Masters Degrees in Research Skills, Ireland

Overview

The PME course is designed to prepare high quality teachers for today’s second level schools. Students undertake a study of the principles of teaching and learning, develop practical teaching skills, and engage in a supervised teaching placement in at least two second-level schools. Students normally take disciplinary courses in the teaching of two curricular subjects.
The course normally commences in late August and lectures and school placement end in May. Examination results are usually available in late June.

Course Structure

School Based Experience
In the first year, school placement is carried out on two full days a week in a second level school where the principal and members of staff have agreed to co-operate with Maynooth University Education Department. Students spend about 65 days per year in a school within a 85 kilometer radius of Maynooth. In addition there is a period of ‘block’ teaching in January, of approximately three weeks continuous work in schools. Students make their own arrangements for teaching practice.

Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Curriculum /The Teacher as a Critically Reflective Practitioner
The central focus of these modules is on enabling the student to develop a repertoire of pedagogical skills and to adopt a professional, self-analytical and reflective approach to classroom practice. These course elements are aimed at deepening the student’s understanding of the processes of teaching and learning, of assessment, of education, of pupils and their psycho-social development, of schools within their social context and of the structure and development of the system within which they work. Among the research sources that inform these modules are pedagogical and curriculum studies, the history and structure of education, educational psychology, sociology of education and the philosophy of education.

Teaching/Learning Seminars in Subject Methods
These consist of seminars/lectures/workshops devoted to the methodology teaching and learning of school subjects.

Career Options

The Professional Master of Education is the main qualification recognised by the Department of Education and Skills for teaching at second-level in Ireland. It is also recognised under the EU directives on mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

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From September 2017, Maynooth University, Department of Education will offer an exciting and innovative new Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management (Future Leaders) for teachers at all levels who seek, or are currently in, leadership roles. The Future Leaders programme will include a combination of practical skills and theoretical foundations to support preparation for leadership and management positions at all levels.

The programme will be designed and delivered by experienced leaders from a variety of professional education roles and will have input from national and international academic/practitioner experts in the areas of educational leadership and management.



The diploma will be offered at Level 9, with 60 credits and will be completed over one year on a part-time basis.



The programme will cost €2,900 (payable in two instalments) and will be offered in the academic year (2017/2018) in the following venues subject to sufficient numbers:



Maynooth University: Monday – 5.00-8.00pm

Cork Education Centre: Monday – 5.00-8.00pm

Drumcondra Education Centre: Tuesday – 5.00-8.00pm

Maynooth University – Kilkenny Campus: Thursday - 5.00-8.00pm



Information Sessions:

If you would like to find out more about the programme the following open nights/information sessions will provide full details:



(i) Maynooth University, School of Education Lecture Room 1 (014) Ground Floor from 6.00-7.00pm 0n Tuesday 28th March – (suitable for Drumcondra candidates also)



(ii) Kilkenny Campus of Maynooth University (Theology Room) –

5.00-6.00pm on Wednesday 29th March.



(iii) Cork Education Centre – 5.00- 6.00pm on Thursday 6th April



Please register your interest in attending the Open Night of your choice by sending an e-mail to [email protected] clearly marking the meeting you wish to attend in the message heading.

The PAC system will open for applications to the Future Leaders Programme, Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management (PGDELM) at 12.00 noon on 10th April 2017 and will close at 12.00 noon on 5th May 2017.
Application Process:
(i) Places on the course will be limited.
(ii) Fully completed eligible applications only will be considered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

In order to be prepared to make an official application via the Postgraduate Application Centre (PAC) http://www.pac.ie, please have the following documents ready:

Certified copies of all official transcripts of results showing date of conferral or degree/diploma parchments (Primary Degree, Teaching Qualification or Concurrent Degree (including Teaching Qualification).
Certified copy of birth certificate or valid passport.

Please note: A certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been verified as being a true copy after the original document has been sighted by an authorized person (a member of An Garda Siochana, a Solicitor, or Commissioner for Oaths)

Modules include:
Leading and Managing Educational Innovation
Leadership for Enhancing Cultures of Communication
Participative Research as Leadership Practice
The Person and The Professional: Who am I as Leader?
Legal Contexts, Policy and Practice
Coaching & Mentoring in & as Leadership Practice

This programme is suitable for teachers at all levels who seek, or are currently in, leadership/management roles and who wish to progress their careers in this regard.

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