EDUC4045

Early Childhood Internship

20 Units 4000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus Semester 1, Semester 2
Ourimbah Semester 1, Semester 2

Previously offered in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

In this course students will prepare a reflective professional portfolio based on their internship that demonstrates their professional learning during the program. They will refine their personal philosophy of Early Childhood Education; explore the legal, social and ethical responsibilities associated with being a member of the Early Childhood profession; and consider their responsibility as participants in local, national and global teaching communities. The course requires students to undertake 20 hours orientation and a 30 day full time internship in a birth - 5 yr old setting. The intern will be responsible for up to 2/3 of the colleague educator's teaching load during this placement. In addition Interns will be expected to interact and contribute to the setting and its community.


The University of Newcastle, the NSW Institute of Teachers and our education partners in schools and centres require that all students demonstrate a commitment to professional teaching practice by attending and engaging in lectures, tutorials and other activities provided by the university within our Teacher Education programs.

Students’ professional commitment to teaching will be assessed by a 100% attendance requirement at sessions indicated as compulsory in the course outline. These lectures are compulsory because they present information that is critical to successful completion of the placement.

Attendance will be recorded on rolls available at the entrance to lecture theatres and/or tutorial rooms. Students should ensure that they allow sufficient time to be marked as present and provide adequate identification.

Students who arrive late and leave early without prior arrangement with the course coordinator will be deemed to have not completed the attendance requirement. If students leave the activity early and fail to identify themselves a second roll will be taken upon conclusion to the activity.

If a student fails to attend a compulsory session the student is responsible for contacting course coordinator within three (3) working days to request permission to complete a supplementary assessment task. This task will cover the same information that was in the missed session. These tasks will be pass/fail only and will not include written feedback. All replacement tasks are to be submitted at least two weeks before the commencement of the placement. Students who have not complied with any of these requirements will not be provided with a placement.

Objectives For students to demonstrate:
1. their ability to take an active, responsible approach to their development as professionals;
2. knowledge and understandings of early childhood settings, including aspects of organisation, administration and management;
3. knowledge and understandings about current issues in early childhood and how they impact on settings;
4. knowledge and understandings of the roles and tasks of early childhood teacher professionals;
5. qualities and characteristics of early childhood teacher professionals;
6. professional ethics in practice;
7. teaching abilities including a range of skills, strategies and practices appropriate for young children;
8. their ability to design, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate curriculum and programs for individual and groups of children;
9. positive and constructive interpersonal relationships with children based on equity, mutual trust and respect; and
10. positive and constructive interpersonal relationships with adults based on equity, collegiality and partnerships.
Content Topics include:
- The nature, purpose and features of the Internship
- The status of students in the Internship
- The roles and responsibilities of participants in the Internship
- Designing, implementing and evaluating a professional development plan
- Roles and tasks of the early childhood teacher professional including teacher, manager (program and curriculum, personnel, finance, property, privacy, health and safety, advocate, researcher, and leader)
- Maintaining a reflective journal of experiences
- Interpersonal communication and relationship skills
- Working as a colleague and member of a team
- Working with parents and the community
- Developing an early childhood philosophy
- Preparing for teaching and learning in the internship and beyond
- Internship assessment.
Replacing Course(s) EDUC4045 in 11389 BT / B Early Childhood Studies - offered at Callaghan and
EDST4050 in 10865 BEd (Early Childhood) - offered at Ourimbah.
Transition N/A
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge Course work in Yrs 1, 2 and 3 of the B Teach (Primary)/BECS Program
Course work in Yr 4 Semester 1 of the B Teach (Primary)/BECS Program
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Email Discussion Group
Lecture
Experience Based Learning
Practicum
Tutorial
Assessment Items
Other: (please specify) All assessment tasks are compulsory course requirements that need to be passed in order to pass the course. If a student fails an assessment task the student is responsible for contacting the course coordinator within five (5) working days from the date that the marked assignment is returned to request permission to resubmit the assignment. A single resubmission will be allowed per assignment.

NB: If a student fails the placement component of assessment requirements, the student is deemed to have failed the course.
Other: (please specify) All components of this assessment item must be passed in order to pass this course. This component assesses the student's attainment of graduate teacher standards and course objectives. Assessment includes submission to the university of components of the professional portfolio and the report indicating that the student has met the necessary requirements, and prepared by teaching staff at the placement.

Where special consideration is granted students may be provided with an alternative placement. Alternative placements cannot be provided for students who fail to meet the requirements of their placement without special consideration in line with the Faculty Student Placement Policy.

A pass (ungraded) will be recommended when:
1. The School of Education receives the original signed report indicating that the student has met requirements;
2. The requirements of the professional portfolio are assessed as satisfactory; and
3. The relevant Assistant Director of Professional Experience confirms that all requirements to pass the course have been met.

Final Report
Students must achieve ratings at or above "Achieved" for all Aspects and Elements on the Final Report

Preparation and Support
Students must complete all preparation session tasks within the designated timeframe.

Withdrawal from a Course Containing a Placement
This course contains a professional experience placement, so the official withdrawal policy is different to other University courses. In this course, students may withdraw without academic penalty one week or more before the placement is due to begin. In other words, the official final date for withdrawal is one week prior to commencement of the placement. This will allow prior notice to be given to centres of any student's intention to withdraw from the placement, and may allow the place to be re-allocated. Withdrawal after the official date will usually result in an "F" grade. If there are special circumstances, students may apply to the Head of School for permission to withdraw from the course, after the official final date, without academic penalty. Permission to withdraw will not normally be given to students who have begun the placement and been placed "at risk" or advised that they are likely to fail.

Mandatory Program Component
This course is a Mandatory Program Component of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Program. Students must complete this course successfully to progress in the Program. Students who fail this course are declared at risk at the point of the first failure, and asked to show cause if they fail the same course a second time.
Contact Hours Lecture: for 13 hour(s) per Term for Full Term
Tutorial: for 6 hour(s) per Term for Full Term
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) / Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies program who have successfully completed 270 units of their approved program including EDUC2065, EDUC2185 and EDUC3185. Students must undertake Child Protection training. Before commencing the Internship placement, students in this course must: hold a current Child Protection Certificate; sign a confidentiality statement; and complete a Working with Children Check Volunteer/Student Declaration that must be taken to the placement centre on the first visit.
Timetables 2014 Course Timetables for EDUC4045