PGDE NUIM 2009-10

peanuthead

I'm starting this thread after the realisation that I'm not the only one on here doing this course!!

This can be the thread to discuss all things PGDE that we need help with or maybe just to moan about things that are getting on our nerves!

So, I'll start with ... How is everyone finding Block Week? 2 days in and I've had an inspection already!!

01mirelly

hey ya find block ok. A little stress full with gettin a grasp with lesson plans etc. Cant believe u got an inspection already. Hope it went well? Hope I will get mine early enough just to get it out of the way.

peanuthead

Yeah it wen't fine but it was a pure miracle that I had a lesson plan as I honestly didn't think I'd see an inspector until at least Monday coming!!!

Block is stressful. I'm taking classes tomorrow and I've not been fully filled in on what I should be doing. I'll only be getting into the swing of it and it will be over!

01mirelly

Thats great. Ya i discovered some clashes in my timetable this mornin so hectic tryin to sort them out but all done now.

astroguy

Sorry for sounding stupid, but what is PGDE?

Effluo

astroguy wrote: »

Sorry for sounding stupid, but what is PGDE?

Ever heard of a H-Dip?
It's the new form of it.
For people who want to become teachers.

astroguy

Ah I see. What does it stand for? Post Graduate Degree in Education?

Effluo

astroguy wrote: »

Ah I see. What does it stand for? Post Graduate Degree in Education?

copied from wiki-pedia
Postgraduate Diploma in Education

astroguy

Almost :P

marnieb

Hi there
I have applied to Maynooth for the PGDE next year and would love to hear how anyone who has done it there is getting on, do you like it, what's the work load like, or any other information would be great. You normally do school on Mon and Fri there isn't it? and college Tue to Thurs, do you think this is good.

Like I say and hints, tips or advice would be wonderful.
Best of luck to all

LeixlipRed

If any of you are gonna be the bad maths teachers of the future just quit and work in Dunnes. Them kids don't need you :P

keithconnolly

Just out of interest did you get your degree in maynooth or elsewhere befor hand and what subjects are you doing the PGDE in. I am looking into being a teacher myself currently doing arts in Nuim

Lord TSC

marnieb wrote: »

Hi there
I have applied to Maynooth for the PGDE next year and would love to hear how anyone who has done it there is getting on, do you like it, what's the work load like, or any other information would be great. You normally do school on Mon and Fri there isn't it? and college Tue to Thurs, do you think this is good.

Like I say and hints, tips or advice would be wonderful.
Best of luck to all

Monday & Friday - School, rest is college.
In my school, there's people from UCD and Trinity and they all like the NUIM way better. Since they work partial days in school then college, their days are massively long and hectic.

That's not to say that it's not a hectic year in Maynooth mind. It's mad business at the moment. But it is a great experience.

keithconnolly wrote: »

Just out of interest did you get your degree in maynooth or elsewhere befor hand and what subjects are you doing the PGDE in. I am looking into being a teacher myself currently doing arts in Nuim

Did my Arts and MA in Maynooth. Year five for me at the moment

No inspection for me yet. Having a problem as well. My school can only offer me an extra day's extension to my block instead of the three Maynooth are after. Hope that's ok with them. Bloody snow disrupting things :P

peanuthead

There shouldn't be a problem with that at all TSC. After all it couldn't be helped.

But out of interest, why can't the school offer you the extra days?

Lord TSC

Their attitude is that I wasn't the only one who lost days and they need to make up the classes as well. I've taken several new classes with new co-op teachers for the block, and some were just about ok with me taking them till the original date. They don't want to lose another week with them though. I can understand their feelings too. The school said they're meeting me halfway anyway, so I'm perfectly happy with their offer.

How goes the Action Research project people?

peanuthead

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Their attitude is that I wasn't the only one who lost days and they need to make up the classes as well. I've taken several new classes with new co-op teachers for the block, and some were just about ok with me taking them till the original date. They don't want to lose another week with them though. I can understand their feelings too. The school said they're meeting me halfway anyway, so I'm perfectly happy with their offer.

How goes the Action Research project people?

I can totally see their point. My coops were only too delighted to hand over their classes to me. The principal and vp in my school don't even know what I'm doing for block - I organised it myself. I organised my original timetable too and I never even mentioned it to them about the extra days!

Action Research? Haven't even started it!! Just getting a handle on the methodologies and the block is taking it out of me!!

Have you started it yet?

Lord TSC

Got 1,000 words done over the first two steps (Defining my enquiry and introduction to educational situation). Probably a bit long but I'll write what I can and then cut it down. Was dreading it when I started but now that I've got into it, I'm enjoying it.

Fair play to you getting it set up yourself. Luckily, the vice prinicpal in the school I'm in has been very helpful with all my requests and questions.

Out of interest, did you have experience before you started this course? Had you taught before?

peanuthead

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Got 1,000 words done over the first two steps (Defining my enquiry and introduction to educational situation). Probably a bit long but I'll write what I can and then cut it down. Was dreading it when I started but now that I've got into it, I'm enjoying it.

Fair play to you getting it set up yourself. Luckily, the vice prinicpal in the school I'm in has been very helpful with all my requests and questions.

Out of interest, did you have experience before you started this course? Had you taught before?

Hiya

Yeah I had 3 years experience 'teaching' before this. I say 'teaching' because a lot of it was language support, second teacher and a huge amount of it was substitution. It's experience in the classroom and I'm confident enough with that, but I was never solely responsible for behaviour or the completion of work and I find all that a bit much.

I haven't even started writing the AR thing, its always in my mind though, I might try get some of it done next weekend although thats not likely with all the lesson plans that have to be done.

Síle28

I had first inspection 2nd day of block but nothing all this week and waiting and spending twice as long as normal preparing each lesson in case they inspect that one and to make it as good as possible is wrecking my head at this stage. Awfully stressful, can't wait til end of next week!

Lord TSC

Ugh, posting in this topic to vent some steam.

I'm getting so fed up with this bloody DiViAte project at the moment. In my five years in Maynooth, it's the only assignment which has kept me awake at night. I'll get it done, and I know I will. Just frustrating me at the pointlessness of it.

And that bloody lecture today on the African photography. Yeah, it was interesting, but was it at all relevant to my attempts to teach in an Irish secondary school? This is something that's bugged me about this course; it seems like sometimes they are just filling up the hours for the sake of it, rather than actually focusing on the stuff which will help us actually teach.

CnaG

Eh, I hate to point this out, but boards is a public forum and you have literally no idea who's reading this... so I'm not sure discussing your course is such a good idea really. The kids you teach could be reading, the principals of your schools could be reading, lecturers from your courses, future employers... literally anyone. So saying, for instance, you spend "twice as long as normal preparing each lesson in case they inspect that one" - do you really think basically saying that you put less effort in when you don't think you're going to be inspected is a good idea? I'm just asking.

banquo

I know one of our lecturers is one here.

You know who you are.

*narrows eyes*

Ian Beale

CnaG wrote: »

Eh, I hate to point this out, but boards is a public forum and you have literally no idea who's reading this... so I'm not sure discussing your course is such a good idea really. The kids you teach could be reading, the principals of your schools could be reading, lecturers from your courses, future employers... literally anyone.

Yea no idea who's posting either:rolleyes:

CnaG

True, but considering you're discussing when you were visited, etc. it could be possible to work out.

Lord TSC

CnaG wrote: »

Eh, I hate to point this out, but boards is a public forum and you have literally no idea who's reading this... so I'm not sure discussing your course is such a good idea really. The kids you teach could be reading, the principals of your schools could be reading, lecturers from your courses, future employers... literally anyone. So saying, for instance, you spend "twice as long as normal preparing each lesson in case they inspect that one" - do you really think basically saying that you put less effort in when you don't think you're going to be inspected is a good idea? I'm just asking.

I'm not going to start placing details or clues in my posts; as someone said, they don't know who exactly is posting either, and looking back, I've not posted anything giving myself away, so to speak :P
That said, I have no problem voicing my criticisms, and there are some big ones. The seemingly pointless classes, the stupidly high expectations, the double standards, the contradictions between certain information given out by lecturers and tutors, the outright unfriendlyness sometimes when we ask for advice....

Case and point, someone asked a question last week in one lecture seeking advice on how to deal with a certain student. And much to my amazement, the lecturer told the person, in no uncertain terms, she was being played. I really don't know the person who asked, but I was slightly uncomfortable with the way the lecturer was basically saying her problem had nothing to do with the kid, but with the person in question, since I felt it was some what embarrasing the person. "How do I deal with this problem?" "Stop being an idiot, you're being tricked!" Maybe that was just me though....

That said, I also had a recent conversation where I went to someone looking for help and motivation and came out feeling completly unmotivated and down over the whole course. And, as such, I no longer trust the person and have no intentions of asking advice again if all I'll get is given out to for looking for help.

As for the whole lesson plan thing, I'm sure the inspectors aren't stupid. They know that sort of stuff happens. It's only human nature to relax following a supervision or to prepare extra hard if you know one is coming.

And these criticisms aren't just me either. At least I don't think they are. A lot of people I speak to vent similar concerns. Part of the reason I bumped this topic was to see if the annoyance I'm suffering was shared....

dukedalton

I had a primary degree and a master's when I started the PGDE at NUIM in 2008 and I can honestly say it was the most stressful and unsatisfying year of my life. I would echo what was said above about "fillers", i.e. lectures with seemingly nothing relevant to teaching in a secondary school. Likewise, I found DiViAte to be a complete waste of time- the only silver lining is that everyone I know, myself included!, got a first. The cloud accompanying said silver lining is that it is worth very little in the grand scheme of things.

But what bugged me the most was the fact we spent an entire year listening to lecturers tell us about how the country was on the road to ruin and how the majority of us wouldn't get teaching jobs (as it happened, they were right), yet when asked if they would be taking in 160 more sucker..I mean students (at e6,027 a pop) in September '09, the reply, with a tinge of bemusement, was "yes".

I suppose the PGDE is a means to an end in that you walk out with a qualification to do a job and you don't have to think about going back, but to anyone thinking of doing in, prepare for a year of heartbreak. That was certainly my experience.

jaffa20

Got offered a place for this and just wondering if NUIM offer the possibility of deferring your place for a year? The PAC website says it's not possible but i was wondering it it is at all possible if you consult with the edu dept?

Reading some of the comments on this thread would make me think twice about doing it at all but at the moment i don't think i have the money to even consider it seriously due to a change of circumstances since applying.

Thanks for any help:)

peanuthead

dukedalton wrote: »

I had a primary degree and a master's when I started the PGDE at NUIM in 2008 and I can honestly say it was the most stressful and unsatisfying year of my life. I would echo what was said above about "fillers", i.e. lectures with seemingly nothing relevant to teaching in a secondary school. Likewise, I found DiViAte to be a complete waste of time- the only silver lining is that everyone I know, myself included!, got a first. The cloud accompanying said silver lining is that it is worth very little in the grand scheme of things.

But what bugged me the most was the fact we spent an entire year listening to lecturers tell us about how the country was on the road to ruin and how the majority of us wouldn't get teaching jobs (as it happened, they were right), yet when asked if they would be taking in 160 more sucker..I mean students (at e6,027 a pop) in September '09, the reply, with a tinge of bemusement, was "yes".

I suppose the PGDE is a means to an end in that you walk out with a qualification to do a job and you don't have to think about going back, but to anyone thinking of doing in, prepare for a year of heartbreak. That was certainly my experience.

most stressful, yes. most unsatisfying, no way. I'll be glad when its over but I really did enjoy it.

It is a year of heartbreak though, no matter how much or how little you do.

EDIT: I think I deserve a 1st but have been left feeling by others that I am being too adventurous. You seem to imply that they are available and attainable.

dukedalton

peanuthead wrote: »

I really did enjoy it.

It is a year of heartbreak though.

You enjoy heartbreak?!

Personally, it was the only programme of study I've done at university where I've thought, never again. As well as finding the lectures/projects frustrating, I felt the school practice part tough because you see students so infrequently it's hard to establish a working relationship with them. I've been teaching now for a year and I have to say it is much different than teaching in the PGDE year- the students know you're there full-time and therefore you have much more authority.

The first I referred to was the presentation component of DiViAte- but as far as I can remember that only accounted for about 20% of the Action Research (maybe not AR, but definitely was a very small component of something, so effectively it was not worth the time and effort put into it).

Miss Lockhart

I agree - DV8 is the greatest waste of time ever! Whatever about videoing classes and critically reflecting on them with your peers - editing them together is a totally pointless exercise.

I have to say I have not found the year to be particularly stressful - less stressful than say, my final year of my undergrad. Frustrating, yes - in that I agree that there is a lot of seemingly useless and irrelevant lectures while other, more important, topics are very rushed.

dukedalton

Well stressful in the sense you are sitting in the staff room watching the door knowing your supervisor could walk in at any time.

peanuthead

Well I suppose I mean I enjoy not the heartbreak but the knowledge that its all worth while. I'm doing this to be qualified in something I love. So I don't mind that. Also I feel if I suffer for it I earned it.

Lord TSC

Wow at info given today. Did I hear this right?

2100 applicants, 1100 with NUIM as first choice, 200 spaces offered? No one with under or on 50 points accepted?

Crazy....

Miss Lockhart

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Wow at info given today. Did I hear this right?

2100 applicants, 1100 with NUIM as first choice, 200 spaces offered? No one with under or on 50 points accepted?

Crazy....

Crazy number of applicants alright, but the points are 45 for general entry and 49 for business. Still, an increase on last year I think, and the highest points of all the PGDE courses.

wolfyboy555

i heard the same numbers as well except for th 50 points...if that was the case surely the cut off would be 50 rather than 45...

tvnutz

anthony said today it was 50 points,I didn't think it was that high though. I know it went up,but that's a bit of a jump. I know a lad who has a masters and a load of teaching hours but didn't get offered a place.

wolfyboy555

so people with 45-49 points didn't get in at all??

jaffa20

Eh??

I got an offer for nuim and i only had 46 points?

Miss Lockhart

wolfyboy555 wrote: »

so people with 45-49 points didn't get in at all??

If you look at the pac website, under 2010 Points, it says the points for non-business entry was 45*. So everyone with 46 points or more got in, and it was random selection for those on 45 points.

For business entry the points were 49* - so everyone on 50 or more points got in, and it was random selection for those on 49 points.

http://www.pac.ie/pgdeinfo/points.php?inst=pe

Must be SO tough for those on 45 who were not offered a place!

Lord TSC

Huh, guessed I misheard about the 50 points then.

So, the Diviate feedback form...had fun with that today >: )

Miss Lockhart

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Huh, guessed I misheard about the 50 points then.

So, the Diviate feedback form...had fun with that today >: )

I definitely heard him say 50 points too - maybe he was thinking of just the business entry.

Had a nice little rant on the Diviate evaluation myself, as I'm sure nearly everybody else did too!

tvnutz

Feck,when was that DV8 evaluation handed out? must have missed that lecture. was dying to have a rant about how ridiculous that project was.

Miss Lockhart

tvnutz wrote: »

Feck,when was that DV8 evaluation handed out? must have missed that lecture. was dying to have a rant about how ridiculous that project was.

It was during Ed Tech at 2pm on Wednesday. The session is on again at 12.15 next Tuesday if you're eager to get it off your chest!

JajaD

Im a second year arts degree student in maynooth and would like to do the pgde... what grades should i be aiming for ? Whats the application process?

peanuthead

tvnutz wrote: »

Feck,when was that DV8 evaluation handed out? must have missed that lecture. was dying to have a rant about how ridiculous that project was.

Didn't mind the project actually - it was the teamwork thing I hated. Love teamwork but missed out on it big time because of my group I feel my proj could have been so much better with a different group. Less stress you know.

tvnutz

peanuthead wrote: »

Didn't mind the project actually - it was the teamwork thing I hated. Love teamwork but missed out on it big time because of my group I feel my proj could have been so much better with a different group. Less stress you know.

The whole editing process and making the dvd was a joke,especially if you are computer illeterate and don't have a clue. Also the fact that all they had was Macs which are $hit. My team was actually great,but the rest of it I found so tedious and a waste of time. Got nothing out of it at all.

Lord TSC

I'd agree there. My team were brilliant but it was the technical end of things I felt was annoying, and I'm pretty good with computers....

Lord TSC

Anything interesting happen today or anything I should know <_< Couldn't be arsed going this morning....

peanuthead

Finished lectures!!!! Woohoo!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

djt0607

Hi,

I have applied to do the pgde in maynooth starting this september. I have about a week and a half ago sent out cvs and stuff to about 50-60 schools but have heard nothing back as yet; apart from one school who has said that the pgde hours allocated in their school has been filled. I'm wondering, how long does it usually take to hear something back from the schools offering you an interview for a place? also, is it imperitive that you send out your cvs/covger letters to the schools as soon as you get offered the place on the pgde course in maynooth? and finally, if it becomes the case that I cannot secure a teaching practice place in a school come aughust/september/the start of the course, what happens? I understand it is ~300euro to secure the pgde place in maynooth; so what happens this money should i not be able to secure teaching practice?

thanks.

Lord TSC

I'm wondering, how long does it usually take to hear something back from the schools offering you an interview for a place?

Different schools will get back at different times but they should be pretty quick. Most people I know got yes or no answers pretty much straight away, but it could depend on the school.

also, is it imperitive that you send out your cvs/covger letters to the schools as soon as you get offered the place on the pgde course in maynooth?

Personally, I'd say yes.

and finally, if it becomes the case that I cannot secure a teaching practice place in a school come aughust/september/the start of the course, what happens? I understand it is ~300euro to secure the pgde place in maynooth; so what happens this money should i not be able to secure teaching practice?

As far as I know, NUIM actually has some schools available if you can't find a place. Problem is that you could be stuck anywhere, so you're better off trying to get a school you're happy in and you know the area around.