Hibernia Primary PME

Hi Pandalady,

I've just completed the first of the two years of the PMEP. I will try and answer your questions as best I can based on my experience of the course since last September:

1). In person lectures/tutorials: Your face to face classes are referred to as 'onsites' and Hibernia will tell you these are approx. twice a month, in reality you could have one every week some months. It depends on the module and how much course content is involved. Some are more interactive than others. These are mostly on a Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30 in a venue based on your regional group. There are some block weeks of onsites, for example the October midterm was allocated to us for Pedagogy 1 which was a week of lectures in PE, Drama, Art and Music (more practical/hands-on subjects).

2). Online hours: You will be given a calendar with the times and days of your online lectures (referred to as 'webinars') Again these can vary week to week. I have found they usually start after 5pm and seems to fall on Monday - Thursday evenings. Some will be lecture style with the whole cohort intake and others will be smaller regional group tutorials.

3). Calendar/timetable: I started in Sept 18 and requested a proposed timetable earlier in the year. That was very vague which seems annoying but I think the dates/groups/arrangements for classes varies on the amount of students and the amount of regional groups, so I now understand why they can't give you a more detailed calendar until the course starts. Even when the course starts the calendar changes a bit at the beginning so it is worth checking regularly. With regards to a sample timetable, it is only an online calendar that we are given when we log in to our own account so I probably wouldn't be able to share that with you, and as I started in September I'm not sure of the April dates so it might not be of any use to you.

4). Booklist: We are given reading lists with recommended texts for each module/subject area. I will say that 1). These can vary massively depending on the topic, for example the very first module of the programme is Foundations of Education & Curriculum Studies. This is a very content heavy module and you will be studying psychology, philosophy, sociology and history of education. I had found that theorists from my undergraduate course, such as Piaget, Froebel, Howard Gardner, were all very relevant so in that regard, texts by theorists such as these would be useful. However, Hibernia has a good online database of eBooks and provide access to most online sources for PDF chapters and full books which is extremely useful and convenient, not to mention cost-effective as you don't have to purchase books during the course. and 2) The primary school curriculum documents and teacher guidelines will be your most used documents as you progress through the subjects. These are all available online, a quick google search will bring them all up. The NCCA website and planning tool are also useful for the curriculum strands, strand units and content objectives.

Overall, I have been enjoying the programme and much like yourself, was very hesitant to part with such a large sum of money for a course I knew very little about. I was scouring the internet last July trying to find out more about the course content and job prospects with Hibernia qualifications. I just took the plunge and I am so glad I did.

In relation to job prospects after the course, I am hoping for the best next year. I would like to think that it might depend more on the individual's dedication and suitability for the job, as opposed to the teaching college you have attended.

I hope this has been helpful, if I can help with any other aspects just let me know. As I've said this is just from my own recent and current experience. Best of luck!

Fourstarstevek wrote: »

Hi there,
I was hoping to get more info in regards to working whilst studying with Hibernia? I am hoping to start April 2020 and I currently work full time, but will drop to part time when course commences. If you worked during the course how did you find it? Were you able to manage placement, gealtacht, on sites ok when working? Or would you know of anyone who worked whilst studying and if so what sort of jobs would suit as I’m in shift work and shifts can vary with flexibility with swaps. Hope you can help me, thanks in advance, Steve ��

You can work part-time while studying with Hibernia, if you and your employer are flexible. You will have Saturday onsite lectures 2-3 times a month on average here in Dublin (or in your regional centre) - these are billed as mandatory but most people missed a few here and there. (The college will tell you that all onsite lectures are absolutely mandatory but some of my classmates missed many and suffered no disciplinary action - it's possible that your attendance may be held against you if you are performing poorly in teaching placement and they want you gone. Nobody knows - Hibernia specialise in lack of and mis-information) You will have to attend for a week of onsite lectures during mid term break (Most lecturers are teachers so they do this lecturing work when on mid-term holiday). You will have to do teaching placement blocks of 5 and 5 weeks in (approx) Feb and Oct of first yr1 and 10 weeks in Feb,March,April of yr 2. You will have to go to the Gaeltacht for 2 wks in Aug of yr1 and 2 weeks in June, yr2. I worked part time in yr1 but I stopped in yr2 because my employer was getting frustrated and the workload is too high anyway (I did pick up some subbing work though). The fees for this course are steep and you should be demanding much more than the scant information that they provide you with. A word of advice: Visit a couple of schools and ask to sit in and observe a class or two to see what teaching is like these days. Spend a full day there and try to see some of the busier classes. It's tough going. pm me if you wish to know more.

GaryCocs wrote: »

Hi Everyone,



From my reading of the above it isn't feasible to work as well as do the course in year two? Do you essentially write off earning anything or is job seeker available or what options are there? I see mention of subbing work but what kind of income would you get from that?


Gary

Yes, it is not feasible to work in year two. Unless, as I said, you have a flexible part-time job with a flexible boss. You can do subbing work as a teacher in training at a rate of about €130 per day. How much subbing is available is down to how many schools are in your vicinity and how much time you can devote to that. It is impossible to give you a precise answer as each situation is different. As for the dole, some fellow students in different counties/cities have managed to claim the dole. I tried this and was turned down. It is a vague area open to different interpretations on what you are entitled to.

malteasers wrote: »

Has anyone completed an interview for the April 2020 intake?

Hi I had my interview yesterday so nervously waiting to hear!!

Best of luck with interview and results!!

Just wondering how you were contacted regarding interview date and how long after submitting your application (email, phonecall etc??). I applied 2 weeks ago, but no word back yet??

TIA

midlandor wrote: »

Best of luck with interview and results!!

Just wondering how you were contacted regarding interview date and how long after submitting your application (email, phonecall etc??). I applied 2 weeks ago, but no word back yet??

TIA

Hey,

I applied 9th Feb, had to update one document so resubmitted on 12th.
Got a call last Monday to schedule interview for next week. Missed the call and they left a voicemail.

Hope you hear soon.

midlandor wrote: »

Best of luck with interview and results!!

Just wondering how you were contacted regarding interview date and how long after submitting your application (email, phonecall etc??). I applied 2 weeks ago, but no word back yet??

TIA

I applied on a Wednesday and heard the next day that was gone through to interview stages and later that day I got phone call to schedule interview in 12 days time. And just had interview on Monday and it is now Thursday and no response yet hopefully soon I’ll find out! Best of luck!

Fourstarstevek wrote: »

Hi I had my interview yesterday so nervously waiting to hear!!

Hey I had mine last week too and still have heard nothing. Did you get a reply yet?

SplashNic wrote: »

Any update on how you got on guys?

No still nothing! Have you heard anything?

markreidy wrote: »

No still nothing! Have you heard anything?

Had interview last Monday and just got word today - a week on. Success.

markreidy wrote: »

I had mine last Wednesday week the 19th and I have still not heard.

Have you checked all folders.. Spam etc??

midlandor wrote: »

Have you checked all folders.. Spam etc??

Yes and nothing there. Did you have an interview and if so did it take you long to hear back?

Palmaranel wrote: »

Hey guys,

I have my interview on Thursday - very nervous about what might come up, but also excited to finally have it done!

What sort of questions were you asked?

Hey Palmaranel,

Interview was fine, 2 very nice interviewers.
I was so nervous for the irish and was worried i wouldn't pass.
They asked my name, where im from, my town, my college and work background, what do i do everyday in work, how i got to interview, how am i getting home, how did i prepare for interview, what would i do if i had more time, tell them about a recent book I've read, my opinion on technology with kids.

English was fine - mostly about my interest in teaching, how I'd react in certain scenarios in a school, will i work, what do i know about the course, talk about a topic of choice for 2/3mins.

Good luck thursday!

Any update on how you got on guys? Have any of you heard this week yet??

Rbells wrote: »

Any update on how you got on guys? Have any of you heard this week yet??

I had mine over two weeks ago and still got no reply!

markreidy wrote: »

I had mine over two weeks ago and still got no reply!

Would you consider ringing them or emailing to let them know you have been waiting more than 10days??
I had emailed the college a few times before the interview to ask different things and they are very helpful and quick to reply.

Like you guys, I thought my nerves got the better of me with the gaeilge and the more i thought about it after i was sure i wouldn't pass that part this time around but turns out i did so fingers crossed all goes well for you too.

Rbells wrote: »

I feel the exact same.....i couldnt say the irish interview was very difficult i just feel i didnt get a chance to show off any bit of irish that i know really. And got too nervous towards the end. Fingers crossed we might be lucky enough to get in but i think it may be september for me too but would just like to know either way now.

midlandor wrote: »

Hi all, I got an email yesterday saying I got through!! I'm delighted!! My interview was last Fri, so they got back to me in just under a week.

Best of luck to everyone waiting and hopefully you will hear soon!!

Congrats midlandor!!! Great news!!

Rbells wrote: »

Received the email today and got accepted for the April Cohert! Relief!

Congrats Rbells!!!

I've spent a lot of this week jumping into my email every time I got a notification. So nice not having to do that any more!!!!

I found out I never got it after 9 days. I got general and not irish that was my second attempt so can’t apply again. So annoyed as I thought went really good

Palmaranel wrote: »

Hi all,

I interviewed Thursday morning and just got my email to say I've been accepted

Congrats Palmaranel!!!!!

pinkpencil wrote: »

I've just been accepted to start this course in September. I was working in a primary school earlier this year and got garda vetted. I've been sent a form by Hibernia. Will I need to get Garda vetted again ?

Yes, you will need to get vetted again. Painful I know!

ps. Congrats by the way!!