During the school-based learning experiences, pre-service teachers will demonstrate a responsive and responsible approach to professional practice and satisfactory completion of Professional Experience placements and debriefings. They will reflect on the role and responsibility of a teacher, demonstrating Christian values and principles and a professional manner with students, colleagues and the school community.
The second professional experience is a block of 25 consecutive days in a primary school, typically completed during the first semester of their second year. The students will have engaged in a substantial number of academic subjects by that stage and will confidently undertake this second ‘Supported Teaching’ experience. In this experience students will observe in the first week, teach small groups and team teach in the second and third weeks and then spend the final two weeks in ‘half day’ control. Pre-service teachers will develop their practices towards meeting the Standards for Graduate Teachers and the Codes of Ethics and Conduct. They will apply expert content and pedagogical content knowledge in their chosen English or Mathematics primary specialisation in order to demonstrate highly effective teaching in this area.
The schools will be encouraged to view the pre-service teachers as co-learners with their Mentor Teachers and provide a professional experience that scaffolds their development. The pre-service teachers will observe teaching and learning, teach small groups of students, team teach with their Mentor Teachers and, teach whole classes for half days. Pre-service teachers will be guided and supported in seeking and applying constructive feedback from experienced teachers in order to improve their teaching practices. They will then return to their College-based units which are constructed to assist them to reflect on their experience, address individual concerns and prepare strategically for the third Professional Experience.
Mentor Teachers will provide advice and support for the pre-service teachers and will assess their teaching against the Standards for Graduating Teachers.
As pre-service teachers progress through the Professional Experience, they are expected to demonstrate increasing competence and professional growth. All pre-service teachers are encouraged to observe as many different classes as possible and to become well immersed with school life. Pre-service teachers are required to incorporate digital technologies in their teaching, learning, preparation and assessment practices displaying improving personal proficiency.
Successful completion of all Professional Experiences is essential to gaining the award of Master of Teaching (Primary).
Pre-service teachers will have a Working with Children check before they commence Professional Experience.