Excited student teachers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) joined thousands of eager young students as they settled back into primary school for the first week of the school year.
Third and fourth-year university students undertaking the Bachelor of Education (Primary) have been returning to the classroom in schools all over Brisbane and as far north as Kilcoy.
Effectively they've headed back to school over a month before uni classes begin at QUT, as part of the School Community Integrated Learning (SCIL) pathway.
The SCIL pathway, part of the Teacher Education Done Differently Project, was developed by staff from QUT's Caboolture campus who believed that student teachers would benefit from a year long relationship with a school, rather than a four week block of practical classroom experience.
Kylie Bradfield, acting academic coordinator for education at QUT's Caboolture campus said there were a number of benefits to the student teachers joining the school community from week one.
"They will become part of the school community as a volunteer and undertake related school experiences," she said.
"Immersed in the school culture and infrastructure from the beginning of term one, they become a part of the school community and familiar with the processes of setting up a classroom and experiencing the whole school planning for the year.
"The end result of the pathway is better prepared and higher quality education graduates for local primary schools."
The QUT students will visit their allocated school three days per week until university commences and then one day per week until the commencement of their four week practical experience placement later in the year.
The opportunity to stay with the same school for a full school year has been popular among the QUT students.
Amy Adam who participated in the 2011 program, admitted to a few nerves on day one.
"It was a bit like having my first day of school all over again!" she said.
"The program enabled me to join the school community and the extra classroom time with the students allowed me to watch the kids develop throughout the school year.
"After graduating last year, I am now in my first week as a full-time primary school teacher at Burpengary State School and I feel very well prepared, knowing I was in school from week one last year."
For further information on the courses offered at QUT Caboolture, visit www.qut.edu.au/caboolture
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Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
