Module: Advanced School Placement

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Advanced School Placement
Module Code	EDS1114
Faculty	STEM Ed, Innov, Global Studies	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	30

Description

This year-long module represents a capstone professional experience, integrating advanced practice with systematic inquiry. It is structured with a mandatory preparatory phase in Semester 1 to refine advanced skills, followed by an extended professional placement in Semester 2. The preparatory phase consists of a series of advanced workshops focused on curriculum leadership, innovative project design, and the complexities of professional integration. This is complemented by a 5-Day Context and Engagement Period. During this phase, students engage in pre-placement Taisce preparation. Building directly on this advanced preparation, the advanced school placement provides an opportunity for the refinement of student agency, adaptive expertise, and professional identity as innovative and critically reflective practitioners. The Taisce serves as the critical instrument for articulating their advanced professional learning journey. In alignment with their research project, students engage from a practitioner research standpoint to produce an original, practice-focused report that connects theory and practice. Satisfactory completion of all preparatory activities is a professional prerequisite for the assessed placement. This includes the successful completion of the Tusla 'Children First' e-learning module and mandatory university training on the professional and ethical use of social media.

Learning Outcomes

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Workshop	24	Advancing Professional Practice & Placement preparation (including support related to inclusive & partnership-based approaches to learning)
Professional Practice	448	Preparation and practice (Teaching and Non-Teaching Activities)
Independent Study	42	Reflective practice & Engagement in professional partnerships with Treoraithe, Placement Tutors, peers and the wider school community
Total Workload: 514

Section Breakdown
CRN	12141	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	David Whittaker	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Professional Practice	Quality of Planning, Approaches to Teaching & Learning, Reflective Practice	100%	n/a

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

Preparation for Professional Placement
Understanding the Professional Placement Handbook; interpreting the Teaching Council's Code of Professional Conduct; introduction to school policies, including Child Protection (Children First); principles of short and long-term planning; sourcing and adapting resources.

Developing the Professional Portfolio (Taisce)
Structure and purpose of the Taisce; selecting and curating appropriate evidence of practice (lesson plans, resources, student work samples, reflections); connecting evidence

Essential Resources
EDS1114: Advanced School Placement Preparation - Pre-Placement Module Handbook 2025/26 BEdTEG School Placement Handbook 2025/26 Department of Children and Youth Affairs. (2017). Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Dublin. https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Children_First_National_Guidance_2017.pdf Teaching Council of Ireland. (2016). Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers, 2nd Edition. Teaching Council of Ireland: Maynooth. https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/fitness-to-teach/updated-code-of-professional-conduct/ Teaching Council of Ireland. (2021) Guidance for Registered Teachers about the use of Social Media and Electronic Communication. Teaching Council of Ireland: Maynooth. https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/09/guidance-for-registered-teachers-about-the-use-of-social-media-and-electronic-communication.pdf Teaching Council of Ireland. (2021). Guidelines on School Placement. Revised Edition. Teaching Council of Ireland: Maynooth. https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/08/school-placement-guidelines-updated-march-2022.pdf Muijs, D., & Reynolds, D. (2017) Effective Teaching: Evidence and Practice. Sage: London. Schuelka, M., Johnstones, CJ., Thomas, G. and Artiles, AJ (Editors) (2019). The Sage Handbook of Inclusion and Diversity in Education. Sage: London.

Other Resources
Website: Department of Education and Youth https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/resources-for-postprimary-schools/ Website: The Teaching Council of Ireland https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/ Website: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for Schools (NCCA) https://www.ncca.ie/ Website: OIDE https://oide.ie/ Website: National Council for Special Education (NCSE) https://www.ncse.ie/

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None