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• How to apply for a place on the PG Cert
   

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Problems at Crumpton

• Background to the course
• Who is the PG Cert (Education) designed for?
• What are the criteria for joining the course?
• What does it lead to?
• What's the time commitment?
• What does it cost?
• When does it take place?
• Where does it take place?
• What does the programme consist of?
• How is it taught and assessed?
• Who runs it?
• How can I find out more?
• Information for current participants

Background to the course

The course is designed for our own academic staff at UCE Birmingham.  It aims to contribute to the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in the University by assisting academic staff in reviewing and developing their practice.  It meets the growing requirement that academic staff develop knowledge and good practice in the area of learning and teaching in addition to their subject expertise, a requirement which was reflected nationally in the creation of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (now the HE Academy) in June 1999.

Around 400 members of staff, including six Heads of School, have completed the Postgraduate Certificate or its predecessors (Certificates in Education and in Professional Studies).  The courses have been well received by both new and existing staff and have contributed positively to QAA subject reviews and continuation audits.

Here's what recent PG Cert participants said about the course:

Who is the PG Cert (Education) designed for?

The course is open to all members of staff who have a teaching contract and wish to develop their skills in teaching.  New members of staff who don’t have a teaching qualification and have less than three years teaching experience are normally required to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in their first two years at UCE Birmingham.
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What are the criteria for joining the course?

To join the course, you must be a member of academic staff who has:

• regular contact with students
• responsibility for creating and carrying out student assessment
• responsibility for curriculum design

You will need all of these to be able to complete the assignments on the course. If you support learners but don't fit these criteria, then our separate course on Designing and Implementing Student Support is likely to be appropriate to your work.
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What does it lead to?

The course comprises a double module, ‘Learning & Teaching in Higher Education,’ successful completion of which leads to the award of Postgraduate Certificate (Education).  This is awarded through the Faculty of Education.  The Postgraduate Certificate is worth 60 credits at Masters (M) level.  You can then gain a further 60 M level credits to receive a Postgraduate Diploma, and an additional 60 M level credits by completing a dissertation, leading to an MA in Education.

The Postgraduate Certificate is accredited by the HE Academy (formerly the Institute for Learning & Teaching in Higher Education) and successful completion of the course entitles you to membership of the Academy.  The course is also recognised nationally by the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA); successful participants are accredited by SEDA and receive a SEDA certificate.

Once you have successfully completed the course, you can have PG Cert, PG Cert (Ed) or PG Cert (HE) after your name; please note that you CANNOT use PGCE, as this is specifically a qualification denoting Qualified Teacher Status at school level.
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What's the time commitment?

The course runs on 12 days throughout the academic year, from October to June (see dates below). Each day lasts from 9.30 to 4.00.  A minimum of 80% attendance is required. In addition, there are assessment tasks to complete. All of these are designed to integrate with your normal practice of teaching and course development. It is University policy that staff attending the course be given 12 further study days spread throughout the academic year to enable them to complete the assignments.
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What does it cost?

There is no charge to participants or their schools for the Postgraduate Certificate or subsequent modules en route to the Postgraduate Diploma or MA.  Schools and Departments are expected to arrange release time for attendance and study. Staff in the Technology Innovation Centre are paid for by the TIC.
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When does it take place?

The group meets on Wednesdays. Dates for 2007-08 are as follows:  

Wednesday group The New Technology Institute (NTI)
03 October 24 October 14 November 05 December	16 January 06 February 27 February 12 March	16 April 30 April 21 May 04 June
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Where does it take place?

Sessions for the Wednesday group take place at the NTI (New Technology Institute), 15 Bartholomew Row, in Birmingham City Centre. A free lunch is provided.  

 

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What does the programme consist of?

There are three units to the programme:

• Teaching skills and techniques for different learning contexts in Higher Education

• Promoting effective student learning in Higher Education

• Designing curriculum to support self-study

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How is the programme taught and assessed?

The teaching of the course seeks to model the use of a variety of teaching and learning methods.

Assessments all have a practical focus, designed to help you use ideas from the course in reflecting on, and developing, your work.
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Who runs it?

The course coordinator is Alan Mortiboys from the Staff and Student Development Department, and staff from the Department are responsible for the majority of the teaching and assessment on the course.  In addition, there are contributions by a range of staff from schools and departments across the University.
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How can I find out more?

Please contact:

Alan Mortiboys
Tutor for Educational Development
Staff and Student Development Department
Edge Building, Room E212
Perry Barr Campus

Tel. 0121 331 7657/5380  •  e-mail Alan Mortiboys

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• Materials: Please contact Alan Mortiboys or Jenny Eland if you need electronic copies of any of the materials from the course.
• Problems at Crumpton: an open-access case study used on the PG Cert, including:  
  • Interactive Teaching: key concept map
  • Curriculum Design: key concept map
  • Student Characteristics: key concept map
• Moodle Virtual Learning Environment
• Assignment templates:
  • Download assignment template in Arial
  • Download assignment template in Times New Roman