North West University Teaching Course
North West University Teaching Course, The Advanced Certificate in Teaching is intended to acknowledge specialised academic or professional studies in education. The Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training realised that many teachers need more subject knowledge or want to change their direction or specialisation and/or teach a new subject or phase. The ACT is a new qualification that can fulfil that role. The ACT is primarily vocationally oriented, and the aim with the qualification is that teachers strengthen their subject knowledge or prepare themselves to teach a new subject. The ACT qualification will be based on the four school phases: Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Phase. The UODL at the NWU will in 2018 present the Advanced Certificate in Foundation Phase Teaching (ACT FP), the Advanced Certificate in Intermediate Phase Teaching (ACT IP), and the Advanced Certificate in Senior Phase Teaching (ACT SP).
The Advanced Certificate in Foundation Phase Teaching (ACFPT)
The Advanced Certificate in Intermediate Phase Teaching (ACIPT)
This programme will equip teachers to teach grades 4, 5 and 6. They do three generic modules (Foundations of Education, Information and Communication Technology, a Practice Teaching component) and three fundamental modules (two modules in English First Additional Language and one module Elementary Mathematics.) Students select two specializations from Life Skills, Mathematics, Science and Technology and Social Science.
The Advanced Certificate in Senior Phase Teaching (ACP ST)
This programme equips teachers to teach from grade 7 to grade 9, i.e. the final phase of the General Education and Training band. Students do the three generic modules: Foundations of Education, Information and Communication Technology, and a Practice Teaching component. They then select ONE specialization from Economic and Management Sciences, English Home Language, Life Skills, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social Science or Technology.
Students pursuing the ACT are expected to complete the module in Work-integrated Learning (WIL). If they are practising teachers, the assessment will take place in their current school, by an approved mentor. If they are not in a teaching position, they have to spend three weeks at a partner school of the NWU in order to complete the WIL.
The ACT is delivered only via open distance learning. Students may register twice a year: to commence in January or in July. All study materials are included in the price of the programme and delivered to students by courier. Students are not expected to have internet access. The study material is available in hard copy (paper-based), and interactive whiteboard classes are presented. These lessons can be attended at one of the many student support centres where computers with internet access are available, or may be downloaded from here.
The medium of instruction is English and study material is available in English, but students may do their work in Afrikaans or answer examination papers in Afrikaans.
The Advanced Diploma in Education (ADE)
Qualification code: 94859
The ADE is a NQF level 7 qualification, and students can articulate to a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDip) on NQF level 8 or a BEdHons on NQF level 8.
The ADE addresses the needs of three types of teachers.
- For retraining, teachers who want to specialise in a new teaching subject.
- For upgrading, teachers with a professional qualification, who did not specialise in the phase but have experience teaching in the phase.
- For upgrading, teachers who want to strengthen their field of specialisation subject and/or phase.
Advanced Diploma in Teaching (ADT)
Programme Information
The rules for the ADT Programme must be read together with the General Academic rules of the university (A-rules), which is available on the Internet here
Nature and general aims
The ADT programme in the Faculty of Education Sciences of the North-West University prepares student teachers to become competent professional educators in a variety of educational and training careers. The overarching goal of the educational experience in this particular programme is to provide all our students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to live and work in a globally interdependent world and with the support services to help them succeed. This requires a conscious, purposeful, sustained and social-constructivist focus on the actual learning of students that may take place because of their interactions in specific study-related groups. For this reason, this academic programme also seeks to foster inclusivity and to develop a sense of personal and social responsibility and ethical conduct in and among our students by encouraging involvement in environmental affairs, as well as in community and public service. It endeavours to offer and cultivate a teaching-learning environment that is hospitable to diverse socio-conventional and linguistic interests and activities.
The Advanced Diploma in Teaching is focused on the initial training of teachers for teaching in the Senior and Further Education and Training Phases, thus Grades 7 to 12.
The ADT serves as a professional capping qualification for candidates who have completed a relevant B-degree or a relevant qualification with at least 360-credits and wish to enter the teaching profession.
Students, who obtained this qualification with its focused vision on classroom practice, will be able to fulfil all the contextual roles and competencies of an effective educator.
With this certificate an educator can teach from Grades 7 to 12.
The programme equips and empowers prospective educators in the Senior and FET phases to:
- Develop and demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of education theory and practice;
- Integrate education theory and practice as applied competence;
- Demonstrate and implement the subject specific pedagogical competencies of the Senior and FET educator that embrace teaching, learning and assessment in practice;
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to become responsible, independent and contributing scholars of the professional educational community in a diverse and changing national and international context; and
- Develop and demonstrate critical, creative and reflective problem solving skills within educational and societal context.
The qualification consists of a minimum of 140 credits divided into a minimum of 15 modules. These modules include fundamental modules, generic modules and specialisation methodologies, as well as some additional modules.
This specialised qualification will provide the successful student with both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities. To articulate vertically, a student can seek access to the B Ed Honours (NQF 8) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NQF 8), specializing further in a cognate subject, phase or practice contained in this initial qualification. These NQF Level 8 qualifications ensure access to further postgraduate studies (Master’s & Doctoral Degrees) in cognate study areas. A horizontal articulation is also possible to the Adv Dip (Education) qualification on NQF level 7, for students who want to develop a new role to support teaching and learning, for example school librarianship, education for the deaf, etc.
Study Duration
The minimum duration of study is one year (four examination opportunities) and the maximum duration of study is three years (six examination opportunities)
Specific Objectives
Students, who obtained this qualification with its focused vision on classroom practice, will be able to fulfil all the contextual roles and competencies of an effective educator.
Language
The language of tuition via ODL is English. Study guides for all the modules are available in English. A student may write examinations and submit assignments in either Afrikaans or English. Contact sessions are conducted in English.
Bachelor of Education (BEd): Foundation Phase
The purpose of the BEd Foundation Phase programme is to develop teachers who can demonstrate general educational principles as well as focused knowledge and skills for Foundation Phase teaching. The qualification requires in-depth specialized knowledge, together with practical skills and experience in Foundation Phase classroom teaching context. As part of the qualification, students will be expected to gain experience in applying such knowledge and skills in the context of working with Grade R – 3 learners in a school. This will be realized by the proposed curriculum on the basis of the coherent and ongoing connection between the core theory of pedagogy, the theory of teaching and learning and the subject content of Foundation Phase teaching
Bachelor of Education (BEd): Intermediate Phase
The purpose of the BEd in Intermediate Phase programme (Life Skills & Social Sciences) is to develop teachers who can demonstrate general educational principles as well as focused knowledge and skills for Intermediate Phase teaching. The qualification requires in-depth specialized knowledge, together with practical skills and experience in Intermediate Phase classroom teaching context. As part of the qualification, students will be expected to gain experience in applying such knowledge and skills in the context of working with Grade 4 – 6 learners in a school. This will be realized by the proposed curriculum on the basis of the coherent and ongoing connection between the core theory of pedagogy, the theory of teaching and learning and the subject content of Intermediate Phase teaching.
Bachelor of Education (BEd): Senior & FET Phase
The purpose of the BEd Senior and FET Phase programme is to develop teachers who can demonstrate general educational principles as well as focused knowledge and skills for Senior and FET Phase teaching. The qualification requires in-depth specialized knowledge, together with practical skills and experience in Senior and FET classroom teaching context. As part of the qualification, students will be expected to gain experience in applying such knowledge and skills in the context of working with Grade 7 – 12 learners in a school. This will be realized by the proposed curriculum on the basis of the coherent and ongoing connection between the core theory of pedagogy, the theory of teaching and learning and the subject content of Senior and FET Phase teaching.
Bachelor of Education (BEd): Honours
Note: Each application will be dealt with individually.
- On completion of the studies, candidates will be able to demonstrate thorough understanding and have gained knowledge and skills of the principles, methods and procedures relevant to the specific programme specialisation in education.
- Candidates will be able to have gained knowledge and understanding of the role that research plays in education, conduct basic evaluation and educational research.
- These studies will enable students to play a leadership role in professional educational activities in the different sectors of teaching in South Africa.
Diploma in Grade R Teaching
The Diploma in Grade R Teaching is a NQF-level 6 qualification consisting of 380/388 credits. Students choosing English First Language (LoLT) are required to complete an extra language model of 8 credits as required by the Department of Higher Education and training, as stipulated in the Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications. Therefore students taking English First Language (LoLT) will complete a total of 388 credits to attain the Diploma in Grade R Teaching. The Diploma in Grade R Teaching will also provide a vast number of under- and unqualified Grade R practitioners with the opportunity to gain access to a higher education qualification. This qualification will be recognized by the Department of Basic Education and utilized to enable the practitioners to qualify for the relevant REQV level 13 for remuneration purposes. Therefore, this qualification will not only provide prospective students with an opportunity to develop their academic careers, but may also enhance their personal and social well-being. This specialized qualification will provide the successful student with an opportunity to articulate into a BEd degree (Foundation Phase) in order to gain status as a fully qualified Foundation Phase teacher after completion of this degree. Students who wish to articulate into the BEd degree will be credited with up to 180 credits at the NWU.
The core modules focus on Languages, Mathematics and Life Skills that should form an essential part for any Reception Year teacher’s professional knowledge. Research has proven that, where young learners have a solid grounding in Life Skills, they are better prepared for all challenges of life and future success. The Life Skills component of this qualification thus carries the most credits in order to equip Grade R teachers with the critical knowledge of all facets of Life Skills education. This programme will develop the necessary competences for students to understand how learners learn, how to teach and how to assess what they learn. The programme further includes modules focussed on work-integrated learning (WIL). These modules which are on NQF level 6 aim to develop the students’ discipline and pedagogical knowledge and skills. These modules link clearly with the competences of how to unpack the curriculum, apply sound subject knowledge and how to teach subject content successfully to Grade R learners. The WIL modules also range from levels 5 to 7 to ensure the development of competences for effective teaching in diverse classrooms in South Africa.
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