ED2TS1-Development of transferable skills through a school placement 1

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Summer & Autumn Terms
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2020/1

Email: c.s.foulkes@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module enables undergraduate students to develop key transferable skills needed for employment, and also provides outreach experience. Following specialist training on key aspects of working in schools, five day placements in June/July in

secondary schools in the Reading area will provide work experience in a professional setting. In the autumn, students will build on the knowledge and transferable skills acquired in order to plan and deliver, with colleagues, a teaching session that shares knowledge of their degree specialism with small groups of school students. Students will reflect on, and share, their experiences with their colleagues. Assessment will be by coursework, and placement supervisor report on professionalism and engagement.

Students will be selected by application and interview.

Aims:

1. To develop key transferable skills including team-work, communication and organisational skills, creativity, and resourcefulness in order to enhance employability.

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2. To develop reflection, drawing on both personal experience and educational literature.

3. To familiarise students with a professional work environment, and provide opportunities for students to consider whether teaching might be a suitable career.

4. To enable students to share their specialist knowledge with school pupils.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, the student will have:

? Conducted themselves in a professional manner

? Reflected on their school and teaching experiences, drawing on their observations and knowledge of appropriate literature to inform their reflections

? Reflected on the development of their transferable skills

? Summarised their reflections through poster and oral presentation

 

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to develop:

? IT skills through use of online resources and presentation technologies

? An understanding of some of the challenges and rewards of teaching as a profession in order to inform later career decisions

? A wide range of other presentational, organisational and interpersonal skills readily transferable to other areas of employment besides teaching

Outline content:

Following acceptance for the module through successful application and interview, and a successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, taught seminar sessions designed to prepare students for the school placement and assessable outcomes take place in June. Placements, which are unpaid, will be organised by the module convenor, last for one school week, and take place in June or July. Attendance will be validated by school supervisor’s signature. Whilst in school on placement, st udents will draw on their knowledge of the appropriate literature to inform a reflective log. In the autumn, using the learning from their observations in school and literature, and supported by seminar sessions, students will plan and deliver a teaching session for small groups of school pupils, using knowledge from their degree. A poster and oral presentation will then be given to summarise and reflect on their experiences, and shared with their peers/tutors.

Global context:

The teaching sessions for small groups of school pupils will be based on overarching themes with a global context such as food supply issues. These sessions will provide opportunities for increased awareness of the range of courses available at the University of Reading.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

In the Summer Term, pre-placement seminars will introduce the module and its assessment, the organisation and supervision of placements, working in a school environment, key issues in education, and routes into teaching. Placements will be arranged, usually for pairs of students, in participating schools and will cover a total of five working days scheduled in June /July. Discussions with supervisors will provide opportunities for reflection on transferable skills and also aspects of teaching and learning. Students will need to allow sufficient time for independent study during their placement period in order to keep their daily journal up to date. Three seminars will be scheduled for the autumn term to support students with preparation and delivery of their teaching activity and their presentation to peers and tutors.

Timeline:

Part 1 going into part 2

Summer term of part 1 (usually in week 8 following exams)
Pre-placement seminars