Overview
In Professional Practice 1 you will be introduced to the teaching profession and work-integrated learning in educational settings through tutorial workshops and a placement comprising 15 days of practical experience under the guidance of a supervising teacher. The placement will take the form of a 3 week block period of assessable practice at the end of the term. During the placement, you will apply knowledge gained throughout the first year to practise the skills of planning, teaching, managing the learning environment, and assessing and recording student learning. You will be assessed against the relevant focus areas of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers by your supervising teacher/s. You will maintain professional records of your practice in the form of a working portfolio and compile evidence of your demonstration of aspects of the Standards in a portfolio of evidence. A major emphasis of this course is the development of the disposition for ongoing professional learning through reflection on the professional role and responsibilities of teachers and evaluation of effective teaching practice to improve student learning.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must have successfully completed at least three first year units in the Bachelor of Education course in which they are enrolled to be eligible for enrolment in this unit and placement in an educational setting for the completion of the practical component. It is mandatory that students successfully complete EDED11454 or equivalent, prior to enrolment in EDFE11038 Professional Practice 1 - Introduction to Teaching.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
The unit is well organised and easy to follow
Continue to update the unit as necessary.
Feedback from Student feedback
Dissemination of placement requirements
Provide small chunks of information each week regarding the requirements of the placement.
Feedback from Student feedback
Assessment Task 3
Clarify the Task 3 requirements.
- Interpret and apply the key responsibilities of educators with regard to duty of care and codes of conduct for the sector
- Collect and organise profiling data on individual strengths, interests and learning needs across a range of domains
- Observe teaching and learning to identify how teachers structure learning experiences and use communication and teaching strategies that promote engaged learning and on-task behaviour
- Plan and implement learning experiences that set clearly identified goals that meet learners’ needs, and include a well-structured introduction, body and conclusion, a variety of teaching strategies and strategies for assessing and monitoring the learning
- Trial the use of non-verbal and verbal communication skills that establish effective relationships with learners and promote positive attitudes to learning in preventive and non-intrusive ways
- Respond to feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on and suggest improvements to planned learning experiences
- Reflect on own teaching and the roles and responsibilities of educators to identify evidence of professional standards, improve practice and set goals for ongoing professional learning.
Successful completion of this unit provides opportunities for students to engage with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage) focus areas of:
1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students
1.2 Understand how students learn
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities
2.2 Content selection and organisation
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals
3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs
3.3 Use teaching strategies
3.5 Use effective classroom communication
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs
4.1 Support student participation
4.2 Manage classroom activities
5.1 Assess student learning
5.2 Provide feedback to students on their learning
5.4 Interpret student data
6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice
6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning
7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities
In addition, competency elements from the Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care) are taught and assessed in this unit and demonstrated through practice in an authentic setting.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 0% | |||||||
2 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | |||||||
3 - Portfolio - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
1 - Communication | |||||||
2 - Problem Solving | |||||||
3 - Critical Thinking | |||||||
4 - Information Literacy | |||||||
5 - Team Work | |||||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||||
8 - Ethical practice | |||||||
9 - Social Innovation | |||||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Textbooks
Teaching: Making a Difference
Edition: 5th (2022)
Authors: Churchill, Godinho, Johnson, Keddie, Letts, Lowe, Mackay, McGill, Moss, Nagel, Shaw,
Wiley
Milton Milton , Queensland , Australia
ISBN: 9780730391777
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.ambrosetti@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Professional Practice 1
- Connecting your learning to professional practice
- Linking the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to practice
- Your expectations for Professional Practice 1
Chapter
- Churchill et al (2022). pp. 466-478
- AITSL (2011). The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
- Call (2018). Professional Teaching Standards: A comparative analysis of their history, implementation and efficacy
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Observation
- Observing teaching and learning
- Observing learners
- Using observation to improve practice
Chapter
- Plunkett & McCluskey (2015). Chapter 4: Observations
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reflection
- Reflective practice
- Methods for reflection
- Using reflection to improve practice
Chapter
- Killen (2016). Chapter 5: Becoming a reflective teacher
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Formative assessment
A copy of your completed placement compliance form to be uploaded into the Moodle link by Friday 28 July 2023. Failure to complete this SONIA form and upload a copy of it into Moodle will result in your removal from the unit (and placement).
Module/Topic
Planning and Teaching: Starting with the Curriculum
- The Curriculum (school and early childhood)
- Using the curriculum to develop learning objectives/learning intentions
- Using cognitive verbs
Chapter
- Churchill et al. (2022). pp.215-219
- Marzano & Pickering (2007). pp.43-50
- Gronlund (1985). Appendix: Illustrative Verbs
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Planning and Teaching: Lesson Planning
- Elements of an effective lesson plan
- Designing learning
Chapter
- Churchill et al. (2022). pp.204-214
- Fetherstone (2006). pp.258-271
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Planning and Teaching: Lesson Planning
- Designing learning
- Frameworks and strategies for teaching
Chapter
- Archer & Hughes (2011 ). Chapter 1: Exploring the foundations of explicit instruction
- Fetherstone (2006). pp.258-271
- Killen (2016). pp.135-137
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Planning and Teaching: Lesson Planning
- Delving deeper into teaching strategies
Chapter
Handouts as found on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Planning and teaching: Assessment practices
- Checking for learning
- Assessment types
Chapter
- Churchill et al. (2022). pp.392-402 + pp.416-417 + pp. 386-388
- Clarke & Pittaway (2014). pp. 312-317
- Brady & Kennedy (2012). Chapter 4: Strategies for assessing student achievement
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Planning and Teaching: The students
- Managing the learning environment
- Getting to know your students (profiling)
Chapter
- Churchill et al. (2022). pp.332-348
- Marzano & Pickering (2007). Chapter: Dimension 1 Attitudes and perceptions
- Spooner-Lane (2013). Chapter: Planning to management my teaching in a democratic classroom
- Emmer & Evertson (2013). pp.34-35
- Queensland Department of Education (2006). Better behaviour, better learning, essential skills
- Brady (2003). Case Study: Mark and Pru
- Purdie & Smith (1999). Case 28: Science Shambles
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Expectations and professional conduct in Professional Practice 1
- Expectations for your placement
- Professional conduct as a teacher
Chapter
- Professional Practice 1 Information and Guidelines Booklet
- Professional Practice Handbook
- Queensland College of Teachers Code of Ethics for Teachers
- Churchill et al. (2022). Chapter 15: Professional, ethical and legal issues for teachers
Some of these readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: Demonstrating your practice
- Linking the ASPT to your practice
Chapter
- AITSL (2011). The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
All readings can be found in the eReading list for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Formative assessment
The online compulsory quiz needs to be completed by Friday 29 September. Failure to complete this Quiz and achieve 100% will result in your placement being cancelled.
Module/Topic
Setting you up for success: Preparing you for your placement
- Requirements of the 3 week block
Chapter
- Professional Practice 1 Information and Guidelines Booklet
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 2 of the 3 week block
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You are required to order a name badge from the CQU Bookshop to wear during your professional practice placement.
1 Written Assessment
This task consists of three components.
Part A – Observation (500 words)
Knowing your students and how they learn is an essential component of the teaching process. As teachers, we tailor our interactions with the learners and how we teach accordingly.
Choose a video from the selected list to view. As you view the video, carefully observe and consider:
- the interactions that the teacher is engaging in with the students
- how the teacher is teaching.
Respond to the following questions using at least 3 references from the unit readings as well as making links to Standard 1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
1. What interactions did you observe take place between the teacher and the learner/s?
2. What were the purposes of the interactions?
3. What teaching did you observe?
4. What was the teacher trying to achieve in the lesson?
5. How did the teacher ensure that learning was occurring for all students?
Ensure your response identifies the video you have selected to use for this response. For example: Secondary Science - Dispelling scientific misconceptions
Part B – Lesson plan (unlimited word count)
What a teacher teaches is derived from the curriculum and will follow a carefully plotted sequence. Effective lesson design is about choosing the right teaching approach and strategies, and how the teaching steps are sequenced. Choose a topic and using the lesson plan template provided, create a lesson/learning experience that introduces the topic to the learners, that is, the first lesson of a sequence of lessons. If your lesson uses a worksheet, PowerPoint or other resources, please include a copy of this with your lesson plan.
ECE students are able to choose any topic appropriate for a kindergarten context.
Primary students are able to choose any curriculum topic and year level of a primary school (Foundation to year 6).
Secondary students are able to choose a curriculum topic and year level from one of your teaching disciplines.
Part C – Reflection (500 words)
Using at least 3 references from the Moodle readings, justify your teaching decisions documented in your lesson introduction, body, and conclusion. Respond to the following questions ensuring that you make links to Standards 6.1 and 6.4 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
- What was your specific purpose in the lesson other than introducing the topic?
- Why are your planning decisions appropriate for the curriculum and age group of the learners?
- Drawing on your observation, why will your teaching decisions be effective in introducing the topic to the learners?
- As you reflect on the process of writing your lesson plan, what understandings will you apply to your teaching placement?
Note: This assessment task provides opportunities for students to demonstrate aspects of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The task demonstrates evidence of working towards the focus areas of 1.2, 2.3, 3.3, 6.1, and 6.4.
Week 6 Friday (25 Aug 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Ensure that you submit your task using the template provided.
Week 9 Friday (15 Sept 2023)
Assessment tasks will be returned once the moderation process has been completed.
- Identify, analyse and synthesise the interactions and teaching.
- Discuss how what was observed, impacts student learning.
- Justify the response by linking to literature and The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
- Selection of teaching approach/strategy within the lesson components.
- Construction of teaching steps to achieve the identified learning objectives.
- Identify and use correct curriculum/topic content.
- Reflect on and justify your teaching choices.
- Reflect on the application of learning.
- The assessment task was completed in an academic manner.
- Academic writing is correct.
- Correct use of APA 7th.
- Observe teaching and learning to identify how teachers structure learning experiences and use communication and teaching strategies that promote engaged learning and on-task behaviour
- Plan and implement learning experiences that set clearly identified goals that meet learners’ needs, and include a well-structured introduction, body and conclusion, a variety of teaching strategies and strategies for assessing and monitoring the learning
- Trial the use of non-verbal and verbal communication skills that establish effective relationships with learners and promote positive attitudes to learning in preventive and non-intrusive ways
- Reflect on own teaching and the roles and responsibilities of educators to identify evidence of professional standards, improve practice and set goals for ongoing professional learning.
2 Professional Practice Placement
This assessment task consists of 3 components:
a). Formative assessment - Completion of placement compliance form. You will access and complete this form through the SONIA placement system. Once you have agreed to each of the statements and submitted the form, it will be available to download from SONIA. A copy of this completed form needs to be uploaded to the assessment link in Moodle by July 28, 2023.
b). Formative assessment - Compulsory Online Quiz. You will complete a 15 question quiz based on the content from the unit (weeks 1-10). To pass this task and proceed to the placement, 100% (that is 15 from 15) needs to be achieved. You are able to take the quiz as many times as needed to achieve 100%. The achievement of 100% needs to be completed by 29 September. Failure to complete this quiz will result in the cancellation of your placement.
c). Placement - You will undertake a 15 day supervised placement undertaken as a continuous 3 week block in a kindergarten (ECE students) or school setting (Primary and Secondary students). You will complete all tasks outlined in the Professional Practice 1 Information and Guidelines Booklet.
You are required to keep an up-to-date working portfolio that records all observations, reflections, and planning which must be maintained throughout the placement. Further details about the working portfolio are provided in the Professional Practice 1 Information and Guidelines Booklet and on the Moodle site.
At the end of the 2nd week of the block, an Interim Report will be completed by the Supervising Teacher to identify your progress towards demonstrating the identified aspects of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Based on the Interim Report, you will outline a minimum of 2 professional goals to be achieved by the end of the final week of the block.
The Summative Report will be completed by the Supervising Teacher at the conclusion of the 3 week block. You will upload your attendance record as evidence of completing all 15 days.
Note: This assessment task provides opportunities for students to demonstrate aspects of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in authentic professional learning contexts. The task demonstrates evidence of working towards the focus areas of 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.3, and 7.1.
Please upload your attendance record on conclusion of your 3 week block (by November 3, 2023)
Feedback on your progress will be provided by the Supervising Teacher using the reporting documents for Professional Practice 1.
Assessment criteria are outlined in detail in the Information and Reporting Booklet and are drawn from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate level).
- Interpret and apply the key responsibilities of educators with regard to duty of care and codes of conduct for the sector
- Collect and organise profiling data on individual strengths, interests and learning needs across a range of domains
- Observe teaching and learning to identify how teachers structure learning experiences and use communication and teaching strategies that promote engaged learning and on-task behaviour
- Plan and implement learning experiences that set clearly identified goals that meet learners’ needs, and include a well-structured introduction, body and conclusion, a variety of teaching strategies and strategies for assessing and monitoring the learning
- Trial the use of non-verbal and verbal communication skills that establish effective relationships with learners and promote positive attitudes to learning in preventive and non-intrusive ways
- Respond to feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on and suggest improvements to planned learning experiences
- Reflect on own teaching and the roles and responsibilities of educators to identify evidence of professional standards, improve practice and set goals for ongoing professional learning.
3 Portfolio
This task requires you to profile, plan and reflect as part of your professional practice placement. The purpose of this task is to evaluate your classroom practice and the impact of your decisions on student learning, by selecting an example from your professional practice placement. There are three components of this task as well as a portfolio of evidence to submit.
Part A – Profiling (unlimited word count)
Profile your class (secondary students choose 1 class to focus on) documenting the academic levels of the students, academic strengths and weaknesses, ways of learning, and any other key information about the students (e.g. special needs, inclusion, individual education plans, etc). Use the template provided.
Part B – Lesson planning and evaluation (unlimited word count)
Design and teach a sequence of two lessons on the same topic, concept or skill. Using the lesson plan template, document the introduction, body and conclusion for a small group or whole class. Ensure that you include a strategy for formative assessment (checks for learning) in both lessons and collect evidence of the students learning (work samples, exit slips, checklists, images, etc) for 2 students who represent different academic levels within the class. Complete the lesson evaluation section of the lesson plan once it is taught. If your lesson draws on resources such as worksheets or PowerPoints, please provide a copy of these with your submission.
Part C – Reflecting (750 words)
Reflect on your learning sequence highlighting the decisions you made in your planning and teaching. You should draw on your own lesson evaluations as well as feedback from your mentor teacher. Include a copy of your mentor teacher’s observation of this lesson sequence. Your reflection should make links to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers as well as at least 3 references from the PP1 Moodle Reading list. Use the following questions to guide your reflection:
1. How did the learner profile you developed assist you with sequencing the instructional steps in your lessons to support students’ understanding and demonstration of the intended learning goals?
2. What strategies did you use to check for understanding? Did these strategies provide you with enough information to know whether the learning goals had been met?
3. What evidence do the work samples show of student learning and achievement?
4. How did you use the assessment information from the first lesson to plan for the follow-up lesson in the sequence?
5. What have you learned about teaching and its impact on student success?
Evidence to submit:
- Class profile (using the provided template)
- 2 lessons (on the same topic) with the evaluation completed
- Evidence of learning from 2 students
- Mentor teacher observations (of your 2 lessons)
You will submit this task as one curated Word document. A template will be provided to assist you in compiling all evidence and templates into one document.
Note: This assessment task provides opportunities for students to demonstrate aspects of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The task demonstrates evidence of working towards the focus areas of 1.2, 2.3, 3.3, 6.1, and 6.2.
This assessment task is due one week after the completion of the placement - Friday November 3, 2023
Assessment tasks will be returned once moderation process has been completed.
- Collated a wide range of useful data about the students
- Data is used to inform planning and teaching
- Learning objectives and assessment are linked
- Lesson plans are sequentially designed with clear teaching steps that are scaffolded
- Chosen teaching strategies are appropriate for the content and the students
- Evaluation is reflective and addresses the what, the how and the why
- Evidence of ability to reflect on teaching in order to improve student learning
- Evidence of using feedback to reflect on the development of teaching capabilities
- Links made to academic literature and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
- The assessment task was completed in an academic manner
- Academic writing is correct
- A reference list that correctly uses APA 7th
- Respond to feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on and suggest improvements to planned learning experiences
- Reflect on own teaching and the roles and responsibilities of educators to identify evidence of professional standards, improve practice and set goals for ongoing professional learning.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.