Professional Experience 2

Overview

In this unit, pre-service teachers will undertake a 20-day professional experience in a secondary school setting under the supervision of approved mentors. Pre-service teachers will involve themselves in the life of the school and reflect on their practice and performance supported by their in school mentors and university academic staff. Within this unit pre-service teachers will continue to develop their understanding and competence against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) appropriate to this course stage. In preparation for this professional experience, pre-service teachers will engage with material relating to pedagogy, curriculum, assessment and policies relevant to a secondary school setting.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

• Plan, implement and evaluate learning experiences
• Modify learning environments to ensure safety and to facilitate learning
• Apply effective interpersonal and communication skills with education professionals, students and families
• Critically analyse and reflect upon teaching and learning in relation to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
• Utilise a range of teaching and assessment strategies and evaluate their effectiveness

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

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) 
• Curriculum documentation
• Lesson and unit planning
• Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with students and other professionals
• Modify the learning environment to enhance safety and learning
• Effective communication
• Strategies for supporting students’ learning, well-being and safety, including policy and legislative requirements
• Code of Conduct
• Code of Ethics