Professional Educational Contexts (11779.1)

Required texts

The required textbook for this unit of study is:

Allen, J., & White, S. (2018). Learning to teach in a new era. Cambridge

Available through The School Locker website https://theschoollocker.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=learning+to+teach+in+a+new+era

Highly recommended textbook for this unit of study is:

Sharp, H., Hudson, S., ... & Walsh, M. (2021). Introduction to Education: Knowledge, Practice and Engagement. Cambridge.

Available through The School Locker website https://theschoollocker.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=introduction+to+education

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation at the discretion of the unit convener.

All assessment tasks must be submitted on UCLearn (Canvas) via the appropriate dropbox. Where this is not possible, exceptions may be sought from the Faculty Associate Dean (ADE). It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct corresponding draft or assessment item, to the right submission section.Assignments must be submitted by the student in a format accessible to the assessor(s) - as stated on the relevant Canvas site.  Please do not submit zip files or documents created in 'Pages': Microsoft Word or PDF documents are best. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, a standard late penalty of 5% of the total marks possible for the tasks may be applied until the student makes their submission accessible.

In all cases of absence, sickness or personal problems it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the unit Convener is informed. The minimum participation requirement must be met in order to pass the unit (regardless of supporting documentation). 

Special assessment requirements

Normally an aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit as well as the satisfactory completion of Professional Experience. 

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Learner engagement

This unit involves a 10 day placement in addition to the following semester workload.

An approximate breakdown of the workload is:

Weekly Lectures and Tutorials        40 hrs

Weekly Readings and Activities      50 hrs

Assessment Preparation                 60 hrs

Total hours                                      150 hrs

Professional Experience                 10 days

Participation requirements

General Attendance Requirements: 

Attendance at all scheduled sessions in this unit is compulsory and absences could result in a fail. All absences need to be supported by appropriate documentation (e.g. medical certificate). Successful engagement with all learning activities in this accredited Initial Teacher Education course is necessary to demonstrate that you have met the Graduate career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL, 2011). It is recognised that sometimes absence is unavoidable. If you are absent for more than two sessions, however, your engagement with the unit could be considered unsatisfactory.

Professional Placement: 

Successful completion of the professional experience component is critical to success in the whole unit.  Refer to assessment (5a) on the Canvas site for further details. Students must make themselves familiar with the processes and policies of professional experience.

Required IT skills

General knowledge of Microsoft Suite and Google Classroom

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves placement  and therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in section 6. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. School student and staff confidentiality must always be maintained (refer policies on ATES - Professional Experience Handbook, ACT ED Teachers' Code of Professional Practice (or equivalent) and Student Conduct Rules), including for assessment items such as reports or essays. The professional nature of this unit also requires 100% participation at all learning activities (lectures, practicals etc if scheduled – see section 3) for the successful completion of this unit (also see section 6c). If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), it is recommended that you contact the Academic Programs Team to discuss re-scheduling this unit.

This unit involves work integrated learning (WIL). Students must adhere to University policy during WIL activities, including the Student Conduct Rules 2018, the WIL policy and WIL procedures. Students need to ensure they have their WWVP card in ACT and for NSW, their Working with Children Check. For students undertaking placements in other states or territories, it may be that an alternate Police Check or a Working with Children Check is required. Please refer to the professional experience section on the All Teacher Education Students (ATES) site for full information on the Professional Experience requirements.

Students who are in placement units are also required to complete an Acceptable use of ICT resources form in order to access ICT resources in their placement school. A hardcopy of the form will be distributed and collected by your tutor early in your first Placement unit.

Students are required to complete and submit a 'UC Student Placement/ Internship Agreement Form' before undertaking their first Professional Experience. A link to this form is available on your canvas site.

Additional information

In all cases of absence, sickness or personal problems it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the unit Convener is informed. The minimum participation requirement must be met in order to pass the unit (regardless of supporting documentation). 

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

Theoretical foundations 

This unit introduces students to some of the theoretical positions underpinning education for preparation of teaching in a contemporary primary classrooms. 

Research-led education

This unit involves research-led education and learning. Active researchers deliver this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

• Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (211623)