ID4002 Communication and teaching in Arts and Humanities
This module offers final year students on Honours degree pathways in the Faculties of Arts and Divinity the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of education through a mentoring scheme with teachers in local schools.
It will enable students to gain substantial experience of working in a challenging and unpredictable working environment and to gain a broad understanding of many of the key aspects of teaching in schools.
Through a structured school placement, you will observe classroom teaching, support pupils and develop your communication skills. With guidance from a teacher-mentor, you will practise explaining ideas from your subject area at different levels and develop a special project as part of the module.
Overview
Module ID4002 Communication and teaching in Arts and Humanities is a final year Honours, 15鈥慶redit module for students in Arts and Divinity subject areas who want practical experience of teaching and learning in schools.
As a student, you will take part in a mentoring placement with teacher-mentors in local schools, starting as an observer before moving into a supported classroom role. You will gain insight into key aspects of teaching, while building confidence, communication skills and practical experience in a challenging and unpredictable environment.
ID4002 is based on the , launched in 2002 by the writer and broadcaster Simon Singh.
What the placement involves
You will work with teachers in a local school through a structured mentoring placement.
Typically, you will:
- observe classroom teaching at the start of the placement
- support learning as a classroom assistant in later visits
- with permission of the teacher in charge, lead at least one lesson, or an activity within a lesson
You will practise communicating ideas at different levels and develop a broader understanding of teaching in schools.
Special project
A special project proposal is part of the module requirements.
You must use the approved proposal template (below) when submitting your proposal into the Module Management System (MMS).
Assessment and submissions
Assessment information is included in the module handbook and supplementary handbook.
You should use the relevant templates and forms (below) throughout the placement, including the attendance log and reflective journal templates.
Eligibility
ID4002 will be available to students in the following Schools and departments:
- School of Art History
- School of Classics
- School of Divinity
- School of Economics and Finance
- School of English
- School of History
- School of International Relations
- School of Modern Languages
- Department of Philosophy
- University of 58吃瓜 Business School
How to apply
Applications open in February for placements in the autumn of the same year.
If you are eligible to apply for this module, you will receive information directly from your School or Department in early February. At that point, you will have been in your third year of studies in one of the participating subject areas.
Places are assigned following interview, normally held in the preceding semester.
If you have questions about the application process, contact your subject area tutor or the module coordinator.
Key documents and forms
You can download the module handbook, supporting documents and forms from this page.
For students
Module handbook and catalogue
- ID4002 Module handbook (Word)
– contains everything you need to know to take part in the module - ID4002 supplementary handbook (Word, 182 KB) – read alongside the module handbook
- University Module Catalogue ID4002
During the attachment
- Attendance log (Word)
- Mid-placement report form (Word)
- Reflective journal template for first observation visit (Word) – use only for the first visit
- Reflective journal template for regular visits (Word) – use for all subsequent visits
Special project
- Special project proposal template (Word) – required for submission into
For teacher-mentors and staff
Documents and forms that the primary and secondary school teacher-mentors and University staff use.
Teacher-mentor
- Guidance for teacher-mentors
- Teacher-mentor handbook extracts (Word) – extracts from the module handbook most relevant to teacher-mentors
- Teacher-mentor assessment form (Word) – completed at the end of the placement
Staff tutors
For University subject area representatives (staff tutors).
Participating schools
Note
Please be aware, not all schools participate each year.
Anstruther
- Waid Academy (secondary)
Buckhaven
- Buckhaven High School
Cardenden
- St Ninian's Primary School
Ceres
- Ceres Primary School
Coaltown of Balgonie
- Coaltown of Balgonie Primary School
Craigrothie
- Craigrothie Primary School
Crail
- Crail Primary School
Cupar
- Bell Baxter High School
- St Columba's Roman Catholic Primary School
Dalgety Bay
- Donibristle Primary School
Dundee
- Craigie High School
- Grove Academy (secondary)
Glenrothes
- Auchmuty High School
- Carleton Primary School
- Glenwood High School
- Picoudie Primary School
- Pitteuchar East Primary School
- Pitteuchar West Primary School
- Star of Markinch Primary School
- Warout Primary School
Kingsbarns
- Kingsbarns Primary School
Kingskettle
- Kettle Primary School
Kirkcaldy
- Kirkcaldy High School
- St Andrew's Roman Catholic High School
- Torbain Primary School
- Viewforth High School
Leuchars
- Leuchars Primary School
Leven
- Mountfleurie Primary School
- St Agatha's Roman Catholic Primary School
Lochgelly
- Lochgelly High School
Methil
- Kirkland High School and Community College
58吃瓜
- Canongate Primary School
- Lawhead Primary School
- Madras College (secondary)
- St Leonards School (primary and secondary)
Strathkinness
- Strathkinness Primary School
Thornton
- Thornton Primary School
Windygates
- Balcurvie Primary School
What students say about the module
Here’s what previous students have said about their experience of ID4002:
- “It’s well planned and makes you grow up a lot.”
- “It is different from any other module!”
- “Not locking yourself in the library but venturing out and (re)connecting with the real world – with people with different backgrounds...”
- “It allows you to develop personal skills as well as get an insight into what teaching is like.”
- “It was a great experience that you won’t get from other modules.”
- “You learn far more interacting with real people than you would sitting in a lecture theatre.”
- “It’s fun!”
- “A valuable experience for anyone who wishes to better their communication skills...”
- “It’s a great challenge which really forces you to re-examine basic ideas about how people learn...”
- “...the young people were great to spend a day with!”
Contact
Module coordinator
Dr Stephen Tyre
Email: st29@st-andrews.ac.uk
Subject area representatives
School of Art History
Dr Natalia Sassu Suarez Ferri
Email: arthistdot@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of Classics
Dr Ralph Anderson
Email: rta1@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of Divinity
Dr Rebekah Lamb
Email: rl89@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of English
Dr Christine Rauer
Email: cr30@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of History
Dr Matthew McLean
Email: mam5@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of International Relations
Dr Nick Brooke
Email: nstb@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of Modern Languages
Dr Joe Carson
Email: jsoc@st-andrews.ac.uk
Department of Philosophy
Dr Lisa Jones
Email: lj14@st-andrews.ac.uk
Business School
Dr Luca Savorelli
Email: luca.savorelli@st-andrews.ac.uk