Course Resources Archive

This module is central to the PGCE Primary and runs throughout the course. Its main functions are:

Professional development:

• To develop the students’ understanding of pedagogical issues relating to teaching and learning in primary schools
• To develop students’ understanding of the range of professional demands made on teachers in primary schools
• To support the students in meeting the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status

Practitioner research development:

• To develop the students’ abilities to become novice researchers into their own practice as teachers and to reflect critically on teaching and learning

Course requirements:

• To ensure students are aware of the requirements of the course regarding school experience and completing the professional development profile

Professional development:

• Professional Values
• Every Child Matters and other national initiatives
• An introduction to curriculum developments
• Planning and assessment for learning
• Special Educational Needs and the Code of Practice
• Inclusion and diversity
• Managing Behaviour
• Child-centred learning

Practitioner Research development:

• Research paradigms
• Literature review
• Action / practitioner research approaches
• Validity, Reliability and Triangulation
• Reporting research finding
• Implications for practice

On successful completion of this module all participants should have:

1. An understanding of the role of the primary school teacher, including major responsibilities and professional skills and knowledge
2. Developed their skills to plan, assess and evaluate teaching and learning episodes in school
3. An understanding of the nature and ethics of classroom based research
4. Researched and discussed a range of significant issues about learning e.g. assessment and behaviour, and the teacher’s professional role
5. Planned, implemented and evaluated a small-scale project focused on developing an area of their practice

In addition, students operating at Masters level should have a well developed ability to:

1. engage critically with issues relating to educational research
2. analyse significant aspects of their practice and development as teachers
3. synthesise research findings based on wide reading of relevant sources

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.