Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

This is a specialised course designed to fully prepare students for careers as teachers in primary schools. It provides graduates with a comprehensive background in primary education. Students study a range of units that provide them with essential understandings relating to children's learning and teaching, and units that cover each of the key learning areas of the primary school curriculum

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will have:

• acquired the skills that will effectively allow them to plan and deliver primary and middle school* educational programs
• gained an understanding of curriculum development and the significance of the key areas of learning taught in primary schools
• developed knowledge about child development underlying professional practice and an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of primary teacher education
• understood and appreciated the cultural contexts of schooling and the diversity of the student population
• developed the capacity to be responsive to the needs of children, their families and communities in a flexible and innovative way.

* Optional specialisation for Gippsland students.

Students must complete teaching practice which consists of a minimum of 80 days of satisfactory supervised school experience. Students who are employed in schools must complete at least 50 per cent of their supervised fieldwork in a setting other than the school in which they are employed. Students must be available to undertake school placements on a full-time basis and attend their placement for full days at times determined by the faculty.

Graduates are eligible for registration and employment as primary school teachers in the government, Catholic and independent school systems in Victoria. Students undertaking the middle school option available at Gippsland will be eligible for registration and employment in Victoria to teach P-10 in their discipline area for the secondary years. For interstate and overseas positions, applicants are advised to check with local authorities.

This course comprises core and elective education units and disipline studies, incorporating compulsory and elective units, and teaching placements.

Students on the Peninsula campus complete a broad selection of 10 discipline units in the Faculty of Education.

Students on the Gippsland campus complete two discipline sequences (six units plus four units) or three discipline sequences (two units plus four units plus four units) in other partner faculties. One of these sequences must be in the areas of science or mathematics.

Middle school specialism (Gippsland only)

Gippsland students have the option of completing a middle school specialisation where their four education electives will be replaced with two middle school units and two specialism units (for teaching years 7-10) related to their chosen discipline sequences. These students will be required to do 25 days placement in a secondary school, and 55 days placement in a primary school.

First year

Semester 1

• EDF1303 Learning and educational inquiry 1 (five days professional placement)
• EDF1305 Entering the profession 1

Peninsula only

• EDF1120 Multicultures in Australian society
• EDF1124 Music fundamentals

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence 1
• discipline sequence 2

Semester 2

• EDF1304 Learning and educational inquiry 2 (five days professional placement)
• EDF1306 Spaces of difference

Peninsula only

• EDF1121 Exploring science
• EDF1126 Information and computer technology in education

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence 1
• discipline sequence 2

Second year

Semester 1

• EDF1307 Early literacy and numeracy 1 (10 days professional placement)

Peninsula only

• EDF2123 Exploring mathematics
• EDF3125 Children's literature: Issues and analysis
• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html

Gippsland only

• EDF3006 Adolescent development and learning, or education elective
• discipline sequence 1
• discipline sequence 2

Semester 2

• EDF2302 Re-imagining children's learning (five days professional placement)

Peninsula only

• EDF2125 Fitness leadership
• EDF2127 Art fundamentals
• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html

Gippsland only

• EDF2330 The middle years: A period of transition, or education elective
• discipline sequence 1
• discipline sequence 2

Third year

Semester 1

• EDF2301 Multiliteracies: Mediating the world
• EDF3301 Numeracy

Peninsula only

• EDF2120 Indigenous issues
• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html

Gippsland only

• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html, or specialism 1 (7-10)
• discipline sequence 2, or discipline sequence 3

Semester 2

• EDF2304 Early literacy and numeracy 2
• EDF2306 Global educational contexts: Policy, practice and research
• EDF3311 Understanding space and place (15 days professional placement)

Peninsula only

• EDF1125 Sustainable futures

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence 2 or discipline sequence 3

Fourth year

Semester 1

• EDF2303 Movement, environment and community
• EDF3303 Integrating the curriculum 1: Creative exchange
• EDF4311 Professional contexts 1 (20 days professional placement)

Peninsula only

• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html

Gippsland only

• one general elective from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html or specialism 2 (7-10)

Semester 2

• EDF3304 Integrating the curriculum 2: Different places
• EDF3306 Literacy
• EDF4312 Professional contexts 2 (20 days professional placement)
• EDF4314 Entering the profession 2

Bachelor of Primary Education