Course code: 0709
Course leader: Dr Brian Parton
The course
The school has revised its primary teaching course to provide four years of full-time study, commencing with the three-year Bachelor of Teaching and finishing with a fourth year of study leading to the award of Bachelor of Education. With these two qualifications, graduates will be eligible for employment within State and independent schools and related teaching services. The qualifications are registered nationally.
There is an optional science/mathematics/computing stream for those students who wish to become primary teachers with special expertise in science/mathematics/computing.
In keeping with the stated Mission Statement of Monash University, the general aim of the course is to provide a program of studies which will prepare its graduates with:
* the knowledge, competence, skills and attitudes that will enable them to operate in their chosen fields at a level at least equal to the best of their peers in Australia or overseas;
* a broad and critical understanding of knowledge in order to encourage and enable a continuing professional approach to work, community responsibilities and personal development;
* intellectual and cultural curiosity as a preparation for life-long learning;
* other skills and attributes, for example computing skills, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
The course is structured, therefore, to enable students to:
* gain a knowledge of the theoretical foundation of education, particularly those relevant to primary teaching;
* develop competence in general teaching skills which relate those skills effectively to various areas of the primary school curriculum;
* gain knowledge and develop skills and attitudes which will foster learning that contributes to continued personal and professional growth.
The major aim of the course, therefore, is to produce a confident and competent teacher who is a well-educated person with a knowledge of the theoretical foundations of education and the necessary professional skills.
It is hoped that such a person will see the need for retraining and upgrading of qualifications to ensure continued professional growth during his or her career.
The objectives of the course can be expressed specifically for the professional studies and general studies components of the course.
Professional studies
It is expected that graduates will have developed knowledge and understanding of:
* the developmental stages of child growth and the implications of such development for the practising teacher;
* the breadth and nature of contemporary research into teaching, including the major theories of learning and the implications of these for the classroom;
* the function, structure and content of contemporary curricula;
* the contribution made to educational theory and practice by significant thinkers and practitioners;
* the principles to employ in constructing programs appropriate to developmental stages;
* the role of the individual and the school society and the nature of the interaction between them.
It is expected that graduates will have developed skills in:
* effective communication;
* establishing meaningful and purposeful relations with parents and children;
* recognising and understanding children's individual needs;
* recognising and developing a child's potential;
* counselling children and parents;
* effective group management;
* structuring a variety of classroom situations to motivate and stimulate pupils' approaches to learning;
* using references and resources in developing classroom learning experiences;
* designing, organising and evaluating courses or programs of study;
* selecting educational equipment and teaching aids most appropriate to pupil's needs;
* applying relevant research findings to school or classroom situations.
Over the four years of the course, students are encouraged to develop responsible attitudes towards the teaching profession. It is hoped that these attitudes will be apparent in their:
* interest in the welfare of children;
* belief in the dignity of each child;
* acceptance of the responsibility for recognising and developing each child's potential;
* enthusiasm for teaching;
* desire to contribute to the betterment of children;
* interest in professional problems of education;
* attitudes towards their fellow students and colleagues;
* active and constructive membership of professional associations;
* awareness of the inequalities in opportunities that exist in the community because of race, religion and sex;
* imaginative and inventive approach to problem solving;
* awareness of the need to develop physically, socially and mentally.
General studies
In the general studies component of the course it is expected that students will develop a knowledge and understanding of:
* important contributions to human thought and research in the arts, science or humanities;
* significant developments in the arts, sciences or humanities.
It is expected that students will acquire skills in:
* effective oral, written and visual communication;
* recognising unstated assumptions;
* interpreting ideas and data so that material is re-ordered, recognised or viewed in a new way;
* analysing material into constituent elements so that the relative importance of ideas or their interrelation is expressed or made explicit;
* synthesising elements of ideas, data or other material to reveal pattern or structure previously not apparent;
* judging the value of ideas, material or methods for given purposes;
* effective selection and employment of techniques and media in developing concepts.
It is expected that students will develop a conscientious and responsible attitude towards the gaining of knowledge and towards expressive and communicative experiences. It is hoped that this attitude will be apparent in:
* their enthusiasm for learning;
* their belief in the value of sustained endeavour in intellectual and creative fields;
* their understanding of the need for the acquisition of knowledge and experience to be a continuing process;
* their awareness of the need for a balance of educational studies and life experiences, the one complementing the other;
* the completion and presentation of set tasks;
* the time and effort spend on reading and research beyond the set work;
* their participation in discussion and debates;
* their interest in activities beyond the confines of their chosen subject areas.
Selection
Applicants must satisfactorily complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (or its equivalent) and have English in their `best four' subjects and must take any two units of mathematics in Years 11 and 12.
Course outline
A summary of subjects to be taken in each year of the course is given below. A description of the syllabus of each subject is set out later in this chapter. In addition to the compulsory core subjects, students take one general studies subject in a sequence throughout the course and an additional general studies sequence in the first year only.
Compulsory core subjects
First year
* EDN1095 Teaching studies 1
* EDN1075 Foundation studies 1
* EDN1375 Mathematics education 1
* EDN1455 Physical education and health 1
* EDN1105 Teaching studies 2
* EDN1085 Foundation studies 2
* EDN1795 Language education 1
* EDN1445 Social education 1
Second year
* EDN2095 Teaching studies 3
* EDN2075 Foundation studies 3
* EDN2795 Language education 2
* EDN2315 Art education 1
* EDN2475 Science education 1
* EDN2105 Teaching studies 4
* EDN2085 Foundation studies 4
* EDN2375 Mathematics education 2
* EDN2365 Computers in education 1
* EDN2415 Music in education 1
Third year
* EDN3355 Teaching studies 5
* EDN3075 Foundation studies 5
* EDN3395 Mathematics education 3
* EDN3105 Teaching studies 6
* EDN3085 Foundation studies 6
* EDN3005 Language education 3
Electives
Two from:
* EDN3455 Music education 2
* EDN3465 Social education 2
* EDN3325 Computers in education 2
Two from:
* EDN3485 Art education 2
* EDN3475 Science education 2
* EDN3245 Physical education and health 2
General studies
As for Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) above.
Practical experience
Periods of teaching practice in primary schools are arranged throughout the course.
Mathematics/science/computing stream
Compulsory core subjects:
First year
* As for Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) (see above)
Second year
* EDN2095 Teaching studies 3
* EDN2075 Foundation studies 3
* EDN2375 Mathematics education 2
* EDN2475 Science education 1
* EDN2105 Teaching studies 4
* EDN2085 Foundation studies 4
* EDN2795 Language education 2
* EDN2365 Computers in education 1
Third year
* EDN3355 Teaching studies 5
* EDN3075 Foundation studies 5
* EDN3395 Mathematics education 3
* EDN2315 Art education 1
* EDN3325 Computers in education 2
* EDN3105 Teaching studies 6
* EDN3085 Foundation studies 6
* EDN3005 Language education 3
* EDN2415 Music education 1
* EDN3475 Science education 2
General studies
Students take one general studies sequence for two years and one general studies sequence for three years. The subjects are chosen from:
* EDN1775/1785/2775/2785/3805/3825 Environmental science 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8
* EDN1265/1275/2265/2275/3265/3275 Computer studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
* MAT1501/1502/2501/2502/3501/3502 Studies in mathematics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
* EDN1345/1355/2345/2355/3345 Human biology 1, 2, 3, 4, 5