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PRI4002 The Beginning Professional

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
PRI 4002 79156 2, 2008 ONC The Beginning Professional 1.00 Fraser Coast
Academic group: FOEDU
Academic org: FOE002
Student contribution band: National Priority Teaching
ASCED code: 070103

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Agli Zavros
Moderator: Alison Mander


OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. PRE-REQUISITE: In order to be admitted to the Internship, pre-service teachers must have successfully completed all components of the first seven semesters of study. This specifically includes the completion of the full 80 days of supervised professional experience associated with the six courses PRT2201, PRT2202,PRT3201 PRT3202, PRT4201, and PRT4202, or their equivalent.


RATIONALE

This course is one of three courses in the final semester of the BPMU which together provide a capstone to a four year degree. The process of transition from identifying as a student to that of a professionla practitioner will be assisted by the organisation of the whole semester offering. The delivery of all three courses (PRT4000, PRI4001 and PRI4002) is intended as an interlinking suite to be undertaken in the final semester to develop praxis and support the learning of the emerging practitioner as a reflective, knowledgeable and responsible professional. The literature proposes that the construction of teacher identity is informed by many factors including personal experiences, socio-cultural discourses and teacher education programs. These and many other factors impact on the individual's philosophical beliefs and subsequently their self efficacy and pedagogical approaches that they will employ in the classroom. In recent times reflective practice has played a significant role in the development of teacher professional identities and professional development. This course provides opportunities for critical discussion and reflection that enable the pre-service teacher's transition to that of the beginning teacher professional. A central component of this is an engagement with professional standards for teachers. The development of a comprehensive and critically positioned account of their understandings about self, teaching and learning enables and begins the process of "becoming" an effective member of any given educative community.



SYNOPSIS

The Beginning Professional course aims to bring together the pre-service teachers' understandings gained through their personal engagement with the BPMU courses. Pre-service teachers will be engaged in preparing for entry into complex and varied education contexts. The course will require each individual to produce and submit a professional portfolio that may include items from learning portfolios, learning journals and assignments from their various learning experiences throughtout the BPMU degree that account for THEIR learning as pre-service teachers. The course requires pre-service teachers to think about HOW this learning has shaped their beginning professional identity. Each item within their professional portfolio (to be submitted in electronic format) needs to be positioned within the context of their reflective personal philosophy framework. The work completed in this portfolio will be used to inform their work in PRT4000 and PRI4001.



OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.
articulate a comprehensive understanding of professional standards, policy and literature that informs the teacher role-identity (Professional Portfolio and Conference Paper)
2.
analyse relevant literature to illustrate comprehensive understanding of the pedagogical possibilities and constraints on the development of the teacher role-identity (Professional Portfolio and Conference Paper)
3.
demonstrate effective communication skills and presentation of knowledge and understanding through various modalities within a community of practice (Professional Portfolio and Conference Paper)
4.
demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing (Professional Portfolio and Conference Paper).


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Teaching and learning in all three courses (PRT4000, PRI4001 and PRI4002) will require students to be actively engaged in the development of their learning within learning communities. Teaching of course specific topics will be explicitly linked across the three courses and students will be required to demonstrate their understanding and application of these topics in their learning communities. These learning experiences will support the emergent practitioner in their commitment to reflective practice, professional growth, and demonstration of professional standards for teachers (e.g. QCT) and USQ graduate attributes. The main focus for PRI4002 is:
1.1. Exploration of past learning in the BPMU and its relationship to the beginning professional's teacher identity.
1.2. A review of relevant literature relating to teacher professional standards, teachers' work and teacher professional identity.
1.3. A critical analysis (using a student identified critical analysis model) of the relevant literature relating to teacher professional standards, teachers' work and teacher professional identity.
1.4. Examination and discussion of professional literacy.
1.5. Examination and discussion about representations of professional identity.
1.6. Development of a personal philosophy framework reflecting past, present learning and future directions.
 100.00

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).

Professional Internship book of readings.



REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Internship 30.00
Lectures or Workshops 100.00
Workshops 30.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date Notes
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO 75.00 75.00 27 Oct 2008 (see note 1)
CONFERENCE PAPER PRESENTATION 25.00 25.00 03 Nov 2008 (see note 2)
NOTES
1.
Your assessment will include the satisfactory completion of the submission of a professional portfolio and conference paper. Elements from the interlinking courses will be evaluated within each of these assesment items. Note: only ONE Professional Portfolio and ONE Conference Presentation will be required for the two courses (PRI4001, PRI4002).
2.
(see note 1)

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.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted 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

1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
2. In accordance with University Policy, the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
3. The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media. The Faculty will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile. Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements.
4. In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.
5. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
6. Students may be required to provide a copy of assignments submitted for assessment purposes. Such copies should be dispatched to the USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request to do so.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. Students will require access to email and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
  2. 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.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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