Engaging and Assessing Learners (ECP) 1 (EDUC91062)

This foundational subject explores the purposes of education and the role of the teacher in meeting professional ethics and responsibilities. Education has the capacity to transform society and through this subject, Teacher Candidates will examine the social, political, and legislative conditions that create school and setting cultures to support and sustain all children. Teacher Candidates will consider how local and global educational policies inform and are informed by educational practices. This subject references the relevant Australian educational frameworks and curricula.

The clinical model of teaching will be introduced as an evidence-based practice guiding teaching, assessment and evaluation approaches. Teacher Candidates will examine current research into the processes and strategies that facilitate learning and will gain knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and how characteristics of children may affect learning. Specifically, pedagogical practices will focus on understanding and responding to the learning strength and needs of children from linguistic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This subject will also support Teacher Candidates’ exploration of classroom communication and management practices and strategies that support children’s wellbeing and safety to provide high-quality learning environments that meet school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements. It will equip Teacher Candidates with the fundamental skills necessary to begin to observe, design and implement teaching strategies to engage all children.

This subject includes Clinical Teaching Practicum (placement) in an Early Childhood setting. During the placement, Teacher Candidates will begin to demonstrate the nexus between theory and the practice of teaching, drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives and contemporary research to support their teaching practice. Teacher Candidates are supported by experienced Clinical Specialists and Mentor Teachers. A series of seminars will be held which explore Candidates’ developing professional knowledge, practice and engagement.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, Teacher Candidates should be able to:

• Demonstrate broad and deep understanding of the social, political, and legislative conditions that create schooling cultures in order to support and sustain all children.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and how characteristics of children may affect learning.
• Apply knowledge of teaching strategies responsive to the learning strengths and needs of children from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how children learn and the implications for teaching.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which teaching practice is informed by codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession, and relevant legislative, administrative and organisational requirements.
• Apply knowledge of classroom activities and management strategies that create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments for all children to create inclusive and productive learning environments.
• Demonstrate understanding of professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement by drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives and contemporary research to support teaching practice.

Generic skills