Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Education

This unit 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.

• Unit Title

  First Professional Practice

• Unit Code

  WPL6115

• Year

  2024

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  Online

• Unit Coordinator

  Ms Gail BERMAN

Description

The on-campus component of this unit prepares graduate Pre-Service Teachers to engage in their first professional experience. This professional unit is an orientation practicum and is the first of three experiences which are designed to support graduate Pre-Service Teachers in achieving mastery of the specialised knowledge and skills which meet the professional standards for Australian teachers. This practice provides graduate Pre-Service Teachers with the opportunity to make sense of schools and schooling from a teacher's perspective - and to begin to learn the complex and many roles of a teacher. It is vitally important that the graduate Pre-Service Teachers construct their own understanding of the role of a teacher, with a focus on the preparation and delivery of formal classroom lessons. The graduate Pre-Service Teacher will work professionally and collaboratively with the mentor teacher to ensure they are an asset to both the school and teacher with whom they are working and learning. They will begin the process of acquiring the specialised knowledge required to be an effective classroom practitioner. In addition to course work, students undertake a professional experience in a school for five weeks, which comprises five distributed days and a four-week block placement. Designated unit: This professional experience unit is deemed to be 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.

Non Standard Timetable 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.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded WPL4105, WPL6105

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Plan, teach and assess learning experiences within a primary education context.
2. Implement appropriate teaching strategies for effective learning across all curriculum areas within a primary education context.
3. Implement effective classroom management strategies to create a supportive and safe environment.
4. Reflect on personal conduct in relation to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and the expectations within the school context.
5. Critically reflect on teaching skills and professional engagement based on performance feedback, to further develop understanding of the role of a teacher in a primary education context.

Unit Content

1. Current theory and practice concerning management of student learning in an educational setting.
2. Communication and instructional skills for inclusive learning.
3. Effective teaching strategies that enhance learning engagement.
4. Reinforcement of critical reflection as a learning process and a tool for professional development.
5. Evaluation and assessment of learning experiences.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

WIL - Internship, Clinical or Professional placement (off-campus)

Work done in an actual workplace in which the student applies discipline-specific knowledge and skills, supervised by an industry professional separate from an ECU campus or location.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The teaching and learning processes in this unit model participatory and co-operative learning strategies used by effective learners. Pre-Service Teachers are expected to participate in all lectures, workshops, tutorials and/or online teaching and learning processes. The expectation for students in the Primary Discipline is that students will engage in a minimum of 80% of all aspects to be eligible to proceed with their placement. During the placement, it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners at all times. 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. 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 Professional Experience. 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.

Assessment

GS2 GRADING SCHEMA 2 Used for Undifferentiated Pass/Fail units inc. practical units or work-integrated learning

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

^ Mandatory to Pass