Module: Professional Practice 1

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Professional Practice 1
Module Code	ECE1000 (ITS: EC110)
Faculty	Language, Literacy & ECE	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15

Description

This module provides for the foundational development of knowledge in ethical practice and professional development as students work alongside experienced educators. Students will develop professional values, attitudes and behaviours and develop key dispositions for learning, reflection and problem-solving, while enhancing the learning of babies or toddlers or young children. Students integrate theoretical concepts and principles learned as part of the course work into practice through placement – based reflective tasks and discussions. Students will begin the development of their placement portfolio, their reflective journal and have opportunities to reflect on practice and issues of concern with tutors and peers in Analysis of Practice seminars in communities of practice.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the establishment and maintenance of positive collaborative relationships with children and staff
2. Observe children’s learning in child-initiated play and document that learning, with particular attention to key aspects eg. language learning
3. Plan a number of short term learning experiences appropriate to the children’s interests and the holistic learning and development of all the children in their care
4. Develop a placement e-portfolio incorporating a reflective journal
5. Comply with the criteria of the proposed Practice Placement Hand-Book and Assessment Guide to be developed by the Placement Co-ordinator
6. Participate in a learning community of their peers and the placement

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Professional Practice	240	No Description
Independent Study	135	No Description
Total Workload: 375

Section Breakdown
CRN	20234	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	PASS/FAIL	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Aishling Silke	Module Teacher	Geraldine French, Marlene Mccormack, Sinéad McNally

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Portfolio	The assessment guidelines and criteria for the rating awarded are set out in the Placement Handbook and Assessment Guide. Observations made by the co-operating education along with feedback provided about the student’s development and progress will assist the Placement Tutor in evaluating and rating the student’s practice in line with university procedures.	100%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Error parsing Indicative Content: Control character error, possibly incorrectly encoded - 3

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None