Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit integrates and applies the professional issues and responsibilities as identified and discussed in previous Field Studies Units. As such, this unit continues the process of your induction into the education profession. Central to the process of induction is self monitoring of your personal professional growth in order to identify and prioritise your learning needs as a beginning teacher. In this unit your ability to identify the crucial professional issues for you personally will be enhanced. You will not only engage with the challenges of addressing social, cultural, political and legislative issues to provide quality inclusive educational experiences for all learners but also identify a professional development program that best accommodates your needs as a beginning teacher.

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

In this unit you will enhance your ability to design, implement and evaluate differentiated teaching strategies, programs and assessment tasks in inclusive and critically reflective ways and in a manner that is responsive to the diverse nature of the students, as well as demonstrate your understanding of ethical, legal and professional practices.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. demonstrate teaching and professional conduct appropriate to an advanced level for a preservice teacher (QCT Standards 1 to 10]
2. demonstrate your understanding of QCT Standards 9 and 10 through written reflections [QCT Standards 9 & 10]
3. demonstrate appropriate communication skills and literacy in a range of professional teams and contexts [QCT Standards 2 & 9]
4. commit to reflective practice and ongoing professional renewal [QCT Standard 10]

Content

This field studies unit is part of the process of induction into the teaching profession. It provides an opportunity for beginning teachers to articulated a professional platform and develop a portfolio that portrays a personal/professional commitment to education, an understanding of educational policy and a personal/professional orientation to curriculum, pedagogies, assessment and professional development. The unit includes the following topics:

- professional learning and career management; and
- aspects of ethical, legal; and professional practice of particular relevance to the beginning teacher.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This field studies unit is designed for you to take a reflective and responsible approach to your own professional development as a beginning teacher. You will engage in inclusive teaching, learning and assessment practices in a specific context, interacting with individual students, small groups of students and whole class situations. Previous academic and work-based experiences provide the foundation from which you will investigate and critically evaluate your own personal/professional commitment to education, your understanding of educational policy, your personal/professional orientation to curriculum, pedagogies and assessment and artefacts of professional work. You will also need to identify areas for your own ongoing professional learning. The investigation of professional roles and responsibilities will sensitise you to the complex professional issues facing students about to enter the teaching profession.

Assessment

Assessment in the unit is both formative and summative and will be viewed in terms of the principle of 'assessment as learning'. Formative assessment is provided through verbal and online feedback and through feedback in response to teaching episodes. 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.

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: Supervised field experience in an appropriate educational setting
Length: 20 consecutive days
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: 1, 3 & 4
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-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

Recommended Resource:

Bryan, T., & Young, J. (2004). Beginning teachers? tools and timesavers: A compilation of innovative ideas & practical tips for busy teachers. Cashmere, Queensland: Vision. Ed

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in the use of computers will apply.

Blue Card Requirement - Before undertaking any field studies activities involving contact with young children you will be required to hold a Blue Card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. As soon as you enter your enrolment program for the course, you must submit your Blue Card application to the QUT Student Centre immediately.

If you do not apply for a Blue Card immediately upon enrolment in the course and allow sufficient time for the police check and issuing of the Card, you will be unable to participate in the required activities and may need to be withdrawn from the unit and incur both financial and academic penalty. It may take up to 16 weeks for the Commission to issue the Card. The application form and further details is available at

The partnership between QUT, the Queensland College of Teachers, Queensland Teachers Union and Employing Agencies should ensure the rights and the responsibilities of all teachers and student teachers are clearly stated with regard to the legal responsibilities of all parties concerned whilst students are undertaking their field studies experience.

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: 30-Oct-2012