The Practice (PCK) of Teaching HPE (9887.2)

Required texts

Required text:

McMaster, N. (2019). Teaching Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood and the Primary Years (1st edition). South Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. Price: $82.95

The required text for this unit can be purchased or loaned through The School Locker, which is situated inside the UCX Shop or online: https://theschoollocker.com.au/universities/university-of-canberra

Recommended text:

Pill, S. (2015). Play with purpose: For fundamental movement skills teaching. A teaching guide for early years and primary educators for physical education and daily PE. South Australia: Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, SA Branch inc.

Additional readings and other stimulus material for this unit will be provided on unit's Canvas site. Students are expected to utilise these and other resources when preparing for workshops, learning activities and planning assessment tasks.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Where possible, all assessment items will be submitted online via the teaching site in UCLearn. The first page of each assessment item should include the following information:

• Student ID number:
• Assessment Name:
• Unit Convenor Name:
• Word Count (if applicable):

Students' names are not to be included on any assessment tasks/submission. Only Student ID numbers should be included (as per the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures).

Assessment items must be submitted to the assignment area in the unit's UCLearn site, relating to that piece of assessment. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item, to the right submission section.

Late submissions will only be accepted for a limited period. If more than one late submission is made within that period, only the first late submission will be accepted for marking and may be subject to penalties as detailed in the Assessment Procedures.

Extensions:

Students can apply for an extension to the submission due date for an assessment item through extenuating, evidenced circumstances (specific details are found in the Assessment Procedures). Extensions must be applied for before the due date. Documentary evidence (e.g. medical certificate) will be expected for an extension to be granted, however this will not guarantee that the application will be successful. The Unit Convener or relevant Program Director will decide whether to grant an extension and the length of the extension.

An Assignment Extension form is available from the Student Forms page.

Late submission of assignments without an approved extension will result in a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available, per calendar day late. An assignment submitted over seven (7) days late will not be accepted.

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. 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 task may be applied per day until the assignment is made accessible.

Responsibility for Understanding:

If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the Unit Convener or unit Teaching Team. Further, it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are correctly enrolled in the unit and that the tutor and Student Administration have their correct contact details.

Special assessment requirements

Use of text matching software

UC uses text matching software through URKUND. Fraudulent documentation will have potential serious consequences including suspension and/or exclusion from the University and   all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the ADE for investigation as a prescribed authority.

Learner engagement

An indicative breakdown of the notional workload for this unit is:

Workshops:

11 x 3 hour Workshops = 33 hours (3 hours per week).

Lesson Planning:

5 x 30-45 min lesson plans = 10 hours (a minimum of 2 hours dedicated to planning weekly delivery lesson plans).

General Preparation and Assignment Preparation:

Ungraded components, weekly preparation and readings, reflection tasks and assessment preparation = 107 hours.

Participation requirements

Attendance is compulsory to all scheduled workshops in this unit 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).

As this is a school-based unit involving small group teaching, attendance is vitally important in order to provide support for your peers and continuity for the school students in your small group. Unlike a block practical where a student may miss a day and then do a catch up day this is not possible in the PCK units. A missed session simply cannot be replicated for a student who does not attend. Participation in all activities will also enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses.

In the case of sessions missed due to illness or extreme circumstances, both the academic content and the professional experience component are required to be made up. More than two documented absences may lead to failure of the unit due to non-completion. Unlike a block placement where a student may miss a day and then do a catch up day this is not possible in the PCK units. A missed session simply cannot be replicated for a student who does not attend.

Required IT skills

None.

In-unit costs

Work placement, internships or practicums

This is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit, and therefore additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in section 6. This unit involves Teaching Clinics and hence requires strict adherence to professional practice and principles and ethics. School, student, and/or research participant confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays etc. The professional nature of this unit also requires 100% attendance at all Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities (lectures, tutorials, school-based sessions 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 meet with your course adviser to re-schedule this unit for a future semester.

Due to the professional experience/ WIL nature of this unit students are expected to wear appropriate clothing/shoes that reflects the status of being a teacher, generally as a guide this would be smart casual, however should allow for ease of movement due to the practical nature of this subject. Students must comply with the Sun Smart regulations of the school. If you are unsure please discuss this with the unit convener. Students are also required to ensure that their name badges are visible at all times while on school campus.    

As this is a professional experience/WIL unit students are required to undergo a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) background check to undertake a placement for the unit. Students are responsible for arranging their own checks through the ACT Office of Regulatory Services.

The WWVP Act only applies to the ACT. For students undertaking placements in other states or territories, it may be that a Police Check or a Working with Children Check is required.

HIGH PRIORITY: STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FOR A WWVP BACKGROUND CHECK. The application can be accessed at:

https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1804/~/working-with-vulnerable-people-%28wwvp%29-registration

IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS DISPLAY THEIR WWVP CARD WHEN ATTENDING ALL SCHOOL-BASED SESSIONS. THEREFORE, OBTAINING A WWVP CARD IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS UNIT.

Additional information

Theoretical foundations:  

This unit involves a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement to encourage students' practical development of key pedagogical and attitudinal skills essential for teaching within the 21st century classroom. By working wtih young students and alongside practising teachers within a school setting, this unit supports students to develop key pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge and knowledge of students and how they learn. Furthermore, by engaging in collaborative teaching and planning each week, students will practise and develop important relationship skills to prepare them for future work within school-based teaching teams. Additionally, this unit will explore essential learning theories specific to the teaching of the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education. These theories will underpin students' developing pedagogical approaches within this context. 

Research Led Education:

This unit involves research-led education and/or work-integrated learning. There are active researchers delivering 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.

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. Students with general questions about unit content and assessment should use the discussion forums on Canvas. Students using the Canvas Discussion Forums should expect a reply within 2-3 business days (this excludes weekends). It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they check for announcements on the unit's Canvas site (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only). Students should ensure they check their UC student email regularly. The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by the Unit Convenor 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 your UC student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

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).

Email communication with Teaching Staff:

All emails should be sent from your UC student email account or via the unit Canvas site, otherwise anti-spam filters may prevent it from being delivered to your Unit Convenor. While the Unit Convenor cannot be available online all day, in normal circumstance your Unit Convenor will reply within 2-3 business days (this excludes weekends).

When using UC student email to communicate with Lecturers/Tutors, you should always make sure that your message contains the following:

1. A subject that contains the unit code, and clearly describes the nature of your query or request.
   • Your Unit Convenor receives many emails a day, and also teaches more than one (1) unit, so if your email does not contain the unit code; it is not possible to place your message in context. If the subject does not indicate the nature of the message, it may well remain unanswered.
      
2. Change the default setting on your email program to include previous messages in replies, and make sure that previous messages are included in an ongoing exchange. Your Unit Convenor deals with many students. Having a copy of the previous exchanges included in your message will expedite a response. You should still make sure that the subject indicates what the email is about.
    
3. Address your Unit Convenor appropriately by their name.
    
4. State your question or request clearly and concisely.
    
5. Insert a signature at the end of your email that contains:
   • Your name in full as it appears in Callista.
   • Your UC student number.

Your Unit Convenor will inform you if there are additional requirements for communicating by email. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in your email being summarily deleted and you will not receive a reply.

Incompatible units

• None.

Equivalent units

• Semester 2, 2020, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (195894)
• Semester 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (186928)
• Semester 2, 2018, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (182652)