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 EDUC558.  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) - 1st In-School Placement

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. The teacher education student will be responsible for a minimum of 12 hours* of teaching per week in 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 (PDF, 418.83 KB)

EDUC550 Weekly Review Sheet (PDF, 196.19 KB)

Teaching Load

  • Week 1:Classroom immersion, focussing on building professional rapport with students, small-group and team-teaching, assisted planning and teaching of up to two (2) lessons per day by Days Four and Five. Discussion with the supervising teacher about the Student's Reflective Research Project.
  • Week 2: With guidance from the supervising teacher, formal planning and teaching of two (2) lessons each day building to whole sessions (e.g. morning, middle, afternoon). Implement Reflective Research Project.
  • Week 3: Continued guided planning and teaching (now up to 12 hours per week), moving to a more independent approach. Focus on providing students with clear and well-directed instructions and effective progression and continuity when lessons are sequential.
  • Week 4: Independent planning and teaching for a 12 hour teaching load, taking full responsibility for classroom organisation, transitions, and students’ learning and engagement.

Report Requirements

  • Interim Report - at the midpoint of the placement
  • Final Report - on the final day of the placement

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
EDUC558 (PrEx 30 days) - Final Graduate Placement

Professional Experience and Educating Students in Inclusive Environments

This placement is integrated into the unit EDUC558 and is not 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 students 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.

EDUC558 Specific Requirements (PDF, 376.35 KB)

Teaching Load

  • Week 1: Classroom immersion, focussing on building a professional rapport with students on Days One and Two, small-group and team-teaching on Day Four building to independent planning and teaching of up to two lessons per day by Day Five.
  • Week 2: Collaborative planning and teaching of two lessons each day with a focus on identifying the varied needs of learners and implementing differentiated learning outcomes for individuals within the class.
  • Week 3: Mostly independent teaching of no less than 12 hours per week where responsibility for planning/programming incorporates a range of assessment tasks to evaluate student/class outcomes.
  • Week 4 - 6: Independent planning and teaching of no less than 14 hours per week, taking full responsibility for the class by guiding them to achieve planned goals and learning outcomes. This may be for day-to-day planning or for integrated units of work. Demonstrating the ability to act accountably as a classroom teacher who interacts professionally and pro-actively with colleagues, parents, students and the wider school community at all times. Completing the Graduate Teaching Performance Assessment task.

Report Requirements

  • Interim Report - at the midpoint of the placement
  • Final Report - on the final day of the placement

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
PREX304-6 (PrEx 20 days) - Elective 2nd In-School Placement 

This is an Elective unit for Students studying a Master of Teaching (Secondary). For this placement in a mainstream secondary school classroom, the teacher education student will be required to engage fully in the school experience as well as plan and teach in their chosen subject area/s, relevant to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), to the extent of the study they have completed thus far in their degree. By Weeks Three and Four of the placement, the minimum teaching load will build to 12 hours per week.

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. The teacher education student will be responsible for a minimum of 12 hours* of teaching per week in their curriculum area(s) of study.

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

PREX304-6 Specific Requirements (PDF, 933.23 KB)

Teaching Load

  • Week 1: Classroom immersion focussing on building professional rapport with students, small group and team teaching, assisted planning and teaching of up to 2 lessons per day by Days Four and Five.
  • Week 2: Increasingly independent, formal planning and teaching of no less than 2 lessons each day (or equivalent).
  • Week 3: Mostly independent planning and teaching of up to 12 hours per week.
  • Week 4: Independent planning and teaching of no less than 12 hours per week, taking full responsibility for classroom organisation, students’ learning and engagement.

Report Requirements

  • Interim Report - at the midpoint of the placement
  • Final Report - on the final day of the placement

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