Module Code: H7PPI
Long Title Policies and Practice in Irish Education
Title Policies and Practice in Irish Education
Module Level: LEVEL 7
EQF Level: 6
EHEA Level: First Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: ARLENE EGAN
Module Author: Leo Casey
Departments: NCI Learning & Teaching
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff  
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Discuss the development of policy and practice in Ireland in relation to AWE and ECE.
LO2 Appreciate the factors that have impacted on the shape of educational policy and practice in Ireland.
LO3 Identify how policy is translated into practice
LO4 Discuss current debates in relation to policy and practice in Irish education.
LO5 Critically analyse policy developments and their impact on the Irish education landscape, with particular reference to one's own chosen field of study (i.e. ECE or AWE).
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements  
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Education Policy and Practice
• Introduction to the role of policy in determining practice in Irish education, the key players who lead the development of policy such as the Irish Government, the EU, The NCCA, The Teaching Council and examples of the most recent policy documents such as The White Paper on Irish Education, The White Paper on Further Education, the Aistear and Siolta Curricula documents, the HEA Strategy for Higher Education 2030, the Action Plan for Solas, the FET body and the range of policy documents in relation to ICT in education, Literacy and Numeracy, 2nd Language Acquistion and Interculturalism in schools.
Factors that impact on Policy development
Students will be introduced to a range of factors that have impacted on policy developments in Irish education in recent years. These will include the changing cultural demographic in Ireland, the move to a more inclusive approach to education for a diversity of learners, the emphasis on a more learner centred approach to teaching and assessment, the continuum between ECE and Tertiary education, workplace learning and the influence of employers on skills and competencies required from education in order to service the Irish market. This aspect of the module will link these policy factors to developments in the EU and the OECD and how these impact within Ireland such as the publication of the PISA reports and the OECD Education at a Glance Report.
Policy into Practice
The module will identify the process of translating policy into practice, the factors that inhibit and the factors that support this process and through the use of examples such as the Policy on Interculturalism and the Aistear Programme demonstrate how these processes are undertaken.
Current Policy Debates
A number of current policy issues will be introduced to te students including the Code of Professional Practice developed by the Teaching Council, the recommendations for pre-service training and in-service CPD and the challenges around the implementation of these recommendations. The practice implications for legal policy in the area of Children’s Rights will be addressed in this section.
Policy in ECE/AFE
Seminars to introduce students to the most recent policies in their own particular field and the processes of implementing these policies in practice.
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Essay % of total: 60
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
n/a
Assessment Type: Presentation % of total: 40
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Group Presentation
No End of Module Assessment
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat failed items
The student must repeat any item failed

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture per week 2 Once per semester 0.17
Independent Learning No Description 8.5 Once per semester 0.71
Total Weekly Contact Hours 0.17
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Kilkelly, U.. (2008), Children's Rights in Ireland: law, policy and practice, Totell Publishing, London.
  • McNamara, G., Mulcahy, C. and O'Hara, J.. (2004), An analysis of the training needs of trainers in the further Education sector in Ireland, Oideais, Dublin.
  • O'Buachalla, S.. (1988), Education Policy in Twentieth Century Ireland, Wolfhound Press, Dublin.
  • Tovey, H. and Share, P.. (2000), A Sociology of Ireland, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
Other Resources
Discussion Note: