Why study technology teaching at UoN?

This degree allows you to build a career around your skills and passion for a particular technology or a range of technologies. There is anticipated to be a severe shortage of technology teachers in the near future, which will make your qualifications highly sought after.

This degree provides many opportunities that support teacher training of technology educators. These include:

• Practical experience aimed at building teaching skills( 90 days of practicum in schools)
• Practical experience in workshops
• State of the art resources
• Highly regarded and experienced staff
• Strong employment opportunities

The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Technology degree develops graduates who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for a highly successful career in teaching. If you enjoy working with teenagers, or are interested in and enjoy using and developing creative and practical skills, then this program is for you. Areas you could work in include:

• design
• food
• textiles
• timber
• metal
• computer programming and multimedia.

There are no prerequisites for this degree however you must achieve a Band 4 in HSC English or equivalent. Similarly it would be an advantage to have studied HSC subjects within the areas that you intend to teach. For example:

• Engineering students would benefit from studying HSC engineering studies and extension mathematics
• Food students would benefit from studying food technology and chemistry
• Computing students would benefit from HSC computing subjects.

While having studied HSC subjects in the area you intend to teach will be helpful, it is not mandatory.

Tailor your degree to specific career goals

As a student of this degree you will study a diverse program designed to make you a highly skilled technology teacher. Find out more

Gain real-world experience

This degree gives you the opportunity to become hands-on in a teaching environment with practical experience both in the teaching area and also in workshop and skill building experiences. Find out more

Teachers are in demand

After graduating from the Bachelor of Teaching(Secondary)/Bachelor of Technology, you may choose to follow postgraduate offerings at Newcastle that support your teaching and career aspirations Find out more

Tailor your degree to specific career goals

As a student of this degree you will study a diverse program designed to make you a highly skilled technology teacher.

The degree requires the successful completion of 320 units of study that are normally offered as 40 units per semester for eight semesters. As a part of this structure you will complete the equivalent of 90 days professional experience in a secondary school. Here you will have the opportunity to be hands-on and teach in a classroom while you are studying. The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Technology is offered at our Callaghan Campus.

This degree is offered four years full-time or part-time equivalent. A part time equivalent study option is available, as you may choose to study part time, or apply for leave during the program. However, to qualify for teacher accreditation with the NSW Institute of Teachers, you must complete all of the courses listed on your program within a five year period.

First year

In your first year you will be introduced to the foundations of education and commence studies in how to teach:

• design and technology
• information communications design
• product design.

This degree allows you to focus your studies on multiple areas of interest in the form of a major and a minor discipline area. In your first year you begin to select courses in one of the following major areas of study that will constitute your focus throughout the duration of your degree.

• Design and technology,
• Industrial technology,
• Computing technology-software design,
• Computing technology-information systems.

Second year

In your second year you will study the theory behind learning and education. More specifically the:

• psychology of learning and teaching
• social contexts of education
• the theory and practice of classroom and behaviour management
• control technologies
• graphic design
• model-making.

You will also continue in your major area of study and engage in your first 20-day supervised professional experience placement in a secondary school. You will also have the opportunity to begin your elective minor studies in one of the following technologies that is different from your major:

• Design and technology.
• Industrial technology
• Computing technology-software design
• Computing technology-information systems
• Food technology
• Textiles technology
• Engineering technology

Third year

In third year you will study special education, or how to work with children who have additional learning needs. From this you will have the opportunity to employ the strategies you learnt in your 20-day supervised professional experience placement. Alongside this, you will complete studies in Aboriginal education, policy and issues, and expand your technology mandatory repertoire by studying how to teach timber and metal technologies.

At this point in your studies you will have the choice of completing additional studies by studying other electives across the university.

Fourth year

In your final year you will focus on how to teach the discipline-specific literacies of your subject area, and have the opportunity to focus on the curriculum and pedagogy of your major discipline area. Your year will conclude with a 50-day internship where you will take the leadership of a series of technology classes in a secondary high school. You will also continue with your elective studies.

This degree program is subject to approval from the NSW Institute of Teachers. It replaces the Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Design and Technology degree.

Majors

Alongside the core Design and Technology major, students may specialise in Industrial Technology or Computing Technology. In addition to this you will have the opportunity to complete elective minor studies.

Major 1 - Design and technology: All students will study this as a major core area. The compulsory courses include:

• ARBE1100 Communication in the Built Environment 1
• ARBE1103 Communication in the Built Environment 2
• ARBE1500 Introduction to Design Practice
• ARBE1501 Project Development
• ARBE2500 Furniture, Form and Function

As well as this students will then select five courses from the directed study list to qualify them as stage 4-6 Design and Technology Teacher.

Major 2 - Industrial Technology: You will complete the same courses as the Design and Technology students in their major core courses but will then select five different directed courses to study to qualify you as a stage 4-6 Industrial Technology-timber and metal Teachers

Major 3 - Computing Technology - Software Design or Information Systems: To become a computing teacher it is anticipated that you may choose to study computing areas, one as a major and the other as a minor allowing a complete understanding of every aspect of computing. It is also possible to study one computing area as a major and a different elective area all together as a minor elective.

In addition to this you will have the opportunity to complete elective minor studies in one of the following technologies that is different from your major:

• Design and technology
• Industrial technology
• Computing technology-software design
• Computing technology-information systems
• Food technology
• Textiles technology
• Engineering technology

Gain real-world experience

This degree gives you the opportunity to become hands-on in a teaching environment with practical experience both in the teaching area and also in workshop and skill building experiences.

• In the classroom: You will be deeply immersed in the role of teaching from the time you begin this program. Starting with peer teaching (teaching small groups of colleagues) you begin to gain confidence and organisational skills for the classroom. From there you will progress to microteaching where you enter an authentic situation in a secondary school. Here, in pairs you will work with a qualified teacher to teach single lessons of five, year seven students. This will allow you to understand the need of your students, design inspiring lessons, motivate and engage your students, build resources, and develop teaching strategies and pedagogy to be used in your classrooms. From here you will complete two, 20 day practicum experiences in schools and a 50 day internship where you will take the leadership of a series of technology classes in a secondary school. There is the opportunity to complete practicum experiences and or the internship in other areas of the state, interstate and even internationally.
• Practical experience in workshops: Throughout the program you are involved in building practical skills that will be used in the classrooms. Workshop experiences and activities in the areas of: design, food, textiles, timber, metal, plastics, jewellery making, graphics, model making, and robotics or control technologies are ways this degree will equip you to be classroom ready.

Teachers are in demand

After graduating from the Bachelor of Teaching(Secondary)/Bachelor of Technology, you may choose to follow postgraduate offerings at Newcastle that support your teaching and career aspirations. The Graduate Certificate in Engineering Education allows is one pathway you could follow to teach engineering studies in secondary schools. Other areas that may interest you as a technology education graduate include postgraduate degree studies in computing, educational leadership or special education.

With relevant undergraduate degrees you may choose to complete a Masters of Teaching (Secondary)/ Technology Education . This is a two year, full time program that would enable you to teach your undergraduate degree subject area and design and technology in secondary schools.

Opportunities exist for employment in educational settings in NSW Department of Education and Training, Catholic education, the Independent school systems; and in the public and private school sectors both nationally and internationally.

A Graduate Certificate in Theology can provide training and development in theology for prospective teachers who are looking for a competitive edge when seeking employment in religious schools, especially the Catholic School system. The program can be undertaken concurrently with either an undergraduate or postgraduate teacher training program. You will need to ensure that you are able to meet the demands of both programs.

Your future

When you complete your degree, you will be able to teach anywhere in Australia and internationally. You will work in schools that provide safe working conditions, excellent hours of employment, vacation dates, salary and leave entitlements. You will have the opportunity of gaining satisfaction watching your students grow and develop and thrive as you nurture them.

You will have a range of skills and expertise that will guide your career in a number of directions should you decide to work in a range of areas.