Undergraduate Secondary Course Information

Undergraduate Secondary Course Information

For course inquiries please contact education@canberra.edu.au.

Convener: Mr. Philip Roberts

E. philip.roberts@canberra.edu.au
(I anticipate a working week reply)

Consultation Times – Semester 1 2010

To make an appointment regarding secondary course issues please contact:
Administrative Assistant Secondary Education, Room 5C2
Ph:   +61 2 6201 2400
Fax: +61 2 6201 2263
Email: education@canberra.edu.au

NB. Appointments must be in consultation times. Priority will be given to students with appointments.

General course information

Important

• All students must have a Police Probity Check to undertake Professional Experience in schools
• When choosing electives it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements to teach the subject/s you wish to teach.  To check these requirements visit http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/downloaddocument.aspx?DocumentID=567
  

Introduction

You are responsible for your own course and enrolment, including ensuring that your enrolment is correct and complete by the appropriate deadlines. You are also responsible for keeping your personal details up to date and specifying your course completion date (this can all be done on OSIS, which you will become familiar with throughout your study program). It is therefore crucial that you become well informed and make the best decisions that allow you to derive maximum benefit from the opportunities available.

Please note that it is possible that throughout the duration of your degree changes will be made to your course so you may not be able to always follow the pathway exactly as it is laid out in this booklet. However, there will always be other options made available that will not disadvantage your progression through your studies.

After you have accepted a place at the University of Canberra you need to enrol, and then follow instructions to register your first tutorial preferences online. You should have received a New Student Enrolment Guide from the University which outlines the enrolling process; however you can find an electronic version of this at
http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services/home          
Each year you will need to be responsible for enrolling in the correct subjects. A typical structure of your course can be found in the following pages of this booklet to assist you. The University and your Course Convener will communicate with you through your student email address so make sure that you access this account regularly.

The Educational Aims of the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) are:

• to provide initial professional preparation, including foundation knowledge and skills for people seeking a career in teaching;
• to provide professional experience for preservice teachers;
• to establish a foundation for those who seek to pursue research and postgraduate study in teaching and education; and
• to provide initial professional preparation which equips teachers to work towards social transformation.

Note:  Students will need to consider prerequisites and in what semesters Approved Minor units are offered. Web address for University of Canberra Approved Minors
http://www.canberra.edu.au/courses/index.cfm?action=browse&type=elective&elective=minors
Those students wanting to teach their second teaching area in NSW are encouraged to check NSW website for details of specific KLA’s https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/employment/teachnsw/teacherqual.htm

Structure and Content of the Degree

• a four year full-time or an equivalent part-time program;
• a range of study programs;
• development of an understanding and expertise as a teacher through a sequence of experiences that are organised coherently, in each semester and across years;
• a focus on important themes developed and sustained through the course, eg the relationship of education to pluralism in our society;
• an education core carefully planned to realise the potential value of your experiences in a classroom, elsewhere in the school system or other educational setting; and
• the integration of theory and practice with Professional Experience undertaken in a variety of educational settings.

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (SECONDARY)

Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the course applicants must: meet the normal University of Canberra requirements for admission, and meet the usual University of Canberra rules and practices for advanced standing to apply.

Education Core and Areas of Teaching Specialisation
The education core subjects embrace the principles of general education. These subjects include knowledge of information technology, educational psychology, history, philosophy, and sociology. The focus of these subjects will provide students with a detailed background in secondary education and enable students to think and work as teachers in a more informed way.

Students undertaking studies towards a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) are required to complete seven (7) education core subjects, three (3) subjects in Secondary Teaching Studies, 13 discipline subjects undertaken (normally) in other Schools, and Professional Experience including a Teaching Internship. Details of discipline subjects are listed under Approved Majors and Approved Minors in the University Handbook and on the University Web page.

Students studying the specialist streams of Design & Technology (CIT), Health & Physical Education (CIT), and Music (ANU) must complete some of their study in other institutions.

Teaching and Assessment
This degree provides a theoretical and practical base on which beginning teachers can build their own philosophy and skills necessary to become proficient practitioners. In addition to the education core, teaching studies, and discipline subjects, students undertake a professional experience program. Fieldwork in discipline and associated units must be completed in addition to professional experience.

A variety of assessment techniques will be used to demonstrate students’ understanding of content areas, eg. in-class presentations, including the use of multimedia and information technology, individual and group projects, essays, short answer tests, written and oral examinations, and peer assessment. Information on assessment of students’ learning is contained in all unit outlines.

The professional experience is completed in collaboration with the school systems and assessed by the school coordinator, supervising teacher, and university supervisor. The Faculty of Education Professional Experience Office has developed guidelines for assessment procedures including an ‘at risk’ policy for students who are experiencing difficulties during professional experience.

Method of Course Evaluation
A Course Consultative Committee has been established and comprises representatives from another university; employing authorities; professional associations; another division; the student body; Canberra Institute of Technology; Australian National University, University Academic Services Division; and proponents of the course.

Formative evaluation will be conducted throughout each year of the course and a survey of graduates will be undertaken as part of university policy. The Centre for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Scholarship (CELTS) is involved in the evaluation process.

Course Duration
Four (4) years full time or equivalent part time.

Assumed Knowledge
ACT: Majors in Mathematics (T) and English (T). NSW: HSC Mathematics and English.
Check further prerequisites in the UC Handbook for specific subjects. Hard copies of the Handbook are available for purchase through the University of Canberra’s Co-op Bookshop located in the Hub, and an electronic version can be found at
http://www.canberra.edu.au/handbook2008- 

Discipline Sequence of Subjects
All three of our specialist secondary degrees have specified set subjects at all levels, to meet employer requirements except in the case of H & PE Minor options.

Subject Descriptions
Subject descriptions can be found in the hard copy of the University of Canberra’s Handbook (available for purchase through the Co-op Bookshop) or online at http://www.canberra.edu.au/courses/.

Professional Experience
This course requires extensive professional experience (practice) in high schools, colleges or other educational institutions: 10 days in semester 1 (1st year), 10 days in semester 4 (2nd year), 15 days in Semester 5 and 15 days in Semester 6 (3rd year), and 40 days in Semester 7. You must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) course before undertaking professional experience subjects or co-requisite subjects. Four year Bachelor of Education students (or often referred to as Preservice Teachers) must undertake placements in a minimum of four settings, and all placements are formally arranged in consultation with the Professional Experience Office.

Professional Experience can be required to be undertaken in and out of
semester /normal class time. In the case of it being in semester time you the student should notify subject conveners and request a flexible study arrangement in discipline subjects, eg taped lectures, lecture notes copied, or attending an after-hours tutorial.

You are required to make a full-time commitment to the school and related preparation during professional experience. It is recommended that you do not undertake outside work during professional experience.

You will not be permitted to take 4804 Teaching Internship until the majority of your Educational and Discipline subjects are completed.

The Professional Experience Office is located in 5B11, and can be reached by calling (02) 6201 2487 or by emailing peo@comedu.canberra.edu.au.

Link to website…

Course Advice
Each student is responsible for his/her own course. If you are unsure whether your study program meets the course rules consult the Course Convener. Again, please be aware that course changes may possibly be made throughout the duration of your degree so you may not be able to always follow the pathway exactly as it is laid out in this booklet. However, there will always be other options made available that will not disadvantage your progression through your studies.

On entry to the University, you should attend a group course advice session conducted during the New Student Enrolment Program (NSEP) presented by the Secondary Course Advisers. Individual consultations are available at other times; to organise a study program or for consultation on matters relating to your study program, contact the Course Convener (contact details on the cover of this booklet).

Advanced Standing (Credit)
If you have completed subjects at another tertiary institution, and/or are transferring from another University, or another course within the University of Canberra, you may be eligible to apply for advanced standing. To request this, you will need to see the Course Convener. You will need to provide an Academic Transcript (original to be sighted) and subject outlines with descriptions of assessment tasks undertaken as evidence of previous studies successfully completed. If advanced standing is given a study program will be planned for you.

There is no guarantee that you will gain advanced standing for all of the subjects you have completed elsewhere. The decision is dependent on academic judgements about the appropriateness of the previous studies in relation to your new course.

Administration
The University’s Student Centre serves the administrative needs of the entire UC student body. The front enquiry/client service counter houses staff from the Student Services and Financial Services in one easy location on the main university concourse. They can be reached by phone on 1300 301 727 or by email at http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services/home     

Dean of Students
The Dean of Students is a member of the University academic staff whose role is to mediate for students where there is problem situation in a particular subject between the student and lecturer concerned. Contact details are http://www.canberra.edu.au/dean-students          or email DeanofStudents@canberra.edu.au   

Health and Counselling Services
The Health and Counselling Centre provides academic and personal counselling and offers courses to assist students develop effective study approaches, writing and reading skills. Medical staff are situated in the Centre also. The Centre is located in Building 1 and can be used by all students in the University ph. (02) 6201 2351.

Review of Results
The University has a standard review process if you are dissatisfied with a fail result.  A resolution should be sought as soon as possible by negotiation and/or mediation.

The following is a summary of the main policy document that can be found at https://guard.canberra.edu.au/policy/Academic/sub       

The review process is:

1. Talk to the lecturer in charge of the subject (or consult the Course Convener if you feel you cannot approach the lecturer) within the timeline set out. Do this as soon as possible after publication of results.  Papers and assessment items are available for viewing on the Tuesday following publication of first semester results, and on the Monday following publication of second semester results.
2. If you are still dissatisfied you can seek an appointment with a Mediator (from the list provided at https://guard.canberra.edu.au/policy/policy.php?pol_id=3014     Do this within 7 days of publication of results.
3. Should the process of mediation not be satisfactory, you can ask for a Review Panel to discuss your case. Your application (in writing) must reach the Student Service Office by:
• the end of Week 1 of Semester 1 (for Semester 2 results); or
• the end of Week 2 of Semester 2 (for Semester 1 results).
4. If the outcome is still not to your satisfaction you can lodge an appeal with the University Moderator. The Moderator will consider your case and can make recommendations to the Academic Board. Do this within 14 days of your Review Panel hearing.