Doing my degree in St Mary’s has been a wonderful experience that has equipped me well for a career in teaching. I have made lifelong friends, expanded my horizons and I like to think I have thrown myself wholeheartedly into the St Mary’s community which has provided me with many opportunities
Subject Study – Science
Study of Science enhances the intellectual formation of the student teacher and facilitates the development of their curriculum leadership capacity.
Students also learn both a practical and a theoretical basis for understanding how best to teach Science in the classroom, enabling them to integrate their learning of Science with their professional development as teachers.
Subject studies in Science therefore aims to make a meaningful contribution to the dissemination of effective practice in the teaching of primary science. During year one, students undertake a foundation module in Physical and Biological Sciences. These themes are further developed in year two through Life Systems and Environmental Science. Then, in year three, students focus on more advanced biological and environmental topics through Perspectives in Ethology and Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions.
This aspect of the programme enables the development of the professional knowledge and understanding underpinning successful teaching. The modules address a wide range of topics such as: philosophical perspectives on learning and teaching; child development and psychology; the curriculum in schools; Safeguarding and Children’s Rights; the social aspects of schooling; principles of effective teaching and learning; issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion; and the education of children who experience Special Educational Needs.
Professional Development and School Experience
This element helps students connect theories with real-life experiences by encouraging them to think about and learn from what they do. Each year, students are asked to demonstrate increasing levels of proficiency in the classroom in line with the GTCNI teaching competence framework. Students are provided with opportunities to teach children of varying ages and abilities in a range of different contexts. There are also opportunities for students to choose options through which they may gain experience of teaching in the nursery and/or special school sectors. Students must be successful in School Experience each year in order to proceed to the next stage of the course.
There is a strong emphasis across the BEd Programme on the areas of Literacy, Numeracy, and Using ICT, along with the practical application and development of these areas to practice during School Experience.
Modules within this strand of the programme involve the study of teaching strategies and modes of learning for all areas of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.