Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) (GD-TCHEC) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) graduates will have attained the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level) and have developed knowledge and competencies associated with the use of the Clinical Teaching Judgement model. In combination, these Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) learning outcomes will enable graduates to:

• Reflect critically on the ways in which educational theory and research informs teaching practice
• Demonstrate strong subject and pedagogical content knowledge to create productive learning environments that empower learners
• Interpret, design and implement relevant curriculum and pedagogy, integrating digital technologies and differentiating teaching to engage all students in their learning
• Design assessment tools and tasks and interpret data and evidence to make sound clinical judgments about teaching interventions and reflect on the impact of teaching on learning outcomes
• Utilise interventionist teaching practices that promote participation and inclusion to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Demonstrate a high level of 21st century skills and be able to develop these skills in students
• Create and maintain safe and supportive learning environments using knowledge of practical approaches to promote positive behaviours
• Establish and maintain ethical and respectful relationships with students, colleagues and parents, working independently and collaboratively across the school/centre community
• Evaluate the social and political contexts informing education and teaching and interpret the professional standards for teachers
• Demonstrate capacity to reflect upon the effectiveness of teaching practice as well as the impact on student learning
• Demonstrate continuous professional learning through teacher practitioner inquiry and research.

Generic skills

• Clinical reasoning and thinking
• Problem solving
• Evidence based decision making
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and professional collaboration
• Learning to learn and metacognition
• Responsiveness to a changing knowledge base
• Reflection for continuous improvement
• Linking theory and practice
• Inquiry and research
• Active and participatory citizenship.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) will:

• Embody the standards of the teaching profession and support the development of teaching as a profession
• Be practitioners of clinical teaching, who teach for growth for all students using an inclusive, developmental, intervention-based approach that utilizes deep learning and evidence based strategies
• Be culturally and socially aware, able to establish respectful and ethical relationships with students, staff, parents and the broader school communities / early childhood centres
• Be creative, innovative, self-directed and life-long learners, able to link theory and practice and respond to a changing educational landscape.