At The University of Nottingham, the PGCE(i) is one of the leading courses of its type. It is a part-time masters-level distance learning programme of professional enrichment for educators working countries other than the UK.
The course focuses on the improvement of individual teaching practice
through critical reflection and action research. It also enables you to
compare teaching approaches in different countries.
The PGCEi comprises a face-to-face introductory event, where you will
meet your Nottingham-based tutors and fellow students. This is followed
by online distance learning with individual tutor support. The good news
is that the PGCEi graduates have the opportunity to further their
studies through progression to the MA Education or MA Education (online)
The general aim of the PGCEi is to improve practice by building new
ideas and strategies which are tested out in your own classrooms. More
specifically, the programme aims to improve teaching by:
• Helping you to understand your own education system from an
international perspective
• Enabling you to become conversant with the basic assumptions, concepts
and principles of a range of learning theories and to evaluate their
usefulness in specific educational situations
• Promoting a deeper understanding of a range of teaching strategies
• Developing expertise in practitioner research
• Making appropriate use of professional and research literature
Course content and structure:
The PGCEi consists of four compulsory 15-credit modules and each module
is assessed by a 3000 word assignment:
Module 1: (Contexts):
Exposes one to the National and International context for educational
and ideas from the philosophy of education about the purposes of
education in different national settings
Module 2: (Understanding Learning):
Focuses upon broad areas within the fields of learning theories.
Motivation, intelligence, behaviourism and constructivism will be
considered. The unit on behaviourism will elaborate the basic principles
of B.F.Skinner’s theory and invite you to reflect on the strengths and
weaknesses of Skinner,s approach to educational materials. The Units on
constructivism will examine the respective approaches of Piaget and
Vygotsky to ways in which children construct knowledge. The unit on
intelligence will invite a critical approach to Multiple Intelligence
theory and to currently fashionable theories of learning styles. In this
module, critical approaches will be encouraged as well as a grasp of the
practical importance for teachers of understanding how children learn
Module 3: (Approaches to Teaching):
This module will include generic materials on ‘teaching strategies’ and
‘aspects of pedagogy’. ‘Teaching strategies’ will include materials on
questioning, group work, and other forms of collaborative learning.
‘Aspects of pedagogy’ will include materials on pupil management,
planning, assessment and differentiation.
Module 4: (Investigating Student Understanding):
In this final module, you will be asked to plan and undertake a small
classroom investigation in your own school.
Successful completion of all four modules will lead to the award of a
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International).
The course mainly web-based which includes online course materials,
learning resources and tutorial support; however students are given hard
copies of materials at the beginning of the course. There is usually a
face-to-face programme (Introductory session) at the beginning of the
course and before the conclusion of the course. The face-to-face
involves small group discussion, presentations, whole group interaction
and individual tutorials.
The recommended timescale for the course is approximately twelve months
but it can be completed in eight months
PGCEi-Entry Requirements
Candidates should normally hold an approved first degree in an
appropriate discipline with at least second class honours (or
equivalent), or an approved professional qualification deemed to be
equivalent to a second class honours degree.
You will need day-to-day access to a computer and the internet and
regular access to a classroom context.
NOTE: If your first language is English, you are required to provide
your WAEC certificate as evidence that you passed English language. If
not, you must achieve an overall score of either:
•IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
•TOEFL IBT 87 (minimum 20 in Speaking and 19 in all other elements)
How to apply:
Purchase your registration form from QAARDAN office: 3 Tony Oghene Jode
Close, Off Omorinle Johnson Street, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1,
Lagos.
Registration form costs N5, 000.
You can deposit the money to this account detail:
Account Name: QAARDAN
Account Number: 0001411877
GTBank
The recommended timescale for the course is between twelve to eighteen
months. The programme runs on an annual basis and recruitment is
now open for the next cohort with will comment in November 2017.
For further inquiries contact Onyeka on 08038425589
PS:
Personal statement:
In the application form you are required to write a personal statement
which should be about your previous experience, hopes for the course,
and plans for your future career. You should include details about your
teaching experiences to date including your current role. Explain what
you have learned from those experiences, and how you think the PGCEi
will be able to help you develop as a teacher in future. If you have
done other work in which you have trained people, or worked in a
teacher-style role or as an educator please include details of these
too. You should aim to write approximately 500-700 words.
Supporting documents
The Supporting documents for the programme are scanned copies of
originals of the following:
1. Degree Certificate
2. WAEC Certificate
3. Marriage Certificate (If applicable)
4. One academic/work related reference letter
