TEA 4201 The Beginning Teacher

STAFFING:

REQUISITES:

RATIONALE:

Teacher education programs only succeed in graduating 'beginning teachers'. It is therefore important that students at this stage of their 'beginning teacher' preparation are exposed to the variety and complexity of the teaching/learning context, as it applies to the classroom, the school and the professional environment.

SYNOPSIS:

This course provides the opportunity for students to experience continuous teaching and learning activities and professional responsibilities that will enable them to realistically develop an embryonic understanding of teaching in the contemporary context. There will be significant emphasis placed on the total teaching experience, including dealing with multiple and sometimes conflicting roles, accountability, professionalism, rights and responsibilities, ethics, curriculum analysis and change, and conflict resolution. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the emerging professional competencies of;

1. effective, diverse and continuous planning, implementation and evaluation strategies and techniques, including techniques related to self improvement as a beginning teacher
2. effective interpersonal communication skills with children, colleagues, parents and the wider community
3. flexibility, especially in terms of the professional practices in which they engage
4. developing appreciation of difference and diversity, as these issues confront them on a daily basis
5. ethical practice and accountability, and the ability to effectively rationalise these processes and practices
6. appropriate conflict resolution strategies applicable to a variety of educational situations.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Shrinkwrap package consisting of: Brady, L, 2003, Teacher voices: the school experience, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest; Brady, L & Kennedy, K, 2003, Curriculum construction, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest & Pirola-Merlo, S, 2003, Relationship management in the primary school classroom: strategies in the legal and social context, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Tutorial activity (comprehensive planning for productive pedagogies) conducted during weeks 5-10. Group documentation to be submitted to tutor at time of presentation of tutorial activity.

2.

Open-note review of application of lecture material held under examination-type conditions, 4 May 2005.

3.

One indiviudal focus productive pedagogy element from group plan due weeks 5-10.

4.

Students must successfully complete the professional experience component, due weeks 11-16, and the academic component to pass this course. A value of one (1) indicates you have passed the professional component. A value of zero (0) indicates you have not passed the professional experience component.

5.

Assignment describing, analysing and reflecting on two critical incidents or issues from the professional experience.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. Students must complete 25 days of scheduled professional experience as partial fulfillment of Board of Teacher Registration requirements. Students are encouraged to participate in the April seminar day.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item. To complete the professional experience satisfactorily the student's performance must be deemed 'successful' by the mentor and course examiner.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 10% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   In order to gain a passing grade in the course, students must submit all items of assessment; complete all professional experience requirements successfully; attain a passing grade or equivalent mark in at least three of the four coursework assessment items; and achieve a minimum of 50% of the total marks available for assessment in the course. Normally, there will be no opportunity for the resubmission of failed or unsatisfactory items of assessment. Students who do not achieve a passing grade in the course, may be eligible for supplementary assessment in the following circumstances: where the professional experience requirements constitute the only assessment item not completed satisfactorily; or where the professional experience requirements were completed satisfactorily, and (i) at least two of the other three Pass Rules were satisfied, and (ii) a minimum of 40% of the available marks were attained for the failed item.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
2. Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the examiner.
3. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.