Module: Professional Practice 2

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Professional Practice 2
Module Code	ECE1001 (ITS: EC210)
Faculty	Language, Literacy & ECE	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15

Description

Placement 2 (P2) builds on the foundational development of knowledge in ethical practice and professional development gained in Placement 1 (P1). P2 will involve more detailed observation tasks than in P1, in addition to experiences in co-planning and co constructing activities and learning experiences with the co-operating educator. Students will have opportunities to plan and carry out a greater number of learning experiences. The co-operating educator will observe the student’s interactions with the children and provide structured feedback to the student. Students link theory to practice with increasing complexity. Implicit in these activities is students’ engagement in critically identifying and evaluating implicit and explicit theories underlying their practice. Taking an enquiry stance through critical reflective capacities on students’ own and children’s early learning and development will be deepened through the Analysis of Practice seminars.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply principles of early learning and appropriate practice in early childhood settings, in particular in relation to communication and building relationships with very young children.
2. Engage in critical analysis of children’s learning through engagement in communities of practice.
3. Plan collaboratively with co-educators.
4. Demonstrate how to enrich the environment with appropriate materials.
5. Observe children in play and make use of those observations for planning purposes.
6. Compile a professional e-portfolio, with complete plans for enriching and meaningful small group learning experiences, aligned to learning outcomes, vocabulary, interaction strategies, evaluation and policy frameworks.

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

Section Breakdown
CRN	20235	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 2 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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Note: There are no recommended readings for this module other than what was required in the Issues in Professional Learning and Practice 1 module.,