Curriculum, Planning and Assessment for Primary: Practicum 2

Overview

In this unit, pre-service teachers will further develop their capabilities as a teacher in the lower primary context. Pre-service teachers undertake 21 days of professional experience under the supervision of a teacher mentor. Pre-service teachers involve themselves in the life of the school and reflect on their practice and performance in discussion with their school mentor and university staff. Pre-service teachers will undertake one-to-one coaching and small group work before taking responsibility for a full class. In preparation for their placement in schools, pre-service teachers engage with material relating to establishing professional relationships and relevant national and/or state or territory curriculum and policies. Pre-service teachers will demonstrate competence against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) appropriate to the course stage.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Plan, implement, and evaluate learning experiences including relevant reflective teaching and assessment strategies
2. Apply professional relationships with education professionals, students and families
3. Navigate relevant National and State/Territory curriculum documents and identify appropriate resources to support teaching and learning, including safe learning environments
4. Effectively integrate, into education programs, elements of the cultural identity and linguistic background of all diverse learners including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Teaching methods

Swinburne Online

Assessment

It is a requirement that students achieve an overall pass grade for the Professional Experience Portfolio assessment task. This task is designed to evidence attainment of various Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and National Program Standards in line with external accreditation by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Students who do not achieve an overall pass grade will, if feasible, be granted one additional opportunity to evidence their attainment of unmet requirements.

This requirement is aligned to the National Program Standard 5.4 that ensures providers work collaboratively with placement schools and systems to rigorously assess pre-service teachers against the Graduate Teacher Standards.

Content

• Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate) Standards 1 – 7
• Code of Ethics
• Engagement in a professional practicum under the guidance of a mentor teacher
• Lower primary school (Foundation to Grade 2) curriculum policies and documents
• Introduction to assessment practices and their relationship to effective learning
• Lesson planning and documentation
• Forming professional relationships
• Self-assessment of teaching performance
• Creating and maintaining a safe and challenging learning environment
• Using a range of teaching practices and resources
• Strategies for supporting students’ well-being and safety, including policy and legislative requirements
• Strategies for evaluating learning and teaching programs to improve learning
• Applying ICT strategies to engage literacy and numeracy teaching
• Code of Conduct
• Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
• Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
• Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
• Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
• Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
• Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy