NAT-30012 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

NAT-30008

Description for 2025/26

This module gives students interested in pursuing teaching or training as a career the opportunity to gain experience in the world of teaching in schools, colleges and other educational settings.
You will develop skills highly valued by employers such as communication, and interpersonal skills, whilst learning to address individual needs and developing engaging teaching materials.
You will be supported via a range of activities to prepare for your placement and have the choice to source your own placement or apply to university sourced roles.

This module provides an opportunity for Level 6 students to gain first-hand experience of teaching in schools, colleges and other educational settings. It is designed to help final year students gain confidence in communicating their subject and develop strong organisational and interpersonal skills that will be of benefit to them in employment and life. It will enable students to understand how to address the needs of individuals and devise and develop teaching materials appropriate to engage the relevant age group they are working with. This module provides the skills and opportunity to allow the student to act as an enthusiastic role model for pupils/learners, and to offer the student a positive experience of working with pupils/learners and teachers.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Evaluate standard teaching and learning methods in the preparation of appropriate session plans and teaching materials.: 1,2
Critically reflect on their experience in the teaching environment and communicate this professionally to peers and staff, both in an oral presentation and in a written report.: 1,2
Evaluate interactions with students and staff, in both an academic and school/college/other educational setting, to provide and receive feedback at an appropriate level.: 1,2
Apply appropriate organisational, prioritisation and negotiating skills to ensure achievement of defined goals.: 1,2
Create strategies to handle difficult and potentially disruptive situations, based on the differing learning needs of individuals.: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning (15 hours): 12 hours of preparatory sessions, 4 of which would be discipline-specific; 3 hours of meetings with a University supervisor (academic and/or professional service colleague.)
71 hours independent learning to include: Preparation to placement activities; Completion of logbook; Working on final presentation; Working on the final reflective diary / workbook.
64 contact placement hours in a school, college or other educational setting.
Placements would be able to be taken in either semester, or perhaps across both to support students’ home, study and work life balance. Suggested option include 8 × 8-hour (whole day) sessions, or 16 × 4-hour (half day) sessions. The timing of the placement would be flexible to be agreed between the school and the student, but it ideally within a concentrated block rather than dispersed over the whole year.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment