Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang, Malaysia

27-30 September 1999

(changing nature of field experience within a preservice teacher education course...)

Maureen Morriss

Bill Eckersley

Arda Culpan

(Chris Walta)

PRESENTERS: Professional Practice Team Members
1. RMIT University field experience staff
2. Field experience site partners (schools, centres, and workplaces)
3. Preservice teachers

Department of School and Early Childhood Education, Melbourne, Victoria

Abstract

The theme of this workshop is concerned with the changing nature of field experience within a preservice teacher education course. The presenters will report on a pilot program that was implemented in1999. The findings of this pilot will inform the new undergraduate Education degree course
structure at RMIT University.

As a new field experience model this program is concerned with developing understanding of what should and could be done differently within current circumstances in initial teacher education. Our experiences indicate that all partners are required to adopt and are challenged by reimagining alternative mind sets for their roles and responsibilities. The issues and potential associated with an increased site based components and co-delivery of field experience will be investigated and explored in this
symposium.

The presentation will investigate some perspectives from each of the different participants - the university staff, the teaching professionals and the preservice teachers.
Aspects that will be highlighted in the presentation include:

· What happened in the program - the management and structure of Professional Practice
· What was required from the participants - the roles of each of the participants and the relationships in the partnership
· What was learned from the program
· The next phase - with a focus on sustainability

Opportunity for discussion about the issues raised will be included in this presentation.

Type of Session: Workshop, 90 minutes