Introduction to Curriculum Planning and Assessment: Practicum 1

This is the first of four professional experience units for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and the first of five professional experience units for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). 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) and demonstrate competence against all the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) appropriate to the course stage of this professional experience.


Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Identify and take observations of elements of the cultural, community and family contexts of children’s lives and their implications for curriculum and assessment [APST 1-4]
2. Define a range of intentional teaching practices-including monitoring, planning and recording- that engage children in learning appropriate to their interests, abilities and needs [APST 1-5]
3. Plan and implement a variety of learning experiences, demonstrating the ability to articulate and evaluate aims, objectives, procedures and outcomes [APST 1-5]
4. Demonstrate skills in creating rich and engaging learning environments [APST 1-5]
5. Interact and communicate effectively with young children with the main aims of building and strengthening relationships and supporting learning [APST 1-5]
6. Reflect critically on their teaching [APST 6-7]