Unit information: Teaching Practice (Level H) in 2020/21

Unit name	Teaching Practice (Level H)
Unit code	EDUC35080
Credit points	0
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Ms. Bailey
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit allows students to use their experiences of practical activities in schools to explore professional issues in teaching in secondary schools. The main strands of the programme enable them to reflect on the Teaching Standards (DfE 2011) which they are required to meet by the end of the programme. They will carry out formative tasks in schools which will support the development of their professional skills, knowledge and understanding. The unit promotes the gathering of evidence and research-based practice as a foundation for career long personal and professional development. It provides opportunities for sharing experiences with colleagues in other subject areas. Students will choose from a range of topics to explore in greater depth and on which to submit a piece of work for assessment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit students will be able to:

• Conduct a small-scale practitioner research project
• Understand a key educational issue which arises in their experience.
• Draw on research into teaching of their subject to improve their teaching;
• Communicate their professional learning with teachers and other educationalists through oral presentation as well as written work

Teaching Information

Students will take part in EPS sessions during university-based periods of the course (12 weeks throughout year) and school based elements (24 weeks). During EPS sessions they will engage in a variety of online activities, from lectures to seminars and workshops. In school they will observe practice, teach classes and take part in regular tutorial sessions with a professional tutor. In the event of further school closures the school-based element of the course will move to online teaching and learning.

Assessment Information

All student teachers are expected to have met (and in many cases to have gone beyond) the Teachers' Standards. A Student Teacher's progress towards meeting the Teachers' Standards will be closely monitored by the AT and the University Tutor. Student teachers' teaching is assessed in Review Points over the year- they are judged against each of the 8 Teachers' Standards by their placement school. There are criteria for each Standard for each Review Point, called Pen Portraits, which placement schools use for their judgements. In the event of school closures student teachers will continue to work with schools and to work towards meeting the Teachers' Standards. At the end of the programme they will be evaluated using the Pen Portraits for RP4 as having met or not met the Teachers' Standards.

Reading and References

• Bennett, H. (2006) Trainee Teacher’s Survival Guide. London: Continuum.
• Brooks, V., Abbott, I. and Bills, L. (eds) (2007, second edition) Preparing to Teach in Secondary Schools: a student teacher’s guide to professional issues in secondary education. Maidenhead: Open University (available as e.book).
• Capel, S., Leask, M. & Turner, T. (eds.) (2009, 5^th edition) Learning to Teach in the Secondary School: a Companion to School Experience. London/New York: Routledge Falmer.
• Hagger, H. & McIntyre, D. (2006) Learning Teaching from Teachers. Maidenhead:Open University Press. (available as e.book).
• Hattie, J. (2012) Visible Learning for Teachers. London: Routledge. (available as e.book).
• Howard-Jones, P. (2010) Introducing Neuroeducational Research: Neuroscience, education and the brain from contexts to practice. London: Routledge.
• Jarvis, P. (ed) (2006) The theory and practice of teaching. London:Routledge.