Course Outline
Course Structure
This course aims to produce highly skilled graduate teachers who have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning, which will enable them to demonstrate the highest levels of professional practice.
By the end of the course, trainee teachers will be confident, reflective and accountable practitioners, able to deliver a rich and diverse curriculum in a contemporary cultural context.
They will be able to accept responsibility for determining and achieving professional goals and exercise professional judgements, based on an informed understanding of education and subject pedagogy.
This is an intensive and demanding course, which offers superb preparation for anyone who is committed to educating young people.
Central to the curriculum is the study of education, pedagogy and professional practice from both generic and subject-specific perspectives, which is delivered using a combination of workshops, lectures, seminar groups and individual study.
To complement this is a programme of subject knowledge and enhancement that supports the development of subject pedagogy. Specialist subject knowledge is up-dated throughout the course to ensure trainee teachers are fully conversant with curriculum requirements.
Trainee teachers are expected to take on significant responsibility for their own progress and development. This system of professional development profiling is welcomed particularly among those who have completed the course because it sets them apart from their peers in their first year of teaching.
Modules
Modules on the course include:
The Individual Learner
This introduces trainee teachers to a range of educational issues, such as teaching and learning styles, the National Curriculum, inclusion and equal opportunities. Trainees focus on how learning occurs.
Rationale for Subject Teaching
Trainees explore through practical and interactive teaching methods, all aspects of the subject curriculum they will have to teach in secondary education and the implications for planning and resourcing. This module supports trainee teachers as the develop a strong philosophy for their subject in the context of secondary education.
Assessment at Key Stage 3
This module also explores educational issues based on school experience, but focuses particularly on monitoring, assessing, recording, reporting and accountability. Trainees will concentrate on how to assess art and design effectively.
Subject Pedagogy
For this module, trainees will focus specifically on art and design and learn how to apply their in-depth knowledge and understanding into the classroom. The focus is on developing the most effective and creative teaching to ensure that pupils’ are engaged, inspired and motivated and that their learning is maximised.
Research
This module complements the research placement and allows trainees to focus in detail on one aspect of art and design education. This system supports early and continuing professional development.
Assessments
Modules are assessed through a range of directed tasks and targeted assignments. Trainee teachers are also required to complete a profile of evidence towards the achievement of the standards required by the Teaching Agency for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Evidence for the QTS Standards Profile is verified by mentors.
Placements
Your first placement is usually paired, so that you and your partner will teach up to 50 per cent of the timetable in art and design. The second school placement is a solo one and you will be expected to teach up to 66 per cent of the art and design timetable.
In addition, you will complete a research placement and visit a number of galleries in the region, with whom we have developed a strong partnership.