Enriched Placement (Integrated Sciences) (EDUC90920)

This elective is an Enriched Placement (Integrated Sciences) for Teacher Candidates in the Master of Teaching programs. It is designed for Teacher Candidates interested in gaining teaching experience in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related non-school and specialised settings (for example, the Melbourne Museum, Zoos Victoria, engineering TAFE centres). This subject includes a placement component and an on-campus teaching component. This Enriched Placement underlines the importance of Teacher Candidates gaining an understanding of broader contexts in which education takes place, aligning their educational practice to shifting practice and policy priorities.

This Enriched Placement (Integrated Sciences) subject is designed to provide students an opportunity to participate in an Enriched Placement over a period of approximately two weeks (depending on the teaching context). Sites will vary from year-to-year and placement opportunities may include team teaching, assistant teaching and solo teaching experiences. Teacher Candidates will be provided with details of which sites are available during orientation week each year.

The on-campus teaching component includes the equivalent of two days of orientation prior to the placement. This could include an introduction to alternative curriculum, context specific pedagogy, and an examination of academic literature that discusses a range of issues related to education in each place. A full day (or equivalent) for a reflection and debriefing session will be held in Melbourne on return during which students will share their placement reflections.

This Enriched Placement (Integrated Sciences) is open to a limited number of Teacher Candidates. Participation is through a competitive selection process that includes a written application and an interview. Further information will be made available from the site coordinators for each site.