All Primary / Secondary Masters Courses - Post Q's Here Please

Fionab13

Theres the link to the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/606584812714783/ PDE UCD 2013/14 xx

IrishEyes19

hi guys, Im in a tricky situation, I moved house a few weeks ago and Im worried that my schools timetable will be sent to my old house. Its not possible to even check the post in my old house, I moved due to bad terms with bad house tennants and its empty now anyway and also in a different city. I left an email with my school, but theres no reply, as they are on holidays. I really dont want to leave it so late, would it be rude of me to ring on the day of the leaving cert results, just to let the secretary know of my change of address, otherwise I wont get my timetable and book lists and such!!!

Caiseoipe19

I would've been certain that all schools would be open again by this stage. Are you sure they're still closed? You'd be better off just ringing them tomorrow and tell them that your address has changed in case they post you anything. Really don't see the point in waiting till they are giving out Leaving Cert results.

IrishEyes19

Caiseoipe19 wrote: »

I would've been certain that all schools would be open again by this stage. Are you sure they're still closed? You'd be better off just ringing them tomorrow and tell them that your address has changed in case they post you anything. Really don't see the point in waiting till they are giving out Leaving Cert results.

I've emailed twice now and heard nothing so I wasn't sure. I'll ring tomorrow. Getting worried now. I dont have timetable or anything.

Miss Lockhart

Plenty of teachers don't get their timetable until the last week of August or until they're back in school. Don't be surprised if you have to wait until you attend staff meetings to get it.

Caiseoipe19

Aye, I've gotten a job this year and I don't know what classes I'll be teaching yet. It seems like a big deal from your perspective but you being on TP in the school is probably a very minor issue for the school management. That's not supposed to be offensive or anything, just that most schools are used to having TP students come and go. When my school first agreed to accept me for TP, they told me to come back in the week before I started to remind them that I would be starting the following week and that was when I sorted my timetable. Granted, a reply to an email wouldn't go astray from them. Just relax and enjoy what's left of the holidays as much as you can!

JFitzgerald

Does anyone going to UCC know how many hours of lectures we have each afternoon?

kikibo531

Hi - about to start in TCD in Sept, does anyone know if you need a laptop/iPad for lectures?

JFitzgerald

chocbrownies wrote: »

Lectures are usually from 2-5pm every evening,so 2-3 hours of lectures.Just finished this year!Yipee!!

Congrats. Thanks for the info. How did you find the course overall? Was it difficult/easy? Is the workload very heavy?

moorele

kikibo531 wrote: »

Hi - about to start in TCD in Sept, does anyone know if you need a laptop/iPad for lectures?

Not necessarily for lectures, you could take notes with a pen & paper. However, a laptop is pretty essential for planning your classes and doing your lesson plans!

JFitzgerald

chocbrownies wrote: »

I really enjoyed the year!It was tough at times but I just loved the teaching part.Great course,definitely not easy,be prepared to work hard from the very beginning.You do get a lot of assignments throughout the year, not too bad up to Christmas but after that OMG,it's pretty hectic.5 inspections,first one starts the week lectures begin.Good luck with it,you will love it.Orientation next week!

Thanks for sharing.
Did you have exams at XMas?
Do you have any work lined up now?

ViveLaVie

chocbrownies wrote: »

I really enjoyed the year!It was tough at times but I just loved the teaching part.Great course,definitely not easy,be prepared to work hard from the very beginning.You do get a lot of assignments throughout the year, not too bad up to Christmas but after that OMG,it's pretty hectic.5 inspections,first one starts the week lectures begin.Good luck with it,you will love it.Orientation next week!

Do you have classes and essays to do for your subjects too? English etc.

JFitzgerald

chocbrownies wrote: »

Just had a quick look at the timetable from last year.We had 5 assignments/essays(2000 words each) before Christmas.5 essays after Christmas,2 subject methodology assignments(4000 words each) and a portfolio(5000 words).Don't panic,I know it might seem like a lot now but they are spread evenly throughout the year.The year flies!:)

What's in the portfolio?

JFitzgerald

chocbrownies wrote: »

It's divided into 5 sections,1000 words each section so not so bad.It's basically about why you wanted to become a teacher,your experiences throughout the year and then a conclusion at the end.

Ok, that doesn't seem too bad.
It sounds like something you could tip away at during the year to keep on top of it, rather than leave it till the last minute.
Thanks.

Caiseoipe19

JFitzgerald wrote: »

Ok, that doesn't seem too bad.
It sounds like something you could tip away at during the year to keep on top of it, rather than leave it till the last minute.
Thanks.

We all had those plans...;)

tomissex

For people heading to UCD, the portfolio is made up of 4 lesson plans from your first subject and 1 from your second each week, plus a copy of some assignments. Really worthwhile to keep on top of it!

Pompette

chocbrownies wrote: »

I really enjoyed the year!It was tough at times but I just loved the teaching part.Great course,definitely not easy,be prepared to work hard from the very beginning.You do get a lot of assignments throughout the year, not too bad up to Christmas but after that OMG,it's pretty hectic.5 inspections,first one starts the week lectures begin.Good luck with it,you will love it.Orientation next week!

Ha I like your positivity. I'd advise anyone starting to be prepared for a really tough year... I also just finished and while I also really enjoyed the teaching side of it the course in general would make you lose the will to live. I don't think it's possible to enjoy the course tbh.. the workload is so intense!

If I was to give anyone about to start some advice it would be to have something outside of the dip. As in MAKE time for other things in your life, be it a sport, friends, a hobbie or whatever; no matter how busy or how all-consuming the dip is. Having an interest outside of the dip kept me sane this year, I don't know how I would have gotten through it otherwise! No exaggeration. Don't underestimate the importance of balance in your life...! Otherwise the dip will take over.

JFitzgerald

Pompette wrote: »

Ha I like your positivity. I'd advise anyone starting to be prepared for a really tough year... I also just finished and while I also really enjoyed the teaching side of it the course in general would make you lose the will to live. I don't think it's possible to enjoy the course tbh.. the workload is so intense!

If I was to give anyone about to start some advice it would be to have something outside of the dip. As in MAKE time for other things in your life, be it a sport, friends, a hobbie or whatever; no matter how busy or how all-consuming the dip is. Having an interest outside of the dip kept me sane this year, I don't know how I would have gotten through it otherwise! No exaggeration. Don't underestimate the importance of balance in your life...! Otherwise the dip will take over.

Thanks for the info.
Would you mind sharing which uni you were at?
I know it's the same amount of work no matter which uni - but I'm just curious.
I'm going to UCC.

Pompette

I was also in UCC

openup

Hi

I'm hoping to apply to do a PDE in 2014 and I'm very confused about the work experience thing. Do I actually need to have work experience in an Irish secondary school in order to get onto one of the courses?
I will be teaching, part-time, in a primary school (abroad) for the next year and I also contacted my old school principal who suggested that I come in and od some voluntary work over the next few weeks...but now I see that TCD need 50 hours relevant work experience and NUI 1 year...but I know people who've done it straight out of college so how does that work? Will the primary school work count? I've worked in a primary school in Ireland previously too. Is going to my old secondary school worth it?
I really don't know what my next move should be, help?

dory

openup wrote: »

Hi

I'm hoping to apply to do a PDE in 2014 and I'm very confused about the work experience thing. Do I actually need to have work experience in an Irish secondary school in order to get onto one of the courses?
I will be teaching, part-time, in a primary school (abroad) for the next year and I also contacted my old school principal who suggested that I come in and od some voluntary work over the next few weeks...but now I see that TCD need 50 hours relevant work experience and NUI 1 year...but I know people who've done it straight out of college so how does that work? Will the primary school work count? I've worked in a primary school in Ireland previously too. Is going to my old secondary school worth it?
I really don't know what my next move should be, help?

You don't need any work experience beforehand. Where are you seeing that? Post up a link and we'll check it out.

Next move should be; decide if you really want it. Apply. When you get a place go looking for a school to do teaching practice in during the course. Make sure you research how hard is to get employment in Ireland and if you're willing to take that risk.

ByChance

I'm due to start the Trinity PDE this year. I missed the induction and have only returned to Ireland a few days ago. So nervous!

Trinity have put info on the website but can anyone there let me know anything important I may have missed.

We're required to teach 8 classes a week but how many of these are the same lesson? Like, is it the same lesson twice for example. Cheers!

Weshtlad

ByChance wrote: »

I'm due to start the Trinity PDE this year. I missed the induction and have only returned to Ireland a few days ago. So nervous!

Trinity have put info on the website but can anyone there let me know anything important I may have missed.

We're required to teach 8 classes a week but how many of these are the same lesson? Like, is it the same lesson twice for example. Cheers!

Hi ByChance,

I don't think there's much to do now until lectures start. I do know the first installment for the course fee is due by 1st of Sept, registration is soon too via mytcd.ie. I contacted the PGDE office and was told we can submit our class timetable the first day of lectures. Regards to teaching the same lesson, that depends on what classes you get in your school. I've two first year classes for e.g. and I'll be covering the same topics with them, so teaching the same thing twice basically.

Hope that helps

ByChance

Ah thanks Weshtlad.

If anyone knows how many lesson plans we need to submit per week that'd be great.

I cant find a single lesson plan online to even use for layout purposes!

Sunshine1990

Hi Everyone!!

I am really just looking for any help I can get with regards to applying for secondary school teaching courses in Ireland and the UK.

My undergrad degree was Marketing and the teaching council recognizes that course as eligible for Business teaching. I applied for Hdips in Business teaching through the PAC this year and was unsuccessful! I also applied in the UK.

I am just wondering if anybody can give me any tips on what might increase my chances of getting into a course in either Ireland or the UK? for example any courses I could do that would improve my chances?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

Mardy Bum

Sunshine1990 wrote: »

Hi Everyone!!

I am really just looking for any help I can get with regards to applying for secondary school teaching courses in Ireland and the UK.

My undergrad degree was Marketing and the teaching council recognizes that course as eligible for Business teaching. I applied for Hdips in Business teaching through the PAC this year and was unsuccessful! I also applied in the UK.

I am just wondering if anybody can give me any tips on what might increase my chances of getting into a course in either Ireland or the UK? for example any courses I could do that would improve my chances?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

Are you eligible Business and business studies or just business? You would probably need another subject to be competitive in the job market tbh. Do a masters degree or get some experience if you want to get in. A masters will give you six extra points. The PDE will take 2 years to complete from 2014 onwards and by all accounts will be fairly arduous.

dory

Sunshine1990 wrote: »

Hi Everyone!!

I am really just looking for any help I can get with regards to applying for secondary school teaching courses in Ireland and the UK.

My undergrad degree was Marketing and the teaching council recognizes that course as eligible for Business teaching. I applied for Hdips in Business teaching through the PAC this year and was unsuccessful! I also applied in the UK.

I am just wondering if anybody can give me any tips on what might increase my chances of getting into a course in either Ireland or the UK? for example any courses I could do that would improve my chances?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

Good advice above - also note that in Ireland you 99.99% will not get a full time job with only business. But in the UK it's quite normal to only have one subject. So I would only proceed if you see yourself in the UK long term or teaching at 3rd level.

kikibo531

Same here, By chance - would love some advice on lesson plans/templates etc. Thanks.

vermafogli

Hi, does anybody who completed their degree in WIT specialising in economics and finane please let me know how many credits are there for our economics stream?

Thanks.

Sunshine1990

Hey!! I have a 2.1 award in a level 8 marketing degree and REALLY want to go on to secondary teaching...the teaching council have said I am recognised to teach Business but I must apply again to them to see if I am eligible to teach a second subject (Accounting or Economics). I am just wondering if ANYONE has done an undergrad degree in Marketing and has been recognised by the Teaching Council with two subjects???