English
Gaeilge
Can you tell us your name, job title and the course you studied at ATU?
Andrea Long
Teaching Principal
Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning
Can you share your career path to date?
I am currently a teaching principal. I have taught all class levels to date. I graduated from the MALT programme in 2018 and have completed further studies in educational leadership since.
What does your current role involve?
I am a Teaching Principal in a DEIS Band school. I am responsible for leading teaching and learning and managing the day-to-day running of the school.
What motivated you to start studying?
I have a love of learning. I wanted to continue my professional development in education in order to become a more highly skilled and effective school teacher and leader.
Why did you choose this course from ATU?
This course offered face-to-face and online opportunities. The quality of the course and the modules available appealed to me. The structure enabled me to maintain a permanent teaching position and part-time study.
How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?
The structure of the course was well organised, therefore the process of online studying worked for me. Our cohort also had face-to-face opportunities. Both learning environments allowed me to connect with others and build support groups.
How did you balance work and study?
The course was well structured and allowed time for research and completion of assignments between each module. Balancing both required having a realistic and organised daily/weekly work-study plan.
In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer?
My employer was very supportive. The module on educational leadership was particularly relevant as I was an aspiring leader at the time.
What advice would you have for anyone considering studying online?
You need to be committed and organised. Have a work/study/personal plan in place in order to be able to adhere to the schedule.
In what way has studying online with ATU benefitted your career?
I gained new knowledge and skills as a teacher. I developed new support groups. It opened up opportunities to explore leadership in education.
Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?
I became a school principal.
Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role?
The modules allowed me to explore a variety of methodologies to enhance teaching and learning in my classroom. Practical projects had to be completed, and through these I gained further insight into how to best meet the needs of my pupils.
What were the key skills you took away from your time studying at ATU?
I developed the necessary leadership skills to support me in my daily work as a Teaching Principal. The course also opened up other opportunities for further study in leadership.