Holly's MU Experience
I first came to Maynooth University on the Spring Open Day in 2023. At that time, I was a student at another university, about to wrap up my first year of a course I knew I would not be returning to in September. Primary Teaching was a course and career that had always been on my radar, but a lack of confidence had lead me to remove it from my CAO the first time around. After spending a year studying a different degree, one day at Maynooth was all it took to convince me that I had finally set foot upon the right path.
Though the day was drizzly and overcast, the atmosphere created by the staff and student ambassadors at the Open Day was warm and inviting. I was inspired by the talks given by lecturers from the Froebel Department, and my determination to pursue teaching was reignited.
September rolled around, and I immediately felt at home, both in Maynooth and with the people in my course. The small class groups and workshop-style classes made it easy to get to know everyone and make friends, and we have been able to support each other greatly; whether this is during regular group assignments, paired placement, throughout exams or simply being a friend to chat to over a cup of coffee.
As part of the B.Ed., the average lecture week is Monday-Friday (we do, however, finish by 1pm on Fridays). During the week, I attend mostly workshop-style classes with small class groups of approximately 30. These are mostly based around Curriculum (subject content of the Primary School Curriculum, eg. PE, SPHE, Music, Drama, etc.), Methodology (the ways in which we teach, which are mostly hands-on approaches based on the philosophy of Froebel), and Assessment. We also have larger, full-group lectures on subjects such as Psychology, Sociology, Inclusive Education and Reflective Practice.
School Placement is also an integral part of the course – it can be daunting at first, but is ultimately incredibly rewarding. Learning how to apply the methodologies we study in lectures in a real-life context, working with children and seeing them learn reminds me of why I chose this course, and fills me with ambition for the future. After graduation, I look forward to implementing the knowledge I am gaining on this course in the classroom and being an empowering, dynamic teacher who embodies the Froebelian principles which underpin the B.Ed. at Maynooth University.