Units
Secondary Field Studies 1
Unit code: EDB031
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Designated Unit.
This unit focuses on the students' professional development as an educator, and reinforces the twin themes of teacher as researcher, and teacher as reflective practitioner. It provides the first set of teaching experiences, in a graduated sequence over the course of the BEd. Students develop the ability to plan, implement and evaluate effective teaching/learning programs. This requires an understanding of learner needs, curriculum knowledge, procedures for creating supportive classroom environments, and sensitivity to socio-cultural contexts.
Please note in Semester 2 this unit is ONLY available to students who have previously failed the unit and have received approval from the faculty to be enrolled in the alternate offering. This unit is not available to Visiting or Cross-Institutional students.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Unit Rationale
This unit is in the course because it provides you with essential practical experience in teaching and with additional skills to apply in classroom settings. This first of five Field Studies units (including the Professional Internship) is a Designated Unit which has two interlinked components that give you essential skills, knowledge and insights for the teaching profession. First, it has a university component which introduces you to productive pedagogies for designing and implementing engaging and flexible learning experiences and for creating and maintaining safe and supportive learning environments (including introductory behaviour management strategies). Second, it has a field experience component in an appropriate educational setting which allows you to participate in on-site teaching and learning experiences. In these ways, the unit builds upon your previous university studies in Teaching and Learning, Curriculum and Discipline units.
Designated Unit
This is a designated unit. Designated units are field experience units deemed to be critical to progress in your course. At the end of each semester, if you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit you may be eligible for a period of probation or exclusion.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide the opportunity and support for you to commence building your professional and practical capacities as a secondary school educator. You will be introduced to productive pedagogies for designing and implementing engaging and flexible learning experiences for individuals and groups and for creating and maintaining safe and supportive learning environments (including introductory behaviour management strategies).
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. demonstrate teaching and professional conduct at a standard appropriate for a beginning preservice teacher [QCT Standards 1 & 7];
2. demonstrate your understanding of QCT Standards 1 and 7 through written reflections [QCT Standards 1 & 7]
3. demonstrate appropriate communication skills and personal literacy in a range of professional teams and contexts and provide evidence of attaining acceptable standards of academic, professional and personal spoken and written English language literacies relating to this unit.
[QCT Standards 2 & 9]
4. commit to reflective practice and ongoing professional renewal [QCT Standard 10]
Content
This unit includes the following topics:
Productive pedagogies for effective learning and the creation of safe and supportive learning environments
This university topic introduces you to fundamental strategies for designing and implementing engaging and flexible learning experiences for individuals and groups, and for creating safe and supportive learning environments (including introductory behaviour management strategies). It will also address the expectations and responsibilities of preservice teachers in educational settings.
Professional learning in the field
This site-based topic requires you to observe appropriate learning environments and begin designing, implementing and evaluating learning experiences for individuals and groups. It will also require you to work collaboratively with school students, supervising teachers, university peers and personnel, and other relevant professionals to create safe and supportive learning environments.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit is offered in the internal mode. A dialogic, experiential and problem-based pedagogical approach will be adopted in both the university and site-based domains. University learning will involve campus-based interactive lectures, and workshops, and online activities and discussion forums all supported by appropriate research literature. Field experience will comprise learning-by-doing with close reflection, constructive feedback and modelling by supervising teacher(s) and support, where necessary, by university staff.
Assessment
Assessment in the unit is both formative and summative and will be viewed in terms of the principle of 'assessment as learning'. Summative assessment will be based on a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Summative assessment comprises the following two items. In order to pass the unit you must complete both items at a Satisfactory level.You will be provided with formative feedback on your assessment through verbal and online feedback, comprehensive assessment criteria sheets and through written comments on assignment work. You will be provided with summative feedback on your assessment via formal criteria sheets.
Assessment name:
Demonstration
Description:
Field Experience: Supervised field experience in an appropriate educational setting
Length: 20 consecutive days
Due date: Final report due on last day of Field Experience
Relates to objectives:
1, 3 & 4
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End-Field Experience
Assessment name:
Portfolio
Description:
Portfolio task providing evidence of developmental progress in selected QCT Standards
Length: 1000 - 1200 words
Relates to objectives:
2, 3 & 4
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End-Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Barry, K. & King, L. (2002). Beginning teaching and beyond (3rd ed.). Tuggerah, NSW: Social Science Press.
Fetherston, T. (2007). Becoming an effective teacher. South Melbourne, Victoria: Thomson.
Latham, G., Blaise, M., Dole, S., Faulkner, J., Lang, J. & Malone, K. (Eds.). (2006). Learning to teach: New times, new practices. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
Marsh, C. (2004). Becoming a teacher: Knowledge, skills and issues. (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education.
Queensland College of Teachers (2007). Professional standards for Queensland teachers. Brisbane: Author.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risk associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.
The Commission for Children and Young People Act 2000 (Qld) requires that all students undertaking a field experience as part of this unit will need a valid suitability card or Blue Card which has been registered with QUT before they can commence their placement.
Please refer to http://www.studentservices.qut.edu.au/enrol/course/spec_req/bluecard.jsp for full details and appropriate forms.
Under 18 years of Age:
You will not be permitted to undertake the first field studies unit in your course if you are under 18 years of age. This may alter your progression in the course and extend the duration.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 17-Jan-2013
