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TEA4204 The Professional Educator

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
TEA 4204 78461 2, 2008 ONC The Professional Educator 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOEDU
Academic org: FOE003
Student contribution band: National Priority Teaching
ASCED code: 070105

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Lesley McAuley-Jones
Moderator: Alison Mander


REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: TEA3204


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 educational institutions and the growing diversity of contexts place intense demands on the role of educators. This course provides further professional experience in a new context. The pre-service teacher will have further opportunity to bring together both theory and practical components of the course. The integration of 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. Further, it is vital that pre-service teachers continue to development their professional knowledge basis in preparation for beginning teaching. During this final semester as part of this professional development, pre-service teacher will be presented with opportunities in workshops to keep abreast of developments and issues relating to both workplace teaching and to their role in the education profession in general.



SYNOPSIS

3The professional experience to date has enabled pre-service teachers to be involved in the normal day to day running of an educational institution and in the teaching of several curriculum areas over an extended period of time. This course offers the pre-service teacher a further extensive period in the field in a new context. The block professional experience will require involvement in the planning and implementation of units of work along with the daily administrative and professional requirements of an educator. The experience will require pre-service teachers to play an active role in the construction of their own practical theories. Their workplace experience will enable them to question, criticise and reformulate their assumptions about the nature of educators' work. Further, the pre-service teacher will be made aware of various professional and organisational requirements necessary for their induction into teaching. Students undertaking this course are required to complete a 30 day professional experience placement in an approved educational setting. A further 30 days of non-supervised experience (as negotiated with the course examiner) is also a requirement of this course.



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:

1.
become aware of developments and trends affecting both the teaching profession, and their own specialist teaching areas (Assignment and Professional Experience)
2.
understand the necessity of a broader view of education and teaching various professional courses can offer (Assignment)
3.
understand the importance of maintaining and upgrading professional knowledge and practices throughout their teaching career (Report and Assignment)
4.
gain knowledge of various professional requirements and organisations associated with a) their induction into teaching and b) their specialist teaching areas (Assignment and Report)
5.
gain further expertise in the planning and teaching required of a professional educator over an extended period of time in schools (Professional Experience)
6.
demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing (All assessment items).


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Preparing to become a professional educator, professional standards for teachers
 25.00
2. Various workshops to enhance professional competencies and knowledge base including sexual harassment, drug education, duty of care, inclusiveness, professional organisations within the profession
 50.00
3. Professional experience: a guide to reflective practice
 25.00

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).

Copies of all materials to be supplied.



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.

Details to be supplied as required for various courses.

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



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessments 40.00
Directed Study 40.00
Lectures 20.00
Workshops 60.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date Notes
PRACTICUM 1.00 1.00 21 Jul 2007 (see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 50.00 50.00 29 Sep 2008 (see note 2)
REPORT 50.00 50.00 03 Nov 2008  
NOTES
1.
A mark of one (1) indicates you have passed the Practicum component. A mark of zero (0) indicates you have not passed the Practicum component. The weighting of 1% is used for administrative purposes only and is NOT included in the overall weighting for this course.
2.
The course examiner will advise the due dates for all assessment items.

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 complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available. To complete the Professional Experience satisfactorily, students must complete 30 days and obtain a satisfactory standard thus gaining the 1 mark for Professional Experience. To complete Professional Context Experience (PCE) satisfactorily, students must complete 20 days.
  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 and satisfactorily complete the sector-based Professional Experience.
  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

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. Each summative assessment item must be submitted. 30 days of Professional Experience, all 20 days of Professional Context Experience (PCE) must be successfully completed and students must achieve at least 50% of the available weighted marks for the summative assessment items before a passing grade can be awarded.
10. Summative assessment items will receive a numerical score. Any ungraded assessment requirement will receive a Pass, Fail or Incomplete.
11. Students unable to attend Professional Experience due to illness MUST notify the school and the University.

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.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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