39 PRE-SERVICE teachers were on placement across several Bass Coast Schools as part of Monash's Teaching Academy of Professional Practice program.
Inverloch Childcare Centre, Leongatha Childcare Centre, Phillip Island Early Learning Centre, Bass Coast Specialist School, Bass Valley Primary, Cowes Primary, San Remo Primary, Wonthaggi Primary, Leongatha Secondary College, Mirboo North Secondary College, Bass Coast College and Foster Secondary College were dedicated school mentors for the Monash pre-service teachers (PST).
A number of these education services in the Bass Coast and South Gippsland have worked with the university for the past seven years, inviting the PST’s on placements.
There are 39 PST's currently living in either Inverloch or Phillip Island together and completing their placement in one of these schools/centres. Each year close to 120 PST teachers go into placement in the region across early childhood education, Primary and Secondary.
The benefits to local communities and schools are as follows:
* A significant increase in PST’s sense of self efficacy with regard to their teaching practice and capabilities.
* A marked increase in PST likelihood to apply for a rural teaching positions.
* An increased understanding of how schools/centres in rural settings support the health and wellbeing of the community.
* Professional learning for PSTs and school mentors.
* Solving the rural teaching crisis and the potential for future employment of PST.
The program runs twice a year, for three weeks in February and three weeks in November. It’s been incredibly popular among PST's who consistently voice how immensely rewarding their experience is, developing their teaching in a welcoming rural school and community, and debriefing with peers in their shared accommodation.
PST that are currently doing their placement at Cowes Primary School:
Na Eh Wa Po (Rebecca) is an international student from Myanmar who had some interesting comparisons between the class she is working in at Cowes and her classes of 65 students at home. She's doing a great job of getting involved in the school and teaching.
“At uni we planned three lessons on probability, but we don't get to spend that much time on one topic. We have to be resourceful and collaborative with other teachers which is helpful for creating lesson planning.”
Ralema Fairhead is teaching in the grade six class. Ralema was able to describe how this experience has been able to bring her academic subjects to life. “At university we get to plan units and individual lessons, so it's really cool how we're able to see the whole process on placement. How to plan for the week, term and year and how it relates to and depends on the students.”
“Integration has been core for students retaining knowledge and this has been a valuable hands-on experience and so important to see how effective it is in the classroom,” said Ralema.
Sarah Tyrrell, Vice Principal at Cowes Primary School, has taken in many Monash students as a part of this program over the years. The next placement will take place in November.
