FAQs
What terms are currently in use in relation to practicum?
People:
Student teacher – The University of Auckland’s pre-service teacher education programmes are designed to develop research-informed inquiry-based practitioners. We do this by providing opportunities for student teachers to develop and demonstrate those skills in authentic settings. In the past the student teacher was often referred to as a ‘trainee’. The focus on research-informed inquiry-based practitioners means that the term ‘trainee’ no longer applies.
Practicum Course Co-ordinator – These are the Faculty staff members who administer and teach the practicum courses. There is a practicum co-ordinator with responsibility for each EDPRAC course, and they function as a team. These staff members currently teach the courses at both Epsom and The University of Auckland at Manukau Institute of Technology. These are the people to contact in regard to professional questions and concerns related to practicum.
At our Tai Tokerau campus we have a co-ordinator who teaches all three courses and deals with the day to day professional questions and concerns for these student teachers.
Practicum Manager (Administration) – This is the staff member who oversees all day to day practicum administration for each of the initial teacher education courses.
Practicum Placement Co-ordinator – This is the staff member to contact with day to day queries of an administrative nature: for example, practicum notifications, course dates, copies of documentation etc. At our Tai Tokerau campus this role is undertaken by the Student Advisor.
Associate Teacher (AT) – This is the term in New Zealand for the teacher with whom a student teacher is ‘placed’ for their practicum.
Professional Supervisor – This is the university representative who visits the student teacher and associate teacher in the school setting, supervises the practicum and ratifies the assessment. This person can be either a Faculty staff member or contracted from outside of the faculty. Contracted staff are usually ex-Faculty staff or ex-school personnel.
Professional Community
The University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work – In general conversation this is referred to as ‘the university’ or ‘the faculty’. In the past there was often a reference to ‘teachers’ college’ or ‘college’ and these terms no longer apply.
Normal School – There are six normal schools in Auckland. They have an historic relationship with the Faculty under the Education Act. All teachers employed at normal schools are contracted to act as associate teachers. Normal schools are part of our primary sector partner school group.
Primary Sector Partner School – Primary sector partner schools and the faculty are engaged in joint work to provide student teachers with optimum opportunities to learn to teach/learn about teaching; and support in meeting the Education Council’s Graduating Teacher Standards.
School with ‘special character’ – A school with a specific character may be considered unique; for example, a Catholic school, a rural school etc.
Documentation
Practicum Handbook – This is the booklet which outlines over-all expectations and regulations in regard to EDPRAC courses. It is updated regularly and is available in pdf format from our website: http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/primary-resources and the Practicum Office, room H202.
Practicum Brief – These are the individual course outlines for each EDPRAC course. They are updated annually and are available in pdf format from our website http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/primary-resources. Each student teacher is provided with two hard-copy versions of the brief related to their practicum course – one for the student and one for their associate teacher.
Practicum Report form – This is the report which professional supervisors and associate teachers complete.
Student self-assessment – This is an assessment which a student teacher completes prior to the final assessment. A template for this assessment is provided to student teachers.
Note: Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Primary Practicum course codes are:
EDPRAC 101, 201 and 305