Master of Teaching (Secondary)

This degree contains 60 days of professional experience in a secondary school setting. These placements are integrated into the units EDUC540, EDUC550 and EDSP510.  All professional experience placements in a school setting must meet the following requirements to be counted for placement. The school must:

  • Assess teacher proficiency against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers;
  • Use NESA approved syllabuses or equivalent Australian syllabuses;
  • Be a NESA registered or a NSW Department of Education school (or equivalent interstate settings). For information regarding international schools, please read the OPL's Important Information.

All placements must be in a mainstream classroom unless otherwise specified.

Before undertaking the final placement, all teacher education students in this degree must complete and pass both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students.

Please select your unit from the list below to see more in-depth information about your placements in this degree:

EDUC540 (Online PrEx 10 days)

The unit EDUC540 is an innovative approach to the observation placement undertaken by teacher education students by introducing them to foundational theories, principals and skills for effective student and teacher learning. It meets the requirements of 10 days of professional experience by allowing students to observe structured lessons taught by classroom teachers. No school is organised for this placement. More information regarding this unit and its assessment and professional experience requirements can be found on the Course and Units Catalogue.

EDUC550 (PrEx 20 Days)

Research Project and Professional Experience

This placement is integrated into the unit EDUC550. The placement component requires students to complete an assignment while on professional experience as part of the unit. The assessment will be based on action research methodology where students will analyse their professional situation, determine an action research question, investigate it during their professional experience and reflect on these experiences in the unit. Students should consult the Course and Units Catalogue for more information.

Specific Requirements

This is a 20 day block placement in a secondary school setting where the teacher education student will be assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and complete an assessment task lined to the unit. During the Placement, the Teacher Education Student will have a minimum teaching load that will build to 12 hours in the final weeks of the placement focused on their curriculum area(s) of study.

*Depending upon timetables of the school, the teacher education student may have to adjust this to accommodate.

EDUC550 Specific Requirements

Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream secondary school classrooms in the teacher education student's curriculum area(s) of study.

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Placement in a primary school classroom
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements
  • Placement solely in an area not being studied by the teacher education student
  • Work in a tutoring agency
  • Work as an au pair
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer)
  • Distance Education settings
  • Special Education settings
EDSP510 (PrEx 30 Days)

Professional Experience and Educating Students in Inclusive Environments

This placement is integrated into the unit EDSP510 and is not a required to be completed in a special or inclusive education setting. Cultural perspectives and understanding, differentiation of curriculum, disability support strategies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education strategies are included in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Specific Requirements

This placement must be completed in a 30 day block in a secondary school setting where the teacher education student will be assessed against all of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The teacher education studentr will be responsible for a minimum of 14 hours* of teaching per week in their curriculum area(s) of study.

Teacher Education Students will be required to complete the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment task.

*Depending upon timetables of the school, the teacher education students may have to adjust this to accommodate.

EDSP510 Specific Requirements

Graduate Level Placements

This is the final placement where the teacher education students is assessed against all of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate Level as per the requirements of NESA.

Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream secondary school classrooms in the teacher education student's curriculum area(s) of study

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Placement in a primary school classroom
  • Placement solely in an area not being studied by the teacher education student
  • Any placement type that varies from a mainstream classroom setting
    • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements