Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) is for those seeking to teach in both early childhood settings and primary schools as a generalist teacher.

The course focuses on early years' education (birth to 8 years), and on primary school teaching (ages five to 12 years). The course provides an in-depth understanding of child learning and development, as well as professional practice in early childhood settings so that graduates can operate in multi-disciplinary fields involving care, education and health. The course integrates curriculum studies and professional practice across the primary years, with a specific focus on literacy and numeracy teaching.

Teacher Candidates receive ongoing support throughout their studies and while on placement to ensure they graduate confident and ready for a career in teaching. The Faculty of Education's Clinical Model of Initial Teacher Education integrates theory and practice, ensuring teachers develop the professional skills to assess, identify and support students' individual learning needs, and to work with learners of all abilities.

The course promotes a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being. There is a focus on wellbeing for both the student and the teacher, along with prioritising sustainable practices.

The course will prepare graduates to become leaders in the profession and extend their capabilities through work integrated learning that links authentic real world professional experiences with disciplinary theory.

The course may be completed in two years of full time study, or be extended over three years.

At the completion of the Master of Teaching, graduates will have attained the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level). Accordingly, in combination with their capacity to make sound evidence-based clinical judgments, they will have achieved the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding to:

• Foreground Indigenous Worldviews to promote learner engagement that is inclusive and respectful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, organisations, knowledges and standpoints in education
• Reflect critically on the ways in which educational theory and research informs teaching practice
• Demonstrate strong subject and pedagogical content knowledge to create productive learning environments that empower learners
• Interpret, design and implement relevant curriculum and pedagogy, integrating digital technologies and differentiating teaching to promote participation and inclusion of all students in their learning
• Design assessment tools and tasks and interpret data and evidence to make sound clinical judgments and reflect upon the effectiveness of teaching practice as well as the impact on learning outcomes
• Create and maintain safe and supportive learning environments using knowledge of evidence-based approaches to promote positive behaviours
• Establish and maintain ethical and respectful relationships with students, colleagues and parents/carers, working independently and collaboratively across the school/centre community
• Be advocates and leaders in education, responsive to social and political contexts promoting diversity, participation, access and inclusion
• Foster critical understandings of sustainability which advance ecologically minded citizenship
• Understand the role of the teacher as researcher through continuous professional learning and practitioner inquiry and research.

Graduates of the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) will:

• Embody the standards of the teaching profession and support the development of teaching as a profession
• Be practitioners of clinical teaching, who teach for growth for all students using an inclusive, developmental, intervention-based approach that utilizes deep learning and evidence based strategies
• Be culturally and socially aware, able to establish respectful and ethical relationships with students, staff, parents and the broader school communities / early childhood centres
• Be creative, innovative, self-directed and life-long learners, able to link theory and practice and respond to a changing educational landscape.