Country Education Project Rural Placement Opportunity 2009

The Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Country Education Project (CEP) are providing the opportunity for a number of pre-service teachers to be involved in a unique opportunity which will give them a very "real" teacher experience.  Pre-service teachers selected to participate in this practicum will have an experience that will enrich their knowledge of teaching and themselves as a teacher, and investigates what lies ahead as they move into their first year in the profession.

Different to more traditional placements this practicum will involve a number of pre-service teachers (approx. 6-8) engaging with a cluster of schools of varying size and grade/year levels.

The practicum will take place in the prescribed placement period and is based on a team approach.  The team model enables pre-service teachers to create networks and build professional relationships with their peers and cluster schools over a period of time.

Schools participating in this placement opportunity have been carefully selected with The Principals and teachers involved, committed to providing an all round experience.  The cluster of schools involved extends to the whole of the community to ensure that participants have a great rural experience.  Both a rich Professional and Social experience for  Monash pre-service teachers is insured which will enable participation within the schools and the rural communities they will be involved with.

Where possible, exposure to all facets of being a teacher in the 21^st Century will be explored by:

• Attending curriculum days
• Attending parent teacher interviews
• Report writing
• Investigating/interpreting school data
• Collecting data
• Investigating various testing mechanisms currently in use
• Investigating various assessment tools
• In depth look at assessment (as/for/of, self, rubrics etc)
• Investigating VELS/Principles of Learning and teaching (PoLT)
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Investigation reflection strategies
• Use of ICT tools
• Behaviour management and welfare strategies
• Access to panels of graduates
• Access to panels of school principals/leaders

2009 Placement Opportunities

For 2009 the following placement opportunities are being offered:

Early Childhood

Eligible Students: Pre-service teachers enrolled in EDF2324 Inquiry in Professional Practice: Junior Primary, OR EDF4508 Early Childhood Studies 6 in Semester 2 2009

Date of Placement: Monday 24 August - Friday 11 September

Placement Location: Possible locations include Inverloch, Maffra, Bairnsdale, Sale.

Placement Arrangements: Primary schools and possibly Early Childhood providers (to be confirmed). Students will rotate around a number of primary schools in their first week of placement.  For the remaining placement period students will be assigned to one/two school which will facilitate their remaining placement weeks.

Primary

Eligible Students: Pre-service Teachers enrolled in EDF5111 Professional Experience 2 in Semester 2 2009

Date of Placement: Monday 24 August - Friday 4 September & Monday 26 October - Friday 13 November

Placement Location: Maffra or Yarram

Placement Arrangements: Primary schools.  Students will rotate around a number of primary schools in their first week of placement.  For the remaining placement period students will be assigned to one/two school which will facilitate their remaining placement weeks.

Secondary

Eligible Students: Pre-service Teachers enrolled for Semester 2 2009 in

• EDF4733 Professional Experience 2A and/or;
• EDF4734/EDF4073 Professional Experience 2B

Date of Placement: Monday 17 August - Friday 18 September or Monday 31 August - Friday 18 September (Part time students only)

Placement Location: Maffra, Yarram, Bairnsdale, Sale  

Placement Arrangements: Secondary schools.  Fulltime students will rotate around a number of schools in their first week of placement.  For the remaining four weeks they will be assigned to one school which will facilitate their specialism areas. Part time students will visit a number of schools in their first few days of placement before settling in one school for the remaining placement period which will facilitate their specialism area.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in this placement opportunity pre-service teachers must:

• have performed at a satisfactory standard in previous placement rounds
• be enrolled in one of the above stipulated units as part of their course enrolment

 NB: places are limited so it may not be possible to accept all applicants

Support

Accommodation

CEP will organise and arrange student accommodation (NB: Students will be required to meet all accommodation coast)

Financial

• Pre-service teachers may be eligible to apply for the DEECD Student Teacher Practicum Scheme "Living Away from Home Allowance" valued at $900.
• Pre-service teachers may be eligible to apply for the Monash Practical Placement Bursary.  

NB: Pre-service teachers participating in this placement will be responsible for finding their own way to/from their placement allocation.

Application

Applications are due directly to the Professional Placements Office no later than Friday 12th June 2009.

• Download application form (pdf 45Kb)

Further Information

Contact the Professional Placement Office