TEA3204 Exploring Professional Practice

TEA	3204	79425	2, 2008	ONC	Exploring Professional Practice	1.00	Fraser Coast
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOEDU
Academic org:	FOE003
Student contribution band:	National Priority Teaching
ASCED code:	070105

Staffing
Requisites
Other requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Alison Mander

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: TEA2205

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.

RATIONALE

Rapid changes in secondary schools and the growing diversity of contexts place intense demands on the role of teachers. This course provides further professional (field) experience in a new context. The student will have further opportunity for bringing together both theory and practical components of the program. The integration of the theory with the active daily tasks associated with a teaching career is an essential step in the transition from tertiary institution to the professional work place.

SYNOPSIS

The in-school experience to date has enabled students to be involved in the normal day to day running of a school in one context. This course offers the student an extensive period in the field in a new context. The professional experience will require involvement in the planning and implementation of courses of work along with the daily administrative and professional requirements of a teacher. The experience will require pre-service teachers to play an active role in the construction of their own practical theories. Their in-school experience will enable them to question, criticize and reformulate their assumptions about the nature of teachers' work.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course students will be able to:

to provide professional experience in a variety of contexts (Professional Experience)
to develop students ability to analyse their own practice for improvement (Professional Experience and Reflective Action)
to develop students ability to observe research, analyse and reflect on their own and others' practice in a collaborative manner (Reflective Action)
to develop a student ability to contextualise practice (Professional Experience, Reflective Action and Equity Issue)
to make the student aware professional of development and trends affecting both the teaching profession and their own specialist teaching areas (Reflective Action and Equity Issue)
to make the student aware of, and analyse equity issues which impinge upon the teaching-learning process, teaching practice and the contexts of schooling (Equity Issue)
to demonstrate understanding and application of appropriate professional communication skills (Reflective Action).
Demonstrate competence in written language and scholarly writing including correct spelling, grammar, and bibliographic referencing. (All assessment items)

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Professional experience context issues including classroom presence, and teacher effectiveness	50.00
2.	Reflective practice	20.00
3.	Various topics/experience will be presented as part of the professional development program associated with this course. These will include workshops/seminars concerning teaching and equity issues.	30.00

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).

There are no texts required for this course.

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.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library/ . The gateway to education resources is here... http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

Boud, D, Keogh, R & Walker, D 1985, Reflection: turning experience into learning, Kogan Page Ltd, London.

Crowther, F, Caldwell, B, Chapman, S, Lakomski, G & Ogilvie, D 1994, The workplace in education: Australian perspectives, Edward Arnold, Rydalmere.

Hook, C 1981, Studying classrooms, Deakin University, Victoria.

Hopkins, D 2002, A teachers' guide to classroom research, 3rd edn, Open University Press, Buckingham.

Kemmis, S & McTaggert, R (eds) 1988, The action research planner, 3rd edn, Deakin University, Victoria.

McNiff, J 2001, Action research: principles and practice, 2nd edn, RoutledgeFalmer, London.

Zeichner, K M 1994, Research on teacher thinking and different views of reflective practice in teaching and teacher education, Teachers' minds and actions: research on teacher thinking and practice, I Carlgren, G Handel & S Vaage, Falmer Press, London.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	30.00
Private Study	105.00
Seminars	30.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
A1. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE	1.00	1.00	21 Jul 2008	(see note 1)
A2. EQUITY ISSUE TASK	50.00	50.00	05 Sep 2008
A3. REFLECTIVE ACTION TASK	50.00	50.00	24 Oct 2008

NOTES

1.: The examiner will advise the due dates for all assessment items. All students must successfully pass 25 days of professional experience as well as the academic component to successfully complete this course. A mark of one (1) indicates you have passed the professional experience component. A mark of zero (0) indicates you have not passed the professional experience component. The weighting of 1% is used for administrative purposes only and is NOT included in the overall weighting for this course.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

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.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete the professional experience satisfactorily, students must complete 25 days of professional experience as organised by the Office of Professional Experience, and obtain a satisfactory standard on the performance evaluation profile, thus gaining the 1 mark for professional experience. To complete all remaining assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the aggregate marks available for each weighted assessment item.
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.
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 and must satisfactorily complete the sector-based professional experience.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final course grade will be calculated by aggregating the weighted result for each summative assessment item.
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
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.	Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request being made by the examiner. The student must retain this copy until the grade for this course has been finalised.
3.	In accordance with the University's assignment extension policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
4.	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.
5.	Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.
6.	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).
7.	When there is more than one marker for a single item of assessment, the distributed patterns and means for the different markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
8.	Marking criteria are provided in course material as mark sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
9.	Summative assessment items will receive a numerical score. Any ungraded assessment requirement will receive a Pass, Fail or Incomplete.
10.	Students must attend 25 day of professional experience to satisfy requirements of this course.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students unable to attend professional experience due to illness MUST notify the school and the University.
Any time lost for professional experience MUST be made up.
Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the examiner.
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 9 Jul 2008.