Foundations of Teaching

• • Establishing our learning community
  • Who is a teacher and what do teachers do?
  • The focus is on you as a developing teacher (past influences, present beliefs/assumptions)
  • Introduction to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
  • Historical insights in teaching
  • The aims of education
  • Documents that guide teaching and learning in Australia
  • Know students and how they learn (Standard 1)
  • Going further with Portfolios
  • Know the content and how to teach it – Student motivation and engagement (Standard 2)
  • Developing observation skills
  • Creating and maintaining supportive learning environments (Standard 4)
  • Developing observation skills
  • Planning for effective teaching and learning (Standard 3)
  • Teacher relationships and communication
  • Preparing for your first observation
  • Observing teachers’ work
  • Reflection on observation Week 1
  • Preparing for observation Week 2 and teacher interview
  • Reflection on observation Week 2 and on your learning in the unit

In order to enrol in this subject, you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:

Core

• TAS-EDS-CTF-2020

Special requirements

No special requirements

Foundations of Teaching introduces you to the study of teaching as a profession and provides opportunities for you to critically examine the nature of teachers’ work. Through reflecting on your past educational experiences and dispositions (that is, your attitudes and beliefs) about teaching and teachers, you will establish a sound base to develop your knowledge and understanding of contemporary teaching practice over the next four years. Content explored in this subject includes the pragmatics of teachers’ work such as planning, establishing a positive and supportive learning environment, communicating as a teacher, and student learning, motivation and engagement. You will have the opportunity to further explore each of these topics and to develop your professional knowledge through observation in educational contexts (important: see below). You will be introduced to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level) and reflect on these in relation to your engagement in this unit and thus, your own development as a teacher.

• Reflective Statements (20%%)
• Engagement in Educational Settings: Student Learning, motivation and engagement (25%%)
• Engagement in Educational Settings: Three short reflections (55%%)