PGDE Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (English)

In this module you will be introduced to the theories, policy, legislation and issues relevant to Secondary education in Scotland. Through attending lectures and seminars, you will build a critical understanding of the purposes of education, theories of how learning takes place, the complex and sometimes challenging influences that can impact on learning, and the policies and legislation that frame this learning. Using reading, discussion and reflection, you will be encouraged and supported in developing the professional values and qualities expected of student teachers by the GTCS in their Standards for Provisional Registration.

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Learning and Teaching 1 is designed to explore the professional values, personal commitment, complex pedagogical approaches and subject knowledge required in curricular specialisms. There will be a focus on the Senior Phase of secondary school to allow you to develop your confidence in working with pupils who are working towards external qualifications. You will develop your skills in planning and delivering lessons, or portions of lessons, which are relevant, challenging and engaging, using research and evidence-informed teaching strategies.

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This module builds on Learning & Teaching 1. Through this module you will further develop your understanding of your subject area within the secondary curriculum and strengthen your confidence with a range of pedagogical approaches and assessment strategies. You will also continue to develop your personal understanding of the professional values and personal commitment expected of student teachers set out in the GTCS Standards for Provisional Registration. You will also develop an appreciation of how your role as a subject teacher contributes to whole school/system commitments to broader educational policy areas.

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This module is focussed on building your skills in practitioner-based enquiry in schools. It will help you develop this skill through focusing on an area of your own teaching practice and focussing on building your skills in this area through reflective practice. Practitioner enquiry is one of the key elements in the GTCS Professional Standards and in Scottish Education policy2.3.2 Have knowledge and understanding of the importance of research and engagement in professional enquiry, 3.4.1 Read and critically engage with professional literature, educational research and policy.After completing this module, you will have an understanding of how practitioner enquiry can be an integral aspect of the day-to-day practice of teachers. You will gain an appreciation that successful teaching requires regular engagement in practitioner enquiry, recognising how to use enquiry to drive forward an aspect of your teaching. Indicative ContentThe module content will allow you to explore all the features of professional enquiry and provide a useful toolkit for you to undertake your own enquiry in a school setting. These will include introduction to professional enquiry and how it can support teachers? professional development throughout their careers We will then introduce models of enquiry to allow you to move from a hunch about your teaching, to developing a clear enquiry question that will form the basis of your enquiry. All of these activities will be grounded in the British Education Research Association ethical guidelines relating to educational research.

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In this placement module, you will put into practice the professional knowledge and skills gained in Teaching and Learning 1 (LT1). You will spend 35 days in a secondary school planning, teaching and reflecting, thus developing the professional capacities to effectively plan and teach lessons, predominantly in the senior phase (S3-S6). You will have opportunities to demonstrate increasing confidence in your abilities; and to inspire pupils with your subject knowledge and use of effective learning and teaching strategies. In preparation for the placement, you will attend classes on reflective practice, child protection and safeguarding policy, professional values and professionalism, and self-evaluation. During the placement, you will gather evidence for future professional recognition by the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) to show you have met the Standards for Provisional Registration (SPR). This will mainly be done by writing a reflective journal where you will record your reflections on the lessons you have taught during School Experience 1 and through the collation of lesson plans, mentor observations, and teaching resources in a Record of Professional Learning. You will be assessed against learning outcomes and demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes as per GTCS standards. A 20-credit module incorporates 200 notional study hours; however, to meet GTCS requirements, this module requires you to undertake 210 hours of practical learning experience within a school setting.

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In this module, you will undertake 55 days of school placement to further develop the knowledge, skills and values set out in the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) Standards for Provisional Registration. You will teach a selection of classes across the senior and broad general education phases of secondary school. You will be supported by your mentor, who will gradually withdraw support as you develop your confidence and competence and will increase your contact time towards a maximum of 18 classes per week. You will be required to undertake six critical incident analyses, allowing you to reflect on key moments of professional development and set development targets. You will be prepared for this through lectures before placement.You will be assessed against learning outcomes and demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes as per GTCS standards. A 20-credit module incorporates 200 notional study hours; however, to meet GTCS requirements, this module requires you to undertake 330 hours of practical learning experience within a school setting.

Further information