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The Professional Special Purpose Certificate in Teaching, Learning & Assessment for Academic Practice is a level 9, non-major award. The 15 ECTS-credited ‘SpCert’ focuses on four interrelated facets of Academic Practice: teaching, learning, research and leadership.

SP Cert Welcome Video

Please click the image above to play our welcome video.


About the SpCert in Teaching, Learning & Assessment for Academic Practice

The SpCert in Teaching, Learning & Assessment for Academic Practice is for academics and/or academic-related professionals in Trinity. Cohorts typically include teaching academics, researchers with teaching responsibilities, part time or adjunct teaching staff, and other professionals with roles in supporting learning.

The SpCert is a research-informed professional qualification in academic practice, designed to be flexible and practice-based. Candidates are supported to engage in modules/areas most appropriate to their own interests in the areas of teaching, learning, and assessment. Programme participants develop and evidence their academic practice, knowledge and values and can engage with the programme at times that are appropriate to them.

The core values of the SpCert are grounded in supporting and fostering excellence in teaching across the disciplines, recognizing the impact on student learning of all those who teach and also taking into the account the enormous diversity of teaching contexts at Trinity. As the SpCert focuses on application of theory to practice and on reflection and evaluation, all candidates should hold responsibilities for teaching and/or supporting learning while participating in the course. The SpCert is awarded following the completion of three distinct 5 ECTS modules, one of which should normally be ‘Perspectives on Teaching & Learning in Higher Education’. The SpCert is a level 9/ M-level award on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications and aligns to Ireland’s National Professional Development Framework which recognises both accredited and non-accredited forms of professional development for academics and those engaged in supporting teaching and learning in the Irish higher education context. Upon completion of the certificate staff can undertake further modules to facilitate lifelong learning and help maintain high quality practice throughout their careers.

Applicants to this course would normally hold a minimum of an honours degree or equivalent in any discipline. The SpCert handbook is updated annually to reflect the details of the modules available within a particular academic year. Please view our handbook for more detailed information. The SpCert is not open to graduate teaching assistants, for whom a separate programme is available.

Please note these modules are open to and free of charge to Trinity staff members only. For any queries please contact Jade.Concannon@tcd.ie

Timetable 2022-23

Trinity Term 2023 - Registration open April 2023

Delivery: Blended.

Dates: Apr-May 2023

Time:
10:30 – 13:00 (except where otherwise indicated)

 

 

Curriculum Design in Higher Education

Facilitators: Dr Caitriona Ni Shé (module lead), Dr Pauline Rooney, Dr Jonny Johnston & Assoc. Prof. Cicely Roche.

  • Tuesday 25th April 2023 (In person)
  • Tuesday 9th May 2023 (Online)
  • Tuesday 16th May 2023 (Online)
  • Tuesday 30th May 2023 (10:30 – 16:30)* Please note time change (In person)
  • Tuesday 13th June 2023 (In person)

Summer 2023

Delivery:Blended

Dates:June 2023

Time:
Varies

Embedding Digital Pedagogies into your Teaching Practice

Facilitators: Dr Pauline Rooney (module lead) & Dr Caitríona Ní Shé

  • Tuesday 6th June: 10:00 – 16:00 (In person)
  • Thursday 8th June: 14:00 – 16:00 (Online)
  • Monday 12th June: 14:00 – 16:00 (Online)
  • Wednesday 14th June: 10:30 – 13:00 (In person)

Delivery:In-person (2 day event with 2 follow up afternoon event days)

Dates:Summer 2023

Time:
Varies

 

 

Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Facilitators: Dr Jonny Johnston (module lead) & Assoc. Prof. Cicely Roche

  • 11th & 12th July - 10:00 – 16:30
  • 1st August - Microteaching (in person) - 14:00-17:30
  • 28th August - Teaching Philosophy Statement workshop followed by a one hour writing retreat (both online). 13:00 - 15:00
We strongly recommend programme participants taking the SpCert on a for-credit basis to complete Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as their first module from the suite.

Michaelmas Term 2022

Delivery: Blended.

Dates: October - December 22

Time:
14:00 – 16:30

 

 

Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Facilitators: Dr Jonny Johnston (module lead) & Dr Caitríona Ní Shé

  • Thursday 6th October 2022 (Online)
  • Thursday 13th October 2022 (In person - Banking Hall, 3-4 Foster Place)
  • Thursday 10th November 2022 (In person - Banking Hall, 3-4 Foster Place)
  • Thursday 24th November 2022 (Online)
  • Thursday 8th December 2022 (Online)
  • Thursday 15th December 2022 (In person - Banking Hall, 3-4 Foster Place)
  • Teaching Philosophy Statement Workshop (optional attendance on Friday 16th December 2022 from 13:00 – 15:00 online)
We strongly recommend programme participants taking the SpCert on a for-credit basis to complete Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as their first module from the suite.

Delivery: Blended.

Dates: October - December 22

Time:
10:30 – 13:00

Assessment & Feedback in Higher Education

Facilitators: Dr Pauline Rooney (module lead) & Assoc. Prof. Cicely Roche

  • Tuesday 4th October 2022 (In person - Room 1.16, 3-4 Foster Place)
  • Tuesday 11th October 2022 (In person - Room 1.16, 3-4 Foster Place)
  • Tuesday 8th November 2022 (In person - Room 119, Tangent School of Business)
  • Tuesday 15th November 2022 (Online)
  • Tuesday 6th December 2022 (Online)
  • Tuesday 13th December 2022 (In person - Banking Hall, 3-4 Foster Place)

Hilary Term 2023

Delivery: Blended.

Dates: Jan - April 2023

Time:
10:30 – 13:00

 

 

Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Facilitators: Dr Jonny Johnston (module lead) & Assoc. Prof. Cicely Roche

  • Tuesday 24th January 2023
  • Tuesday 7th February 2023 (online)
  • Tuesday 21st February 2023 (online)
  • Tuesday 21st March 2023
  • Tuesday 4th April 2023
  • Tuesday 18th April 2023
  • One further day for TPS and Microteaching TBC

(*N.B. Module participants are welcome to attend either or both of sessions 6 and 7 but are expected to participate in at least one of these).

We strongly recommend programme participants taking the SpCert on a for-credit basis to complete Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as their first module from the suite.

Delivery: Blended.

Dates: Feb-Mar 2023

Time:
11:00 - 13:00

Embedding Digital Pedagogies into your Teaching Practice

Facilitators: Dr Pauline Rooney (module lead) & Dr Caitríona Ní Shé

  • Thursday 16th February 2023
  • Thursday 23rd February 2023
  • Thursday 2nd March 2023
  • Thursday 9th March 2023 (online)
  • Thursday 16th March 2023 (online)
  • Thursday 23rd March 2023 (online)
  • Thursday 30th March 2023

 

Progression

Participants who are awarded the Certificate may apply to the Postgraduate Diploma/M.Ed in Higher Education within the School of Education; such participants may secure an exemption from one of the four modules within the Diploma.

https://www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/research/schools/education.php

Informal enquiries about the partial exemption from Diploma modules should be made to Dr. John Walsh (M.Ed Co-ordinator) at walshj8@tcd.ie