Curriculum Planning and Assessment: Practicum 2
Overview
This is the second of four professional experience units for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching). In this unit pre-service teachers will undertake 20 days of professional experience in an approved early childhood setting, with children aged two to five years under the supervision of approved mentors. The unit provides pre-service teachers with knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to teach children effectively. Pre-service teachers will gain knowledge about a variety of theoretical approaches to curriculum and assessment and become familiar with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) appropriate to the course stage of this professional experience.
Requisites
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
07-June-2026
04-October-2026
01-November-2026
07-February-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Plan, implement, and evaluate learning experiences including relevant reflective teaching and assessment strategies
- Effectively navigate professional relationships with education professionals, students and families
- Navigate relevant Early Childhood frameworks and governing documents and identify appropriate resources to support teaching and learning, including safe learning environments
- Effectively integrate, into education programs, elements of the cultural identity and linguistic background of all diverse learners including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Navigate relevant Early Childhood framework documents and identify appropriate resources to support teaching and learning
- Effectively integrate, into education programs, elements of the cultural identity and linguistic background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Teaching methods
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement 20 days of placement. (Approximately 8 hour day). |
40.00 | 4 weeks | 160 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
4.16 | 12 weeks | 50 |
| TOTAL | 210 |
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture |
1.00 | 6 weeks | 6 |
| On-campus Class |
3.00 | 8 weeks | 24 |
| Placement 20 days of placement. (Approximately 8 hour day). |
40.00 | 4 weeks | 160 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
1.66 | 12 weeks | 20 |
| TOTAL | 210 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Experience Portfolio | Individual | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4 |
Hurdle
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.
- Learning and development, including early brain and physical development.
- Introduction to assessment practices and their relationship to effective learning.
- Learning 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, including safe sleeping practices.
- Strategies for evaluating learning and teaching programs to improve learning.
- Code of Conduct.
- EYLF
- 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
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.