EDPRAC 621AEDPRAC 621A

February 2011February 2011

IntroductionsIntroductions

Debora Lee Practicum Co-ordinator

Barbara Watson Associate Teacher Liaison

Bridgit Williams Student Support Liaison

Laurice Joicey Practicum Administrator

Contact details in Practicum handbooks

Whakatauki:

Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu

Although they are small, children are precious

EDPRAC 621Conceptualising Practice

• Seven week practicum in two parts (A is 3 weeks and B is 4 weeks)

•A focus on competent communication, •Building and maintaining relationships•Understanding the EC context•Integrating theory, research and practice

EDPRAC 621 AEDPRAC 621 A

28 February - 18 March28 February - 18 March

• three week introductory practicum three week introductory practicum • first practicumfirst practicum• full time students started January 2011full time students started January 2011• part time students started January 2010part time students started January 2010• visited once by a university supervisorvisited once by a university supervisor• formative triadic assessmentformative triadic assessment

A diverse groupA diverse group

All are graduates with a range of degreesAll are graduates with a range of degrees Mature students with a wide range of life experiencesMature students with a wide range of life experiences Diverse cultural and language backgroundsDiverse cultural and language backgrounds A range of ECE experienceA range of ECE experience Able to do this practicum in ‘home’ centreAble to do this practicum in ‘home’ centre

Students encouraged to bring ‘who they Students encouraged to bring ‘who they are’ to the practicumare’ to the practicum

PreparationPreparation• Students well briefed on expectations• Student handbook familiarisation and initial

tasks• Range of support mechanisms• Adult learners take responsibility

Associate Teacher:• Read the practicum handbook• Have available relevant resources• Get to know student

Course WorkCourse Work

Students are engaged in studies in:

•Early Years Curriculum•Learning Theories•The Arts •Te Ao Māori

Part time students have only done 2 weeks of Arts and Te Ao Māori

Students are expected to make links between their course work and practicum experiences

See Pg 8 of handbook

Possible OutcomesPossible Outcomes

• Pass - learning achieved for all Pass - learning achieved for all learning outcomes, if any LOs are not learning outcomes, if any LOs are not met the practicum result is a failmet the practicum result is a fail

• FailFail

• Provisional pass (dependent on Provisional pass (dependent on subsequent passing of language course subsequent passing of language course or assessment) all LOs must be met or assessment) all LOs must be met (apart from concern about language). (apart from concern about language). A provisional pass must be confirmed A provisional pass must be confirmed with Lynne Andersonwith Lynne Anderson

Role of Associate TeacherRole of Associate Teacher

Provide opportunities for students to:Provide opportunities for students to:

• refine practical experience by engaging with refine practical experience by engaging with children, teachers and familieschildren, teachers and families

• construct new learning, knowledge and construct new learning, knowledge and understandingunderstanding

• try out ideas and theories to test and modify them try out ideas and theories to test and modify them in practicein practice

Role of Associate TeacherRole of Associate Teacher• Discuss student responsibilities and participation/contributions Discuss student responsibilities and participation/contributions • Induct student into centre’s policies and programme Induct student into centre’s policies and programme • Observe student’s teaching with reference to the learning Observe student’s teaching with reference to the learning

outcomesoutcomes• Provide support, encouragement and challengeProvide support, encouragement and challenge• Provide regular, specific verbal and written feedback Provide regular, specific verbal and written feedback • Model and discuss own assessment, planning, teaching, Model and discuss own assessment, planning, teaching,

evaluating and reflecting processes and practiceevaluating and reflecting processes and practice• Monitor student’s progress carefullyMonitor student’s progress carefully• Discuss any concerns with student and university supervisor Discuss any concerns with student and university supervisor

as soon as they ariseas soon as they arise• contribute to the triadic assessment processcontribute to the triadic assessment process• complete weekly reports and final report. Return final report to practicum officecomplete weekly reports and final report. Return final report to practicum office

See handbook (pp. 19-20) for student and US responsibilitiesSee handbook (pp. 19-20) for student and US responsibilities

The triadic relationshipThe triadic relationship

The relationship between the student, theThe relationship between the student, theAssociate Teacher and the University Associate Teacher and the University Supervisor is designed to facilitate the Supervisor is designed to facilitate the student successfully completing practicum.student successfully completing practicum.

Clear and open communication between all Clear and open communication between all parties will ensure the optimum learning parties will ensure the optimum learning environment forthe studentenvironment forthe student

A DVD on the triadic process is available A DVD on the triadic process is available on requeston request

DocumentationDocumentation• Portfolio evidencing learning outcomes, including links to Portfolio evidencing learning outcomes, including links to

GTSs and ‘Fit to be a teacher Criteria’GTSs and ‘Fit to be a teacher Criteria’

• Three reflections per week (e-mailed to US Three reflections per week (e-mailed to US and using a range of models. See handbook and using a range of models. See handbook pp. 14-17)pp. 14-17)

• Appropriate permissions sought for observations and Appropriate permissions sought for observations and assessmentsassessments

• Ensure student is aware of centre’s cybersafety policy and Ensure student is aware of centre’s cybersafety policy and expectations around use of photographsexpectations around use of photographs

FeedbackFeedback• Give constructive feedback both verbally and in weekly Give constructive feedback both verbally and in weekly

written reportwritten report

• Be specific about what the student is doing well and Be specific about what the student is doing well and suggest next steps for them to consider in the ‘future suggest next steps for them to consider in the ‘future directions’ section of reportdirections’ section of report

• Discuss verbally the written feedbackDiscuss verbally the written feedback

• Be aware that the learning outcomes are to be achieved Be aware that the learning outcomes are to be achieved by the end of EDPRAC 621B (not this practicum)by the end of EDPRAC 621B (not this practicum)

If you have concernsIf you have concerns

• Address them to the student teacher in the first Address them to the student teacher in the first instance and as soon as possible both verbally instance and as soon as possible both verbally and in writingand in writing

• Contact the university supervisor. They will Contact the university supervisor. They will support you as appropriatesupport you as appropriate

• Feel free to contact me for Feel free to contact me for support. 623 8899 xtn 48225 or support. 623 8899 xtn 48225 or bs.watson @auckland.ac.nzbs.watson @auckland.ac.nz

If a student is strugglingIf a student is struggling

• they will have received specific feedback about their practice and how they might improve

• the University Supervisor will be aware of the issue

• the weekly and final reports will refer to the concerns

• the practicum office will be alerted and remedial actions will be taken before the student proceeds to EDPRAC 621B

Support for Associate TeachersSupport for Associate Teachers

• Web Site Web Site • Associate Teacher Handbook and meetingsAssociate Teacher Handbook and meetings• Practicum handbooksPracticum handbooks• University SupervisorUniversity Supervisor• AT liaison (AT liaison (bs.watson@auckland.ac.nzbs.watson@auckland.ac.nz))• Practicum Coordinator (Practicum Coordinator (d.lee@auckland.ac.nz))

• Triadic DVDTriadic DVD• Combined Associate Teacher Symposium Combined Associate Teacher Symposium (2 July 2011 at UofA)(2 July 2011 at UofA)