Primary Teaching - Student Profile

Name: Regina Glynn
Course: Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education
College: Hibernia College

I commenced Hibernia College’s HDip in Arts in Primary Education in October 2008 and I have now completed my first year.  The flexibility it provides is absolutely fantastic.  You can study from the comfort of your own home by listening to lectures in your own time.  Live tutorials also exist where you are linked up with the rest of your group and can benefit from a more personal live session with the relevant course tutor who is on hand to provide assistance.
 
At times it can be more isolating than attending a traditional college but we do get to attend on-site lectures, normally on selected Saturdays throughout the year.  Here it is nice to touch base with the other students in your group whose voice you are already familiar with from the online tutorials!
 
The course is intensive enough as there are ongoing assessments in every subject.  We also have to complete three periods of Teaching Practice in different schools to gain experience teaching infants, middle and senior classes. Some particularly enjoyable aspects were the week we spent learning how to teach PE along with the three weeks we spent in the Gaeltacht “ag cur feabhas ar ár chuid Gaeilge”.  
 
I recently moved from Dublin to Westmeath and the beauty of Hibernia College, is that I can still attend my online college! When I graduate I will hopefully be able to secure a full-time position locally. I believe word of mouth plays a major role along with having some additional strings to your bow!