Reference no: EM132305834

This assignment asks you to:

1. Find or take a photograph while on placement to use as a source of critical reflection. Do not take photos of children. You may only take photos of learning spaces, artefacts, learning activities or wall displays for this task.

2. Write a critical reflection based on the photograph, around the theme of "learner and teacher relationships through the lens of numeracy". Support your critical reflection with evidence (visual data, storied data, reference to research literature from this and other units in the MTeach course, reference to policy from schools, centres and/or government websites). 2400-2500 words, due on Sunday, 26 May at 11:59pm.

3. Write a one page professional learning plan for your own ongoing professional learning. The plan should start to address some of the professional gaps in knowledge and areas of interest which have been identified in the critical reflection, and in your placement report. A sample is provided. 500-600 words Note: References, photos/captions and appendices are not included in the word count. This will allow you to develop your critical narrative as fully as possible.

Rationale:

1. The assignment is an opportunity to analyse and consolidate your learning in the program to date. You will write about your developing understandings, beliefs and values as an educator. The theme of "learner and teacher relationships through the lens of numeracy" will permit you to be succinct in your response while addressing some of the central ideas, theories and issues that you have engaged with so far. Remember that numeracy is ultimately another form of cultural literacy that learners have to access to be able to function in our education system. What do you need to be cognizant of as a teacher, in terms of numeracy skills, knowledge and practice as you engage learners in your planned programs of teaching?

2. One of the challenging tasks for teachers is to learning to recognise what, how, where, why and when learning is occurring. This task will help you to begin to develop these skills by practicing them on yourself. To do this you will analyse and discuss how and when shifts in your learning about teaching and learners have occurred in this program. You might have a small or large ‘a-ha' moment where you began to make sense of some of the complexities of teacher's work, the challenges of identifying and teaching for learning, using theories learner engagement and pedagogy to mitigate classroom behavior challenges or simply learn more about yourself as learner and teacher.

3. As teaching is a complex profession, you will need to use initiative and take responsibility for your own ongoing independent learning. This task will help you to begin the process of identifying your unique needs and gaps in professional learning, and what you might do to address them. Many of you will have made, or may be about to make your first attempt at the LANTITE test for Literacy and Numeracy and this will, no doubt, be part of the critical reflective narrative and perhaps, your professional learning plan. Most of all, you need to start developing your knowledge, skills and evidence around the Graduate Standards for Teachers so the Professional Learning Plan is to help you to start focusing on your own professional improvement as evidenced in your discussions, learning and outcomes of your Professional Experience placement.

Learning Objectives

ULO1 Demonstrate an informed emergent understanding of what it means to be a member of the teaching profession in the 21st century and critically analyse their own teaching and learning beliefs, values, strengths
and areas for further development.
ULO 2 Articulate the benefits and challenges of working collaboratively with colleagues in education and demonstrate professionalism, collegiality and an understanding of the professional code of conduct relevant to
the learning setting, while on Professional Experience placement
ULO 3 Critically discuss theories and pedagogical frameworks that are evidenced in the learning context and how they relate to management of and planning for learner engagement, learning culture and learning
environment
ULO 4 Articulate emergent understandings of diverse learner challenges including those related to literacy and
numeracy
ULO 5 Critically analyse teaching and learning artefacts including education policy documents for their
implications for teaching and learning

Graduate Task

Professional Knowledge
1.0 Know students and how they learn - understanding the complex nature of diversity and inclusion in the classroom and beginning to recognize theories that underpin pedagogy, curriculum, policy and professional learning

2.0 Know content and how to teach it - thinking about the role of General Capabilities (specifically numeracy) in your knowledge of teaching disciplines along with gaining a broader understanding of the social and political construction of curriculum in education

Professional Practice
3.0 Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning - while you will not be required to plan and implement within this task, we are asking you to critically reflect on the range of strategies and resources that might go into planning effectively so that learners can connect with their learning, including the nature and practice of effective communication (3.5) and beginning to understand the process of evaluating and improving programs (3.6).

4.0 Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments - becoming familiar with the notion of the environment as third teacher and how your choices of curriculum resources, strategies, pedagogy and theory can impact the effective management of the classroom including challenging behaviours.

5.0 Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning - using your observations and noticing in the classroom to understand, recognise and assess learning. Also understanding the assessment process as circular and how it impacts on you as a preservice teacher in improving and enhancing your own practice.

Professional Engagement
6.0 Engage in professional learning - demonstrate how you are making the connection of practice and theory embedded in practice and policy. Engaging with the Graduate Standards to understand, reflect on, improve and plan for further professional learning as a teacher.

7.0 Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community - demonstrate how you are using evidence from your work in the field of teaching to understand, reflect on and plan for your own professional learning as a teacher. Demonstrating a level of ethical understanding in the way you present this task while also drawing on evidence from the placement setting.

Attachment:- Assignment Guide.rar