EDFX637 - Primary Professional Experience

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

EDLX510 Effective Teaching and Learning in Professional Practice

Unit rationale, description and aim

To optimise the ability to engage in praxis-based learning which focuses on both development and application of theory into practice. Pre-service teachers need to develop their skills and knowledge for teaching in practical teaching contexts -in professionally supportive environments. The aim of the unit is for pre-service teachers to develop their pedagogical and professional knowledge for teaching.

This professional experience comprises a minimum of 30 days placement and supervised teaching in a school context and will include the opportunity throughout the placement for targeted professional experience teaching within the specialisation area. It is complementary to the work in other units and enables pre-service teachers to apply the theory, skills, techniques, and processes presented and learned in Education Studies and Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment studies. 

This professional experience focuses on the identification of the professional role of the teacher as one of reflector and learner within a particular classroom context and as an integral member of a school community. It has a focus on research-informed practice – through critical evaluation and reflection on the teacher impact upon student learning. The unit allows supervising teachers, Teach For Australia staff, and school mentors - to work collaboratively with the University to assess, challenge, and extend the abilities of pre-service teachers in the unit. This school-based professional experience enables pre-service teachers to reinforce and expand their competency in providing for and challenging student learning. - and extends their repertoire of pedagogical skills in the planning and delivery of appropriate teaching and learning programs. It further provides opportunities for school-based study and the development of closer links between theoretical considerations and the teaching and learning experiences encountered in schools. 

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - design and implement a critical enquiry, applying appropriate codes of ethics, into a pedagogical focus that promotes continued professional learning for improved learners learning (GA3, GA4, GA6, GA7, GA9; APST 1.2, 3.6, 6.2, 6.4, 7.1)

LO2 - collect, examine and interpret multiple sources of evidence, including feedback from supervisors and student assessment data, to modify teaching practice (GA5, GA8; APST 5.1, 5.4, 6.3)

LO3 - critically self-reflect on the enquiry process and the collected evidence of learning and teaching for transforming and improving student learning and the pre-service teacher’s professional learning and practice (GA5, GA6, GA8; APST 1.2, 3.6) 

LO4 - understand and critique the role of education systems, school philosophies and mission statements, strategic cross-sectorial policy developments, curriculum construction and management decisions in quality learning and teaching practices as a member of a collaborative learning community of professional educators (GA5, GA6; APST 6.2, 6.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4)

LO5 - teach effectively to promote learning and illustrate achievement of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at graduate level (GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9; APST 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3)

Graduate attributes

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:

Content

Topics will include:

• Professional roles and responsibilities as a member of the school and wider community, professional ethics, and the collegial nature of schools
• Relationship building and communication skills (oral, written, electronic) with students, colleagues, parents/carers, and school community
• Creating effective class and school learning environments through a situational analysis of school/class/student learning strengths and needs
• Lesson, unit and program planning including sequencing of appropriate, effective teaching strategies and learning activities which cater for different learning needs and contexts
• Assessment techniques/processes and appropriate reporting procedures for effective learning
• Classroom management skills appropriate for creating and maintaining positive, safe and challenging learning environments
• The importance of parents/carers as partners in the educative process
• Establishing and maintaining an engaging learning environment cognizant of current teaching and learning theories in the classroom.
• Development of curriculum and class programs to enhance teaching and learning.through analysis of curriculum scope and sequence and cross curricula priorities for stages/school/class
• Schools as learning communities and the teacher’s role as collaborative team member.
• Managing relationships within the school community.
• Analysing the particular school context for the impact of education systems, school philosophies, system, state, national and international policy developments and school structures on quality learning and teaching practices.
• Management of the full range of teacher’s responsibilities including routines, transitions, supervision and pastoral care of school students.
• Strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
• Assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess and moderate student learning.
• Strategies for collecting and interpreting student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice to improve learning outcomes, with a focus on the – Primary teaching area.
• Ethical professional practice for engaging with data and evidence for enquiry into and critical reflection of teaching and learning in school contexts.
• Critical reflection and collaborative interaction with other teachers and other professionals to improve teaching, assessment and professional judgement.
• Seeking and applying constructive feedback from supervisors, mentors and teachers to reflect on and improve teaching practices.
• Opportunities for continued professional learning within and beyond the school context and the implications for improved student learning.
• Self-auditing and reflective practices and their place in the authentication of attainment of the role of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in identifying professional learning needs.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit applies a situated, practical approach to develop the pre-service teacher’s understanding of effective pedagogies and professional attributes. Relevant preparation for the school context will be provided in either on-campus or on-line modes, but the work/learning of the unit is that of being a teacher in a school, working with real learners, colleagues and parents. The pre-service teacher engages in the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA) as a capstone experience in the school context.

Refer to Professional Experience Handbook for detailed guidelines regarding teaching and other requirements. ( Uploaded under accreditation attachments)

Pre-service teachers in this phase of the Professional and Community Experience undertake a minimum of 30 days under agreed supervision arrangements. This experience will involve:

• Assisted immersion in school and class contexts to begin to experience aspects of the primary school teacher’s role and responsibilities
• Participation and engagement, as a community of learners with peers, supervising teachers and university staff, in observation opportunities, team and small group teaching, and whole class teaching, observations and analysis of high-quality teaching episodes in both the major and the minor teaching areas
• Observation and analysis of high-quality teaching episodes in both the major and the minor teaching areas
• A variety of learning-teaching strategies may be used including:
• Face-to-face lectures for briefing and debriefing
• Attendance at all Professional Experience briefing, and debriefing meetings is a unit requirement.
• Online delivery of content and online quizzes
• Seminars, tutorials, or workshops, which include pre-service teacher-led discussions and group work, provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to reflect on and build on their experiences in the field Information and communication technologies may be utilised to facilitate an understanding of an educational community of practice.

Professional Experience: Teaching Requirements

Through school-based experiences, pre-service teachers will examine the nexus between theory and practice as they analyse and reflect upon current practices, develop communication, planning and teaching skills and relate their experiences to the theoretical foundations introduced through lectures and tutorials at university. In partnership with the teachers and school communities, they will practice and develop the content and skills explicitly addressed in other units.

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed so that the pre-service teachers can progressively achieve the Course Learning Outcomes and the Professional Standards and is consistent with University assessment requirements (https://policies.acu.edu.au/student_policies/assessment_policy_and_assessment_procedures).

The unit is designed, within the context of the course as a whole, so that the pre-service teacher can progressively achieve the course learning outcomes and work towards the Australian Professional Standard for Professional Teachers (Graduate level) in an in-situ, practical context.

In this final professional experience pre-service teachers are required to demonstrate mastery of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate level) by completing two culminating assessments: Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA); and Final Professional Experience Report.

Pre-service teachers, the University and schools collaborate in co-ordinating the school-based experiences of the pre-service teachers as they develop further their appreciation and understanding of the role of teacher. The report completed at the end of this unit covers the following themes:

• Professionalism – in conduct, in the execution of teaching and learning and in relationships with all parties
• Detailed, clearly expressed, thoroughly prepared and well-presented lessons
• Organisation and implementation of a range of learning activities and assessment strategies
• Diversity of teaching approaches
• Development of knowledge, skills and effective classroom strategies, including ICT, to promote engaging learning environments
• Engagement in a range of activities around the teacher’s role, including assisting the class teacher, structured and critical reflection, as appropriate to the setting.

The University will award the final grade based on reports from relevant staff. Both assessment tasks need to be passed to be awarded a pass grade. Consistent with University regulations, pre-service teachers who fail this unit may be asked to respond to the ‘unsatisfactory progress’ report, and this may in turn lead to termination from the course.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Clark, J. S., Porath, S., Thiele, J., & Jobe, M. (2020). Action research. New Prairie Press.

Duran, D., & Topping, K. (2017). Learning by teaching: Evidence-based strategies to enhance learning in the classroom. Taylor & Francis.

Good, T. L., & Lavigne, A. L. (2018). Looking in classrooms (11th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Henniger, M. L. (2009). The teaching experience: An introduction to reflective practice (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Custo Publishing.

Killen, R. (2015). Effective teaching strategies: Lessons from research and practice (7th ed.). Cengage Learning Australia.

Moore, A. (2012). Teaching and learning: Pedagogy, curriculum and culture (2nd ed.). Milton Park, England: Routledge.

Main, K., & Pendergast, D. (Eds.). (2020). Teaching primary years: Rethinking curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Routledge.

Pollard, A., & Black-Hawkins, K. (2019). Reflective teaching in schools (5th ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Whitton, D., Barker, K., Nosworthy, M., Humphries, J., & Sinclair, C. (2016). Learning for teaching, teaching for learning (3rd ed.). Southbank, Vic: Cengage Learning Australia.

Zeichner, K., & Liston, D. (2014). Reflective teaching: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.