Mary Immaculate College

Mary Immaculate College

- University of Limerick -

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ICT in Education

Graduate Diploma / M.Ed in

Information and Communication Technologies in Primary Education

Education Department and the Department of Mathematics & Computer Studies

One-year taught programme for a Graduate Diploma in ICTs in Primary Education with the possibility of a further year for a Masters Degree (M.Ed.).

Entry to the Masters Programme depends on the achievement of a specified minimum QCA in the Graduate Diploma. It then involves attending one taught module in Research Methods and undertaking a substantial dissertation on an approved topic.

Aims and Objectives:

To provide primary teachers with a holistic approach to the application of ICTs in primary school classrooms;

To emphasise that the computer is a tool or medium for educational communication between children and with the learning manager in the school;

To enable teachers to integrate ICTs into their curriculum, to use them in various pedagogical approaches and to pass on useful skills to their pupils.

Contact for further information:

Mr. Brendan Barry, Education Department, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

Telephone: (061) 204941 E-mail: Brendan.Barry@mic.ul.ie

Application forms: Student Services, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

Tel: (061) 204348

Programme Outline:

One modules in Initial Summer School (1 week; usually last week in August)

Introduction to Computers in Education:

To provide an overview of ICTs in primary education and to develop basic skills of PC usage through experience with Windows and a Word-processing package.

Five modules in Semester 1: (Friday evening plus Saturday)

Electronic Communications and Networks:

To introduce the Internet and E-mail and to consider how these might be used in and between primary schools.

Computers and School Administration:

To consider the use of spreadsheets and databases in the context of school management.

Multimedia Authoring:

For consideration of the software tools available to teachers and pupils particularly for project work.

Computers: School & Classroom Management:

Evaluation of hardware and software for use in primary schools, decisions and choice, ICT policy matters.

School-based Action Research Project:

To deepen understanding of a specific topic in the use of ICTs and to develop capacity for focused research.

Four modules in Semester 2:

Programming:

Applications of LOGO and Visual BASIC.

Desk Top-Publishing:

To enable in-house production of school publications for both classroom projects and school administration.

ICT in Special Needs:

To explore the use of ICTs to support pupils with learning difficulties, to improve their access to education and to enhance their learning experience.

School-based Action Research Project: (continued)

To emphasise the fact that curriculum development belongs essentially to the practitioner as part of an emerging professional role in which inquiry informs theory and improves practice.

Module Programme Outline

	*Summer*	*School 2005*
1.	Module PC5710	Introduction to Computers in Education .
	*Semester*	*One*
2.	Module PC5720	Electronic Communications and Networks in Schools
3.	Module PC5711	Computers and School Administration.
4.	Module PC5721	Multimedia Authoring
5.	Module PC5731	Computers: School & Classroom Management
6.	Module PC5741	Project 1
	Semester	*Two*
7.	Module PC5712	Programming
8.	Module PC5722	Desk Top-Publishing
9.	Module PC 5732	ICT in Special Needs
10.	Module PC5742	Project 2

Semesters Three & Four

11.	Module EN5101	Principles and Practices of Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
12.	Module PC5713	Dissertation 1
13	Module PC5714	Dissertation 2

Masters in Information and Communications Technologies in Primary Education

Entry to the Master's programme in Information and Communication Technologies in Primary Education (M.Ed.) will be subject to a student achieving the required minimum QCA of 3.00 (with discretion of 0.1) in the Graduate Diploma and a Grade of B1 in Modules PC5741/5742. Students will be required to submit an approved dissertation of between 20,000 and 25,000 words. All students proceeding to Masters level will be required to undertake a module in Research Methods.

Entry Qualifications

The graduate diploma/masters programme is designed for practising teachers in Primary Schools. Candidates will normally be expected to meet requirements

(A) and (B).

(a) Honours/Pass Bachelor of Education degree

Honours primary degree and a Pass/Honours Higher Diploma in Education or equivalent.

Pass primary degree and Honours Higher Diploma in Education or equivalent.

Primary Teaching Diploma (prior to 1975)

(b) Normally two years of teaching experience or equivalent professional experience e.g. research/development work in education.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates with qualifications other than those specified above and/or who have substantial experience in educational research or relevant professional experience may be considered for admission. Selection strategies may include interview and/or submission of a qualifying essay.

Teaching and Assessment Procedures

Teaching will be mainly via lectures and interactive workshops as indicated in the outline of the module programme, with the action research module, taking place in participants' classrooms during the course of the teaching day.

Assessment procedures will be on going throughout the course with a strong emphasis placed on attendance at and participation in, taught modules. Assessment instruments will include essays, assignments, presentations and practical evaluations of skills acquired. Particular importance will be attached also to the organisation and review of the classroom-based, action research project.

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