Professional experiences – teacher education

Professional Experience – school- or early-childhood-centre-based professional learning – is at the heart of all the faculty’s preservice teacher-education pathways. Guided by both "cooperating teachers" and the faculty’s "tertiary mentors", preservice teachers working in a range of schools and early childhood centres are mentored to build capacity in the practise of teaching, and to develop deep understandings of students, educational contexts, the practices of teaching.

Placements are commonly in blocks across a diverse range of sites, augmented by additional dispersed day observation programs and longer, more independent teaching experiences within internships. For primary and secondary preservice teacher education, the faculty’s professional experience programs are aligned with professional teaching standards for graduate teachers which as of 2013, are described in a framework of national standards.

Free online professional learning support for teachers involved in the supervision of preservice teachers has been provided to assist in the understanding of how to apply the national standards at the graduate teacher level.

The faculty is continually building and sustaining partnerships with schools and centres that offer professional-experience placements. Professional learning opportunities are offered to teachers to strengthen their capacity to effectively mentor our preservice teachers.

Detailed information about the specific professional-experience programs relevant to a particular degree can be found under the menu items listed on the left of this page. Additionally, handbooks for various programs are available on this website.