Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Master of Teaching (Primary)

Effective from 01-JAN-2024 : 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. 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 and early childhood settings allow Pre- Service Teachers to gain experience in diverse settings including public, private, city, rural 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. 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.

Practicum Requirement

Central to this course is an extensive program of Professional Experience in schools culminating in a final Teaching Practicum in 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 (WPL6115) and a 5 week placement (WPL6215) in Year 1 and a 6 week placement (WPL6335) in Year 2. Further information regarding Professional Experience can be found at: <a href='https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience'>https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience</a>

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 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 Experience. Further information can be found at <a href='https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience/before-professional-experience'>https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience/before-professional-experience</a>

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: <a href='http://policysearch.ecu.edu.au/PolicySearch/Record/767/file/document'>http://policysearch.ecu.edu.au/PolicySearch/Record/767/file/document</a> 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 the Progression Panel. Failure to pass these units may result in exclusion from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

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 <a href='http://www.trb.wa.gov.au'>http://www.trb.wa.gov.au</a>

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)

International 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. Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

English competency requirements may also be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree or master degree from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, or
• Undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University.

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. Professional experience cannot be accepted as an alternative to completion of the bachelor degree. Applicants must 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.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course Duration

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

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
• Mount Lawley: Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Non standard timetable requirements

This course does not follow the standard ECU academic calendar. Please check the School of Education calendar for start dates and practicum days.

Course Coordinator

A/Prof Helen ADAM

Course Structure

All nationally accredited Initial Teacher Education courses require students to undertake the LANTITE tests, as set by ACER, and meet the Standard in personal literacy and personal numeracy to be eligible to graduate. The Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia requires all students who enrol in an Initial Teacher Education course (undergraduate and graduate) from 1st January 2017 to have successfully met the set Standard, as set by ACER, for personal numeracy and literacy to be eligible to graduate, and therefore, be eligible for registration as a teacher. Students will be able to resit each component of the test two additional times if not successful on the first attempt (three opportunities in total). Students will be required to re-register and pay to sit the test each subsequent time. On successful completion of the test students will be given advanced standing for the above two units LIT1200 and NUM1200.

Plus, select ONE unit from one of the following specialist areas:

^ Core Option
# 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 the School Progression Panel.