertaken by students.

Students source a school for this placement themselves.

• Two three-week teaching blocks, the latter block must be in an Infant class.
• Teaching is preceded by two weeks of Whole School engagements. Students undertake a range of teaching initiatives in a range of classes, as can be facilitated by the school.

Co-operating Teachers' Role

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

School Visits

One College tutor will conduct school visits and assess students on the Extended Placement (Graded Pass/Fail).