ObjectivesThe Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) is offered through intensive mode at the Geelong campus at Waurn Ponds, commencing in November each year and finishing in June of the following year. Duration: a 7-month full-time course for applicants with an approved three year undergraduate degree or diploma. The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) is designed to prepare graduates to be eligible for registration and employment as teachers in primary schools. Deakin’s highly relevant Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) provides: * The opportunity for students to be able to complete a full one-year post-graduate course in two thirds the time of any other similar 8 credit-point course (Nov-June). * An environment where both locals and internationals interact within the classroom for significantly greater shared learning and real world experience. * Responsivity: the ability to be responsive to the requirements of schools is an essential component. * Relevance: Practising teachers have been consulted to ensure course content is relevant for both local and international teachers and the course utilises the most current research available. * The opportunity for graduates to apply early for positions within the Victorian teaching system. * A course where international graduates can teach at primary level in their home country. * The opportunity for international graduates to align their completion with school commencement year in their home countries. * Admission for non-Education degree students to the course. * Academics that are specialists in both teaching and educational research.
Entry requirementsSuccessful completion of an approved degree or diploma other than a Bachelor of Teaching. It is possible for some credit to be granted for appropriate, approved professional development programs already undertaken. In addition to minimum entry requirements, students for whom English is not their first language and who have not completed award studies in English at tertiary level are required to have the following level of English proficiency. Preservice coursework degree programs within the Faculty of Arts and Education require an IELTS score of at least 7, with no individual band score less than 7 for both on and off campus enrolments. This level of English proficiency is required for successful completion of the course. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may undertake English language preparation through the Deakin University English Language Institute.
Academic titleGraduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
Course descriptionDelivery and location
This course commences in Trimester 3 (November to January) and continues in First trimester the following year.
Trimester 3 study commences with two weeks of on-campus attendance and one week of induction in schools before the Christmas break. In mid January the following year, trimester 3 re-commences with a further three weeks of on-campus classes and a 5-day professional experience in schools.
First trimester of the following year, students will attend on-campus once a week and attend their schools for the professional experience (supervised school experience) component of the course the remaining four days of the week.
Professional experience placements
All professional experience is undertaken in a defined group of Geelong schools. The schools provide challenging, high-intensity experiences so that the students are 'teacher-ready' at the conclusion of their course.
Contact hours
Each unit of study consists of a minimum of 30 hours of contact time.
In intensive mode, this translates to on-campus attendance from 9.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. (Trimester 3)
In trimester 1, professional school experience will require attendance from 8.30am to 4.30pm at the nominated school. On-campus delivery will occur between 9.00am and 4.00pm. In addition, there will be two single weeks of intensive study held on-campus.
Teaching methods
Students receive instructional materials through Deakin Studies Online, CD-ROM and website links. Interaction with lecturers is primarily through on-campus tutorials and in addition is provided through use of Deakin Studies Online, email and telephone links.
Professional recognition
Graduates of the course will qualify for a degree in primary teaching which will meet the registration requirements for the Victorian Institute of Teaching, and other state teacher registration boards in Australia.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.
* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2009 can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
As a graduate you will be eligible to teach in primary schools, and you will also have transferable organisational, management, human resource management and training skills. There is currently a strong demand for qualified teachers and graduate starting salaries are high when compared to the graduate average. The increased demand for teachers has also resulted in improvements in teaching conditions, resources and career advancement opportunities. As a graduate of this course you may find employment as a teacher within the private or public education sectors.
Course rules
To be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) a student must satisfactorily complete 8 credit points of study taken from the list of course-grouped units leading to the award.
The course of study shall normally be completed within a period of not less than two trimesters of full time study. Extensions of time may be granted with the permission of the Faculty Board which must not exceed five consecutive years from the date the student first enrolled in the course.
The course of study shall include satisfactory completion of at least 45 days of supervised school experience in a primary school.
Course structure
Trimester 3 (November 2008)
EEC710 Creating Challenging Learning Environments: Engaging Students
EEO731 Individuals and Social Contexts: the Humanities
EEM741 Planning and Assessing Effective Learning: Mathematics
EEL745 Students' Learning of Language and Literacy
EEH715 Effective Teaching and Learning: Health and Physical Education
And 5 days in schools (observation)
Trimester 1 (2009)
EES734 Planning and Assessing Effective Learning: Science and Technology
EEC711 The Teacher as Professional Educator
EEA710 Individuals and Social Contexts: the Arts
EEP704 Professional Experience 1
EEP705 Professional Experience 2
EEP706 Professional Experience 3
Notes:
(i) EEC710, EEO731, EEM741, EEL745 and EEH715 are 1 credit point units.
(ii) EES734, EEC711, and EEA701 are 0.75 credit point units.
(iii) EEP704, EEP705, and EEP706 are 0.25 credit point units.
(iv) EEP704, EEP705 and EEP706 are school-based units, plus tutorials, contributing to trimester minimum of 45 days school experience.
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Admission requirements - specific
Successful completion of an approved degree or diploma other than a Bachelor of Teaching. It is possible for some credit to be granted for appropriate, approved professional development programs already undertaken.
In addition to minimum entry requirements, students for whom English is not their first language and who have not completed award studies in English at tertiary level are required to have the following level of English proficiency. Preservice coursework degree programs within the Faculty of Arts and Education require an IELTS score of at least 7, with no individual band score less than 7 for both on and off campus enrolments.
This level of English proficiency is required for successful completion of the course. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may undertake English language preparation through the Deakin University English Language Institute.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Advanced standing - specific
Students are advised to contact the Faculty for information regarding applying for credit for prior tertiary study.
How to apply
Applications must be made directly to the university through the Applicant Portal referring to closing dates for applications as dates for particular courses may vary.
Your faculty may require further information from you when submitting your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.
Other Course information
Working with Children Check
The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic.) requires a person who engages in child-related work, as defined in the Act, to obtain an assessment notice under the Act, known as a Working with Children Check (WWCC). The Act is administered by the Department of Justice: justice.vic.gov.au
School experience placements in schools in the course of a university degree are “child-related work”. Under the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic.), administered by the Department of Justice, a student teacher must obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) before commencing school experience placements in a school. The WWCC must remain current throughout the course. It is an offence under the Act to engage in school experience without holding a WWCC.
Students will not be allowed to commence school experience in any school in Victoria until a Working with Children Check is obtained. The Department of Education has requested that on the application form a student nominates the University as the (or one of the) employers. The University will then be sent a copy of the assessment notice. Because the University needs to assure a school that a student placed at the school has a current Working with Children Check, each student must give their authority to provide the assurance - a student will be required to sign an authority for the University to inform a school that a WWCC has or has not been obtained.
While the University will hold on file documentation relating to the WWCCs obtained by students engaged in school experience, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she can produce the WWCC card to the school upon request and to keep the WWCC current under the Act.
Students are required to apply for a WWCC through a participating Australia Post outlet (which can be found on the Australia Post website or the Department of Justice website) and provide proof to the faculty that the WWCC has been undertaken.
Should a student fail to obtain a WWCC, practical training in a school will not be provided, and as practical training is a requirement for completion of a teaching degree, the student may be unable to complete the degree. Should such a situation arise, the University will provide advice on options for tertiary study.
It is the responsibility of students undertaking placements outside Victoria to enquire about and, where necessary, to meet any similar legislative or other requirements concerning working with children.
School experience requirements
Students are required for registration purposes (and for the award of the degree) to have completed over the duration of their course a minimum of 45 days of supervised school experience. Students should ensure they are conversant with the Standards for Graduating Students as required by the Victorian Institute of Teaching. The school experience is organised by the School Experience Office and students do not make contact with schools regarding placements under any circumstances. Students are required to comply with the on-line instructions regarding enrolment/re-enrolment in school experience; failure to enrol/re-enrol jeopardises a student’s school experience placement.
Students should note that it is a requirement of the course that school experience is undertaken in conjunction with their curriculum studies and Education Major studies and during the time tabled dates unless, in exceptional circumstances, alternative arrangements are negotiated and agreed to in writing with the School Experience Office. Students should note that normally any paid or unpaid work undertaken in a school as an unqualified teacher/teacher’s aide will not be recognised for credit as recognised prior learning in supervised school experience for this course. Students may be required to complete the school experience component of the course outside the academic year.
A satisfactory level of teaching competence during supervised school experience is required for award of the degree. An “unsatisfactory” result on any school experience placement will be referred to the Faculty Academic Progress and Discipline Committee.
Graduates of an accredited teaching course should note that teacher registration is required in Victoria and is administered by the Victorian Institute of Teaching under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.). Prospective students should acquaint themselves with the requirements for registration in Victoria or in any other relevant location. These requirements include the ability to satisfy the Standards for Graduating Students (available at: vit.vic.edu.au)
School experience enrolment
Students need to carefully follow the instructions correctly when enrolling or re-enrolling online in school experience units. Failure to enrol or re-enrol correctly jeopardises a student’s school experience placement and this could lead to a delay in the award of the degree. Students must follow Faculty rules in relation to the number of days of school experience to be completed for each placement as per the School Experience Handbook (available from the campus of enrolment) which includes the published school experience timetable. Students should note that a ‘day’ constitutes a whole school day (not part thereof).
Students should obtain a copy of the School Experience Handbook each year from the School Experience Office (also available at deakin.edu.au/arts-ed/education/schoolexp ). Information contained in the Handbook is updated annually and is a summary of Faculty rules in relation to school experience.
School experience units
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
EEP704 Professional Experience 1
EEP705 Professional Experience 2
EEP706 Professional Experience 3
Note: EEP704, EEP705 and EEP706 are school-based units, plus tutorials, contributing to trimester minimum of 45 days school experience.