A new Master of Teaching Professional Practice offered at Griffith University from 2011 aims to raise teaching standards.
Education Dean Professor Claire Wyatt-Smith says the intensive 18-month program, the first of its kind in Queensland, addresses the priority of quality teaching graduates.
“With the emerging national school curriculum and the need to improve literacy and numeracy levels in primary schools, this new degree is designed to produce teachers with specific skills in dealing with these issues,” Professor Wyatt-Smith said.
“The program is for potential educational leaders, top graduates with first degrees who will undertake the pre-service year with an academic component, leading to an induction course in schools in the second year.
“The student teachers will work within their school to research a key issue in numeracy, literacy and interpretation and use of assessment to improve student learning.”
The induction partnership will involve Griffith academics working in the schools with the student teachers who will be members of the school community for the entire semester.
Those who complete the first year will gain 100 credit points towards their degree as well as provisional registration to teach in schools.
“We want to produce teachers who can bring a critical inquiry approach to their practice,” Professor Wyatt-Smith said.
“We want our teacher graduates to research what they are doing and to monitor their curriculum planning, teaching and assessment so they can drive improvements.”
Offered at the Mt Gravatt and Gold Coast campuses, the program will include extensive work-integrated learning with two six-week placements in schools in the first year and a final induction semester of two terms in the second.
Entry to the degree is by direct entry. Applications close Feb 1, 2011. For more information visit the Master of Teaching Professional Practice web page.
