Students

EDST8240 – Professional Practice 3 and Educational Research

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-infrequent, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Bronwyn Tregenza
bronwyn.tregenza@mq.edu.au
Contact via Assessment questions should be posted on iLearn. Email for other correspondence.
29 Wally's Walk, Level 2, Rm 219
Flexible by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
80cps and EDST8999 and (EDST8211 or EDST8238)
Corequisites Corequisites
(Admission into MTeach (Prim) and EDST8212 or EDST8213 ) OR (Admission into MTeach (Secondary) and (EDST8219 or EDST8221 or EDST8223 or EDST8225 or EDST8227 or EDST8229 or EDST8231 or EDST8233 or EDST8235))
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is a Professional Experience unit for intending primary/secondary school teachers. This unit synthesies students' knowledge of teaching diverse learners and skills in independent educational research. Students will teach in a school for 30 days under the guidance of a Supervising Teacher and concurrently conduct practitioner research to meet the requirements of the mandatory NESA Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA).

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Critically analyse and demonstrate differentiated, evidence-based teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
  • ULO2: Understand, implement and evaluate the processes of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting over a lesson sequence to determine the impact of teaching on student learning.
  • ULO3: Employ research knowledge and methods appropriate for effective, research-based practitioner inquiry.
  • ULO4: Identify, apply and synthesise evidence of practice aligned to AITSL graduate teacher standards.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate research informed collegial interactions, feedback and professional interactions in learning communities.
  • ULO6: Engage in scholarly inquiry and reflexivity in regard to teaching practice of self and others.

General Assessment Information

The assessment for this unit is the national Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) that all Teacher Education Students in Australia must complete to be accredited and enter the profession. All tasks are mandatory but the written TPA submission will be analysed to determine that the TES has met or exceeded all of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) at Graduate level to pass the course. At Macquarie University, the TPA requires teachers to collect and analyse performances, work samples and assessment items completed by five targeted students to assess knowledge and skills from the syllabus that have and have not been demonstrated and measure the impact of a lesson sequence differentiated to enable the target students to master syllabus content that the assessment data showed was within their ZPD. A comprehensive collection of submission guides, templates and other resources are available to all final year TES on the EDCOMMS iLearn site.

If unforseen circumstances compromise your participation in the course or completion of requirements, please reach out via wellbeing@mq.edu.au for guidance and support and for variations to the course schedule please submit an application with supporting evidence via AskMQ https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration.

Unit Assessment Overview
ASSESSMENT NAME WEIGHT DUE DATE SUBMISSION METHOD
 GoReact Video recording of yourself teaching Mandatory but not weighted To be recorded during PEX which finishes on 12/04/24  Recorded directly into GoReact which is accessed via a link in iLearn
Folder of evidence showing completion of all PEX tasks Mandatory but not weighted  23/04/24 Academic staff may request to see the folio which is kept by the student
Professional Experience Evaluation Report written by the Supervising Teacher based on completion of the PEx tasks Mandatory but not weighted 29/04/24 Two weeks after PE placement Upload via iParticipate
 Viva Voce presentation (not to exceed 5 mins) showing differentiation based on assessment data for one student  Mandatory but not weighted  09/05/24 students enrol in a 9:00am or 11:00am tutorial Presented during a Zoom session and appended to TPA
Teaching Performance Assessment - Submission guide on EDCOMMS  100%  23/05/24  Submitted via a Turnitin link

Assessment Policies

  • Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic honesty (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3) 

  • Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

  • Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing. 

  • All assessments are submitted electronically. Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments. 

  • Students can use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit. 

  • Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment as no re-submissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error. 

  • Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked.  

  • All assessments are marked using a clear marking scheme or a rubric. 

  • Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor. 

  • Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ (https://ask.mq.edu.au/).  

  • It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assessments. If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to make contact with the unit convenor. 

University policy on grading 

  • The Professional Experience  Report is marked as satisfactory or unsatisfactory
  • The Teaching Performance Assessment (in final PE units) is marked as not meets, meets or exceeds
  • To meet the unit outcomes and successfully pass this unit, students should attempt all assessment tasks.  
  • If you fail a unit with a professional experience component, the fail grade will be on your transcript irrespective of the timing of the placement.

Withdrawing from this unit 

  • If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via https://ask.mq.edu.au before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact your course progression. 

Results 

  • Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit https://ask.mq.edu.au 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Teaching Performance Assessment 100% No 23:55 on Thursday 23 May 2024
Supervising Teachers' Professional Experience Evaluation Report 0% Yes 23:55 on Monday 29 April 2024
ASSET Survey 0% No 23:55 on Friday 17 May 2024

Teaching Performance Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23:55 on Thursday 23 May 2024
Weighting: 100%

 

Pass/Fail completed on placement (no word limit). Teaching Performance Assessment(NESA requirement) includes: choosing 5 focus students and planning teaching and assessing through a process of reflexive practice.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically analyse and demonstrate differentiated, evidence-based teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
  • Understand, implement and evaluate the processes of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting over a lesson sequence to determine the impact of teaching on student learning.
  • Employ research knowledge and methods appropriate for effective, research-based practitioner inquiry.
  • Identify, apply and synthesise evidence of practice aligned to AITSL graduate teacher standards.
  • Demonstrate research informed collegial interactions, feedback and professional interactions in learning communities.
  • Engage in scholarly inquiry and reflexivity in regard to teaching practice of self and others.

Supervising Teachers' Professional Experience Evaluation Report

Assessment Type 1: Field work task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: 23:55 on Monday 29 April 2024
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

This report is completed by the Supervising Teacher on completion of the student's 30 day Professional Experience placement (Including the TPA) using the AITSL Graduate Teaching Standards.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically analyse and demonstrate differentiated, evidence-based teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
  • Understand, implement and evaluate the processes of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting over a lesson sequence to determine the impact of teaching on student learning.
  • Employ research knowledge and methods appropriate for effective, research-based practitioner inquiry.
  • Identify, apply and synthesise evidence of practice aligned to AITSL graduate teacher standards.
  • Demonstrate research informed collegial interactions, feedback and professional interactions in learning communities.
  • Engage in scholarly inquiry and reflexivity in regard to teaching practice of self and others.

ASSET Survey

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: 23:55 on Friday 17 May 2024
Weighting: 0%

 

The ASSET survey will provide the School of Education with a detailed understanding of our students and their experiences; including, who they are, their attitudes and beliefs about education, and how prepared they feel to work as teachers. In addition, as part of the registration of the Department of Educational Studies teacher preparation programs with the NSW Education Standards Authority, we are specifically required to collect impact data on programs. The proposed annual survey will serve the purpose of providing part of these mandatory data. Further, it will provide the Department of Educational Studies with valuable information to revise and improve the programs offered to students. Finally, you may elect to make your de-identified data available to researchers in the Department if you choose.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Engage in scholarly inquiry and reflexivity in regard to teaching practice of self and others.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Tutorials and Workshops

EDST8240 blends face to face and online delivery to support professional learning activities within schools.

Tutorial 1 via Zoom 9:00am on Wednesday 21 February https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/84237834626 

Full-Day On-Campus Session 9:00am to 2:00pm Friday 23 February

Six Week Professional Experience Placement from Monday 4 March to Friday 12 April with make up days between Monday 29 April and Friday 17 May

Optional Mid-Professional Experience Zoom Session One to clarify data collection and analysis and development of student goals 1:00pm Friday 15 March https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/84609091616

Optional Mid-Professional Experience Zoom Session Two. The focus will be on differentiation and annotation of work samples to show impact 1:00pm Friday 5 April https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/82900277585 

Viva Voce (5min presentation) at either 9:00am https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/86440868792 or 11:00am https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/89516908786 Practical session Thursday 9 May

Essential Resources

Students must be familiar with the Teacher Education Students section of the MQ Professional Experience website https://students.mq.edu.au/study/course/teacher-education-students

A close reading of the following documents on the EDCOMMS iLearn site should be completed before commencing the Professional Experience and the MQTPA lecture series and Podcasts are highly recommended.

  • The EDST8240 PEX Requirements document for either Primary or Secondary
  • The MQTPA Primary and Scondary 2024 submission guidelines

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers can be found on the website of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) https://www.aitsl.edu.au/standards and the NSW Education Stanards Authority(NESA) website https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/teacher-accreditation/meeting-requirements/the-standards

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

School of Education Procedures 

In addition, the following policies and procedures of the School of Education are applicable in this unit. 

Attendance for Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) units 

Attendance at all synchronous activities, completion of non-synchronous formative/diagnostic class tasks and involvement in professional forums is compulsory as the Master of Teaching is a professional qualification. All students must meet the 80% attendance requirement.  

Activities completed during tutorials or on campus days are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards. Attendance at all tutorials or on campus days is expected and the roll will be taken. 

Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-student. Please do not contact the unit convenor requesting a change. 

Electronic Communication 

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular weekly basis.  Communication may occur via: 

  • Official MQ Student Email Address 

  • The Dialogue function on iLearn 

  • Other iLearn communication functions 

Infrequent Attendance Students 

Information about the dates of the on-campus sessions can be found in the university timetable. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au) 

  • The on-campus sessions are essential to student engagement and learning and attendance is expected. Failure to attend or to have an approved Special Consideration may result in a Fail grade for the unit.  

  • Prior to the on-campus sessions, you should have read the prescribed readings and listened to the lectures. Summarise the main points and make a note of the key terms and definitions. Prepare any discussion questions of your own that you wish to share. 

  • Please make effective use of the online component of the unit and access iLearn regularly. Keep up to date with listening to the lectures on a weekly basis. 

  • Further specific details and any updates about times and locations will be posted on iLearn as an Announcement during first half of the semester. 

Fail Rule  

This unit is a part of a professional course listed on Schedules 2 and 3 of the Academic Progression Policy. This course has additional requirements that are applicable for the full duration of the course, including course-specific inherent requirements, Fitness to Practice requirements and other compulsory course requirements. It also has rigorous academic progression standards. Inability to meet these requirements may result in a withdrawal of offer of admission and/or permanent exclusion from the course in accordance with the General Coursework Rules. 

LANTITE 

In order to enrol in your EDST8240 PE Unit you must have met the standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy test prior to commencing the professional experience placement unit. Enrolling in EDST8240 while waiting for your results will not be accepted. 

Passing a Professional Experience Unit 

To pass a Professional Experience unit, students must achieve a satisfactory result for their professional experience placement AND achieve a satisfactory result overall for their academic assessment tasks in the unit. 

Professional Experience Unit Placement Expectations 

  • Students must be able to present evidence of completion of several tasks prior to session census date (or as otherwise advised) in order to receive a placement for Professional Experience. Please check your email from the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Office. Requirements are outlined here as well: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/pl-resources/pre-service-teacher-resources/induction-for-pre-service-teachers/mandatory-pre-requisites-for-pre-service-teachers-participating-   

  • Students must have submitted all written assessment tasks and/or associated unit component requirements prior to the commencement of the block. 

  • Students who are completing a unit offered by another department are expected to inform and negotiate with that unit convenor about their professional experience block dates and to discuss how that unit's requirements can be met. For some situations, it may mean that you are enrolled externally for that unit so that your attendance for tutorials for that unit is not impacted.  

  • Feedback from Tertiary Supervisors and/or Supervising Teachers is of a general nature. It is incumbent on the student to check the requirements of any assessments or bookwork prior to submission. 

  • If a Student is identified as being in need of additional support for Professional Practice and/or Bookwork, the School of Education’s ‘Additional Support’ procedure will be activated. 

  • Students may not be able to commence their placement until all alleged academic honesty breaches have been investigated and concluded.  

  • The timing of placements can vary. For placements early in the Session, Fail grades may be approved by the University prior to the end of Session for students who do not meet the placement expectations of the Unit. 

Fitness to practice requirements 

  • Macquarie University operates under a ‘Fitness to Practice’ model as specified in the University's Academic Progression Policy.  For this Unit, this means that, when undertaking a placement, a student is declaring that they are able to demonstrate professional competence, acceptable professional behaviour, freedom from impairment, and compliance with program specific requirements needed for a student to practice properly and safely throughout their Practical, Clinical or Professional program or unit. It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether they are fit to undertake a placement. Therefore, if a student is feeling unfit to undertake a placement, they should not do so. For more information https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/academic-progression 

 

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook