Certificate in Education pre-service (Lifelong Learning)

Research Informed Teaching Learning and Assessment

This module aims to develop your understanding of how people learn in the Lifelong Learning Sector and of the role of assessment in enabling learning and achievement. It introduces theories and principles of learning and assessment and develops your ability to apply research evidence in designing effective learning and assessment strategies and materials. It seeks to develop positive approaches to the management of group and individual behaviours and promotes an inclusive approach to teaching, learning and assessment. It introduces the role of key transferable skills and the ways in which people learn English, Maths and digital skills. The module is assessed by means of a practical micro-teaching assignment and the design of an intervention, strategy, activity or resource, underpinned by an understanding of key principles of teaching, learning and assessment.

Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher
The module reviews your practice as a trainee teacher. It explores your teaching values, knowledge of your subject specialism, and your knowledge and understanding of how you’re learning to teach. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to identify and respond to students’ needs, and how to use suitable teaching, learning and assessment strategies to develop inclusive teaching and learning environments. You’ll have the chance to evaluate your teaching effectiveness and develop as a reflective practitioner as well as engage in personal and professional development planning, against the appropriate Professional Standards, to recognise and develop relevant subject specialist knowledge, behaviours and skills. This will include further development of English, Maths and digital skills for you and your students.

Being a Subject Specialist Teacher
This module builds on previous generic and subject specialist development in two ways. Firstly, it contributes to your development of more advanced strategies and methods for promoting learning and, secondly, it involves a focus on specific specialist areas and the critical analysis subject specialist pedagogy. The module seeks to enhance your ability to reflect critically on, and to evaluate, teaching and learning; by recognising particular curriculum and professional challenges; and by enabling you to develop critical responses to these concerns in sophisticated, innovative and creative ways. Key learning activities of the module are practical teaching experience and the engagement with other specialists through collaborative practice. The module is assessed through a Teaching Portfolio and a Conference Paper dealing with teaching and learning in the specialist subject.

Curriculum and Context 
This module locates the specialist curriculum in the present policy context. This will evaluate how educational policy in the specialist area relates to the values and beliefs that underpin the trainee's professional practice. It critically evaluates the relevance and effectiveness of a curriculum in the specialist area and suggests improvements to its design. 

Much of the course is focused on the experience of practical teaching. You gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals with support from tutors at UCO, as a vehicle for your professional development. We help you to find a suitable placement.

Practical experience allows you to gain competence in planning, teaching and learning, and in working with students both in formal classrooms and in student centred learning situations, such as drop in study centres.

During the course you undertake project work, such as developing new course materials.

Students also benefit from on-site careers advisors, alongside full access to the award winning careers services at the University of Huddersfield. So from compiling the perfect CV to specialist, tailored help to reach your career goals, students at UCO have access to the best support possible to achieve their career goals.

Students have gone on to work as further and higher education lecturers. Others have taken the opportunity to engage in further studies such as relevant MA or MSc courses at university. 

No prior teaching experience is needed. The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience in industry, business and administration, hair and beauty, social work, health service, uniformed services or armed forces.

In addition to the University of Huddersfield’s general minimum entry requirements you must also:

Have either a HNC, CGLI Advanced, NVQ level 3/4 or recognised professional qualification

Be able to demonstrate appropriate work experience in the area you wish to teach

Have Level 2 Maths and English

Provide an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances

Provide two satisfactory references

Complete a satisfactory interview

We also offer this course at professional graduate (honours) and postgraduate (masters) if you hold a degree (or recognised equivalent). If you already have a degree (2:2 or above), you may be eligible for our Lifelong Learning PGCE Pre-service.