EPR100:Professional Experience 1
Unit title / EPR100: Professional Experience 1Professional experience days / 5 days
Academic requirements / Lesson Plan and reflection Teaching philosophy
Teaching philosophy and reflection
In-school tasks / Two lessonsplanned and taught / Daily journal
Reflection on planning
Assessment completed by mentor teacher and submitted to the Professional Experience Office / Overall Professional Experience Evaluation Record.
Unit Purpose
This unit introduces the fundamentals of teaching and learning, including planning effective lessons within a curriculum framework. The unit has an associated five days of professional experience in which the student will begin implementing effective teaching and learning strategies.
This unit requires successful completion of two components. The first is up to seven weeks of in-depth study of learning theories, literature and quality pedagogical approaches. The second component consists of 5 days of professional experience in a school setting. Pre-service teachers will undertake specific assessable activities, including personal reflection, planning and teaching that align to the theoretical focus provided. Pre-service teachers must provide current criminal history clearances prior to the commencement of the professional experience.
Unit Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Begin to plan lessons using lesson planning framework or structures
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching
- Seek and apply constructive feedback from mentors and colleagues to improve teaching and learning practice
- Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources including ICT that engage students in their learning
- Apply the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate) to evaluate collected evidence of and reflections on their own practices.
Academic Requirements
Academic theory on applying principles to practice is fundamental to Professional Experience. Participation with the Academic component of this unit is outlined in detail on Learnline, the online learning environment. Visit "Learnline login" at the top of the CDU home page
In-school experience contacts
The Education Placement Office facilitates the administration of school placements for all pre- service teachers including pre-placement, collection of professional experience assessment forms and organising payments for mentor teachers. Contact Phone: 8946 6602.
Length of professional experience
5 days
Teaching expectations for pre-service teachers
During the 5 visits pre-service teachers are expected to work as a co-professional with their mentor teacher. Pre-service teachers are expected to plan, teach and reteach at least one lesson during the 5 day period. They are planning teaching and evaluating the learning of small groups and developing lesson planning and reflective practices.
Daily Journal
Pre-service teachers must keep a daily journal noting in-class and in-school activities, and reflections on experiences and teaching. The reflection focus for EPR100 is relationship building and lesson planning, teaching and assessment. The journal spans the entire period of professional experience and will include entries, which detail knowledge and insights gained, problems encountered, solutions applied, and the reflections of work as a pre-service teacher. Entries in this journal can inform future teaching and reflect personal development and growth as a teaching professional and can be used as a reference in later units in the course. These will become part of your reflective journal and your PoE*. Mentor teachers are asked to sight this journal and comment in the Overall Professional Experience Evaluation Record.
Mentor Teacher Feedback and in-school assessment
Mentor teacher feedback is provided using the following:
- Mentor teachers provide summative feedback on planning and teaching using the rubric provided on the assessment form available on the Inschool site. This rubric informs the summative feedback and overall evaluation at the completion of the professional experience.
- Mentor teachers also provide regular written and verbal feedback and guidance throughout the entire block of professional experience. Templates are available at
The tasks for this unit are:
- At least 1 lesson planned, taughtand retaught during the 5 days of professional experience.
*Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)– completed online portfolio presented to host school at the conclusion of the course. The PoE provides the explicit demonstration of evidence that addresses the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APSTs). Pre-service teachers are encouraged to collect evidence towards this portfolio from the commencement of this first Professional Experience.
EPR100 – Professional Experience 1