Sandra completed her professional experience at three different schools and believes placements are an integral part of learning about the type of teacher you would like to become.
Here she talks about her placements and how they benefited her in the real world.
Tell us about your professional placements while studying.
I completed professional experience at Lourdes Hill College, Marsden State High School and in an outer regional community, Innisfail State College. These experiences allowed me to work with a diverse array of learners from a multitude of different cultural backgrounds and demographics. During my time at these schools, I taught and became familiar with the subject matter from the Year 11 General Mathematics and Year 12 Biology senior syllabi.
Why do you think placements are so important when studying teaching?
When studying teaching, I believe that placements are an integral part of learning about the type of teacher you would like to become and developing your pedagogical skills. As much as the theory behind teaching is important, it is equally necessary for university students to put the teaching and learning theory into practice during placement. Placements also give pre-service teachers the opportunity to develop behaviour management skills and provides students with exposure to extracurricular activities.
How did placements help you in your current job now you have graduated?
On my final teaching placement at Lourdes Hill College I was exposed to the rewarding nature of educating young women in STEM disciplines. With guidance from my supervising teacher, I developed a variety of teaching strategies that I now implement on a daily basis at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.
Did doing a placement influence what you wanted to teach, class and where?
After my placement at Lourdes Hill College, I knew that teaching young women was something I aspired to pursue. During my time at LHC, I realised how much I enjoy teaching girls that are hard-working and success-orientated, just like myself.
What advice can you give someone thinking about studying secondary education at QUT?
QUT’s Bachelor of Education has been recognised among the nation's most outstanding teaching and learning programs. I recommend QUT to anyone considering a career as an educator. QUT Education understands that quality teachers must be given an array of opportunities to experiment with different teaching philosophies in practical situations, and that improvement of practice occurs in the presence of critical self-reflection. I believe that my success as a science educator stems directly from my tertiary study at the Queensland University of Technology.
Author
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Biology Teaching Area
- Mathematics Extension Teaching Area