This unit includes an on campus component and a minimum of five weeks of workplace experience in a junior primary classroom.  The focus for this unit is on the examination of a range of methods of assessing and diagnosing young children’s learning and exploring the processes used in school systems to monitor and map children’s progress.  The concepts of diversity, inclusivity and catering for individual needs are also addressed in this unit.  Pre-service teachers plan and implement an integrated series of experiences across all learning areas.

This is a Designated Unit involving a Professional Practice placement in a school/centre where students gain essential practical experience of school life. The placement provides a critical opportunity to connect theory with practice and develop the fundamental knowledge, dispositions, understandings and competencies of a beginning teacher under the guidance of experienced professionals.

A Designated Unit is defined in the University Rules: Admission, Enrolment and Academic Progress Rules as, “a unit or unit of competency which a Faculty Board has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once”.

University Rule 26 (6) states, “Where a student has failed a Designated Unit, the student shall be excluded from the course unless otherwise determined by the Board of Examiners, and the student’s academic progression status will be ‘excluded’ ”.

Students should refer to the Professional Practice Rules and Procedures available at: http://www.education.ecu.edu.au/prac for further information regarding Professional Practice.

All students are required to be available during the scheduled Professional Practice periods as per the School of Education Calendar which is available at: http://www.education.ecu.edu.au/prac and to give a full-time commitment to the school/centre during the scheduled days.