TE0491 - Professional Studies

You will learn through lectures, workshops, tutorials and independent learning. The professional tutorial system will support your development through the module. You will have lectures, workshops, formative assessment and opportunities to debate ideas. There will be a strong emphasis on our widening partnership with professionals in schools. The lectures will cover policy, best practice and concepts that will enable you to learn and reflect on your professional responsibilities and tackle a series of guided exercises and discussions. You will work on these during tutorials and independently with the availability of Northumbria’s computer labs, which are fully equipped with the latest industry-standard software.

Successful academic achievement requires a system of robust support and guidance to help you focus on your learning needs. In addition to the pastoral support you will receive, the tutors involved in delivering this module will provide guidance and academic counselling to ensure that you are able to confidently engage with the academic rigour of this module. This dialogue will be face to face in lectures, seminars or tutorials and is an essential aspect of the programme’s assessment for learning strategy. Extensive support is also accessible online as part of the University’s commitment to technology enhanced learning. This employs the use of the e-learning portal (Blackboard including Pebble+) and social networking and collaborative tools.

A central feature the academic support available to you is the service provided by the University Library. This 24/7 service caters for all your learning needs, has extensive access to electronic texts and tutorials that will directly support the development of academic skills aimed at improving your critical thinking and analytical writing.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Develop and consider your understanding of the values that underpin the role of the teacher as a professional and in society.
2.. Reflect upon and review your own learning in relation to a range of theories and frameworks and consider the relationship between these in professional contexts for the initial development of appropriate pedagogy across the relevant age phase(s).
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Reflect upon a range of key educational issues and professional practice strategies to enable you to move towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards (DfE, 2012) for QTS. Relate this to the professional body requirements and the appropriate government legislation, policies, initiatives and agendas, setting appropriate targets for your own development.
4.
Communicate your ideas effectively to your audience, via a professional presentation and demonstrate correct use of all aspects of written and verbal Standard English, e.g., spelling, punctuation, grammar and pronunciation.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Develop your own identity as a member of a professional community and relate this to the professional body requirements and the appropriate government legislation, policies, initiatives and agendas, setting appropriate targets for your own development.


Due to the professional nature of the programme and the external regulatory body for teachers, all the module level objectives above also contribute directly to your ability to: Move towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards (DfE, 2012) for QTS, via an (ICT based) professional portfolio.

Summative Assessment:
The assessment will be a final presentation (15 mins ) that brings together all technological skills and your new understanding post placement. You will choose one aspect of the Teacher’s Standards (a choice of 3 will be given) and you will demonstrate your ability to investigate and analyse problems, reflect on academic reading, Government policies and current practice – including signposting good performance regarding your own development within this chosen area.
(15 min presentation – equiv. to 1500 words)

Your tutors will be looking for, and developing, your ability to investigate and analyse educational issues related towards the Teachers Standards (DfE, 2012).. High quality formative feedback and reflections within tutorials and following presentations will encourage interaction and dialogue which will contribute to the assessment of your learning and enable you to close the gap between and current and desired performance.
The summative assessment will provide feedback upon your ability to undergo academic study in one specific area of the Teachers Standards (DfE, 2012). Feedback will contribute to your developing electronic portfolio, ILDP, with a reflection on your learning and signposting further learning targets

None

• Educational Research & Enquiry 1
• Educational Placements 1
• Curriculum Studies 1

We have designed Professional Studies to introduce you to the values that underpin the role of the teacher as a professional and in society. You will consider, reflect upon and research exciting issues within educational policy and how this translates into teaching and learning in schools. You will review your own learning in relation to a range of theories and frameworks in relation to learning, teaching, thinking and creativity, evaluating your own attitudes, challenge your own assumptions and appraise your own skills and understanding in order to develop a range of strategies and to reflect on your emerging pedagogy. You will crystalise your reflections and be supported in developing your professional identity as a member of a professional community and relate this to the professional body requirements and the appropriate government legislation, policies, initiatives and agendas, setting appropriate targets for your own development. as you work towards a presentation on an aspect of professional studies, related to achieving the Teachers’ Standards (DfE, 2012) and ultimately Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).