Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Master of Teaching (Primary)

Effective from 01-JUL-2020 : Code I83

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is dedicated to producing future teachers ready to enter the Primary education profession. This course is built on the principle that students come to the program with strengths from a diverse range of educational and life experiences. A distinguishing feature of the course is the opportunity to complete a formal specialisation in the Primary Education qualification. This enables students to obtain a deeper and broader level knowledge and understanding in a particular Learning Area at the graduate level, while maintaining your generalist knowledge. The range and number of professional practice experiences are a key feature of the course. This ensures students can make the essential connection between theory and practice whilst building both professional and generic employability skills in real teaching environments. Partnerships between the University and 1000 schools an early childhood settings allow Pre-Service Teachers to gain experience in diverse settings including public, private, city and remote schools, allowing them to work with children from differing economic, social, ethnic and educational backgrounds. Successful completion of the course presents graduates with the opportunity to gain employment as outstanding teachers equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of young people. Final year Pre-Service Teachers can apply for a place in the internship program in a school. All students applying for the Master of Teaching Primary must have successfully completed a recognised undergraduate Bachelor degree from a university, or equivalent from another tertiary institution. The Master of Teaching provides a learning qualification for students who have already obtained a Bachelor degree or an equivalent qualification in areas other than Education.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Internship Option

The internship unit (EDU6227) enables final year Pre-Service Teachers to fulfill a diversity of roles and/or assume increasing responsibility for the tasks and duties normally performed by employees in an approved context that may include school, community or industry. Further information regarding Professional Experience can be found at: https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience

Duty of care

The Department of Education Western Australia and cooperating non-government schools have the right to determine 'fit and proper persons' to enter and practice in schools. For these reasons, all Pre-Service teachers 18 years of age and over will be required to have a current Department of Education Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and a current Working with Children Check, or the equivalent clearance issued by the relevant State authority before commencing this period of Professional Practice Further information can be found at http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional- practice/clearances

Attendance requirements

Generally host Schools and Centres require that the pre-service teachers attend the placement on a full time basis and otherwise meet their specific attendance requirements of the particular placement. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Application process

Selection for the internship will be based upon an Expression of Interest application followed by a panel interview process.

Professional practice rules

During the placement, it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers always demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners. Pre-Service Teachers must abide by the professional standards set out in the ECU Student Code of Conduct and comply with the applicable University policies and rules. The Student Code of Conduct can be found at: http://policysearch.ecu.edu.au/PolicySearch/Record/767/file/document The host School/Centre has absolute discretion to terminate the Pre-Service Teachers placement prior to completion of the placement. Situations where this discretion has been exercised are typically where the School/Centre has had concerns about Pre-Service Teacher's conduct or performance. ECU may also withdraw a Pre-Service Teacher from placement in certain circumstances. Early termination or withdrawal from the professional practice placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

Practicum Requirement

Central to this course is an extensive program of Professional Experience in schools culminating in a final Teaching Practicum I the final semester of the course. Students have the shared responsibility for the education, safety and well-being of children in schools, therefore the teaching profession demands the highest professional standards and personal ethics. Students will complete a 4 week placement (WPL6105) and a 5 week placement (WPL6205) in Year 1 and a 6 week placement (WPL6335) in Year 2. Further information regarding Professional Experience can be found at: https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience

Duty of care

To undertake a Professional Practice in a school or childcare setting, all pre-service teacher education students over the age of 18 must have supplied ECU with evidence of the following two clearances: A valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) from the Department of Education WA. A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) from the Department for Child Protection and Family Support WA. Further information can be found at:http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professionalpractice/clearances

Attendance requirements

Generally host Schools and Centres require that the pre-service teachers attend the placement on a full time basis and otherwise meet their specific attendance requirements of the particular placement. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Professional practice rules

During the placement, it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers always demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners. Pre-Service Teachers must abide by the professional standards set out in the ECU Student Code of Conduct and comply with the applicable University policies and rules. The Student Code of Conduct can be found at: http://policysearch.ecu.edu.au/PolicySearch/Record/767/file/document The host School/Centre has absolute discretion to terminate the Pre-Service Teachers placement prior to completion of the placement. Situations where this discretion has been exercised are typically where the School/Centre has had concerns about Pre-Service Teacher's conduct or performance. ECU may also withdraw a Pre-Service Teacher from placement in certain circumstances. Early termination or withdrawal from the professional practice placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

Implications of failing

The Professional Experience units are designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners. Failure to pass these units may result in exclusion from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Reflect critically on a complex body of education knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery of primary teaching.
2. Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise teaching theory and practice in authentic situations.
3. Apply communication and collaboration skills to design innovative curriculum, learning and assessment activities in primary education.
4. Use high level self management skills to initiate, plan and execute an extended practicum.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).

Registration

Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is required to practice in the profession.

Graduates must meet the Teacher Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) literacy and numeracy proficiency requirements prior to graduation for teacher registration in Western Australia. Further information is available at http://www.trb.wa.gov.au

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 6)

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

Students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and, a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening.
Note:

• If secondary education and degree studies were completed within a period of 2 years before applying for registration in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, applicants do not need to provide proof of English competency.
• Applicants who have completed their secondary education in South Africa in English and have an undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University are deemed to have met English language requirements for entry to the Master of Teaching.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have completed at least one year of full-time equivalent study relevant to one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum. Entrants to graduate entry programs must have a discipline-specific bachelor or equivalent qualification relevant to the Australian Curriculum or other recognised areas of schooling provision, and satisfy non-academic criteria, in addition to satisfying academic entry criteria. Applicants' non-academic capabilities will be assessed based on completion of a Non-Academic Requirements for Teacher Entry (NARTE) online questionnaire.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 2 Years
• Part Time: 4 Years

Course Delivery

• Mount Lawley: Full Time, Part Time
• South West (Bunbury): Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Non standard timetable requirements

Please note that the second year of this course is delivered in trimesters rather than semesters. Please contact Student Hub if you have any queries.

Course Coordinator

Dr Helen Joanne ADAM

Course Structure

Students must complete the above two units LIT1200 (Personal Literacy) and NUM1200 (Personal Numeracy). The Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia requires that all students who enrol in a pre-service teacher education course (undergraduate and graduate) from 1st January 2017 will have to successfully complete tests about their personal levels of literacy and numeracy to graduate, and therefore, be eligible for registration as a teacher. Students who enrol in the Master of Teaching (Primary) will need to complete successfully both components of the personal Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) to enrol beyond 120 credit points within their course).

As well as complete one of the following options (30 credit points):

OPTION 3: PROFESSIONAL LEARNING - GRADUATE CERTIFICATE MODE

In consultation with the course coordinator, students may select two Graduate Certificate of Education units totalling 30 credit points.

OPTION 4: PROFESSIONAL LEARNING - SPECIALISATION MODE

Students may select one specialisation totalling 30 credit points.

# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course