Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula campuses
Course code: 1158
Contact: Dr Martin Sullivan (Clayton), Dr Tony Taylor (Gippsland) or Dr Phillip Perry (course adviser, Peninsula)
The course extends the work undertaken during the (preservice) graduate diploma through to the stage where the teacher can realistically be expected to have established a degree of authority in her/his professional practice. In short, it traces the journey from competence to mastery.
The Master of Teaching (MTeach) also formalises the extensive professional development and research work that members of the faculty have been carrying out with practising teachers over many years. This work in developing teacher knowledge has received world-wide recognition but has not been acknowledged in any formal award recognition. This award will enhance this focus on teaching and learning within the faculty.
The course will be offered through a combination of on-campus and distance mode from each campus. Where practicable, students may select subjects from more than one campus.
It is structured in two stages. At the end of the first stage, the student/teacher should have consolidated her/his understanding of the teaching/learning process. At this point students may either take out the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning or continue in the program, in which case their academic record will reflect that they have satisfied the requirements for Master of Teaching, Preliminary.
The second stage requires the student/teacher to subject her/his practice to systematic analysis and reflection over an extended period. In the process, she/he will acquire techniques of action-research which can be utilised throughout her/his career.
Upon successful completion of this course students should have:
The course will be available to four-year-trained teachers.
Students taking the course will normally be in full-time or substantial part-time employment in schools. Other situations will be approved if the student has access to sufficient teaching to provide the basis for the core subject, project and practicum. International students will be able to enrol in the course where the faculty is able to provide appropriate supervision. For admission to stage 2 of the course, students must have completed a minimum of one year's approved teaching.
As the course is specifically directed towards the developmental needs of qualified teachers with a significant amount of professional experience, the varied backgrounds and differing career aspirations of such teachers require a program which balances individual interests and initiatives with a common focus on continuing development in professional practice. The course therefore contains a core subject which maintains this focus, and a program of elective subjects which may be put together in many different ways.
All students will undertake the core subject EDN8038 (Improving professional practice) which is a twelve-point, year-long subject which helps students review and reflect on their teaching practice. This subject will also provide the framework and foundation for the second-year requirements carried out in the teaching context. Students will also take one of a list of approved teaching and learning subjects currently available in the faculty's masters program.
Students choose elective subjects equivalent to a further thirty-six to forty points, which must form a coherent program of study, to be approved by the course leader. Normally, at least twenty-four points must be taken from MEdSt subjects. The remaining twelve to sixteen points may be taken as one MEdSt subject or two BEdSt subjects or, with approval from the course leader, as appropriate third or fourth-year subjects.
Students should have access to subjects offered in any school of the faculty, and in distance mode as well as face-to-face. The entire pool of fifth-year-level subjects available within the faculty gives students an unprecedented opportunity to build programs suited to their individual needs. The course leader may, however, identify a subset of subjects that are most appropriate for a particular student. An opportunity also exists for students to readjust their academic qualifications by taking up to twelve to sixteen points from another faculty to upgrade or readjust qualifications to meet employment needs. (See the examples of possible programs below.)
A number of EdD subjects will be available to approved masters level students. A list of these subjects can be obtained from the inquiry office of the School of Graduate Studies, Clayton campus.
Example one
Example two
1 Students will be required to provide evidence and demonstrate mastery of teaching. The subject EDN8038 will have introduced ways of doing this, eg developing portfolio items of curriculum development items, students' work and other records of teaching. Students will also need to demonstrate mastery of the Teacher Competencies recently developed. These demands will be part of the advanced practicum which will be completed in association with a university and school supervisor over a minimum of two years. To this end they will complete a (twenty-four points) advanced practicum requiring a minimum of two years (or equivalent part-time) supervised teaching.
2 Teachers will be expected to reflect carefully and critically on their experience and develop ways of communicating their knowledge and understanding. To this end they will undertake the twenty-four points project currently offered to MEdSt and MEdPA students. The project undertaken will relate to their professional practice.
3 Graduates from the MTeach course will be expected to have accumulated a substantial body of experience. To this end they will also be required to have completed a minimum of three years equivalent full-time teaching consisting of one year's approved experience prior to undertaking stage 2 and the two years required for the advanced practicum.
Thus, the assessed component of the second stage would consist of:
The course will involve two equivalent full-time years of study over a number of calendar years, depending on the balance of full-time and part-time study undertaken.
Further information may be obtained from the inquiry office, School of Graduate Studies, Clayton campus (telephone 9905 2819), the administrative officer, Peninsula School of Education (telephone 9904 4291), or the student administration office, Gippsland School of Education (telephone (051) 22 6375 or (03) 9902 6375).
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