ED5987 - Internship/Service Learning

This subject is the culminating experience for graduate student teachers (GSTs) in the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary). The subject provides options for either a school-based internship or a community-based service learning experience. The school-based experience requires graduate student teachers to take on a 50% teaching load in an independent teaching role. This 20 day capstone experience will allow students to apply their professional skills in community contexts by leading a participatory action research project that addresses a real community or school need. Students will demonstrate their autonomy in enacting dispositions, knowledge and skills as civic professionals who "exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics" (JCU Graduate Attributes Statement, 2013). Participatory action research serves the school or community organisation and provides an authentic context in which to apply research skills. Students will be immersing themselves in a context new to them, exploring a range of learning partnerships with community agencies, industry and business, preparing themselves for their role with students and in the wider community. GSTs will present the findings of the participatory action research to the setting in which they are situated and their Masters cohort.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically review regulatory requirements, ethical principles and, where appropriate, cultural frameworks, to work effectively, responsibly and safely in diverse contexts;
• Demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility in planning, decision-making, solving complex problems and leading curriculum and community engagement initiatives;
• Communicate knowledge, skills and ideas through engagement with specialist and non-specialist audiences using advanced speaking, reading, writing, listening, numeracy and advocacy skills;
• Apply knowledge of research principles, methods, techniques and tools to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.

Subject Assessment

• presentations (30%)
• assignments (40%)
• research project proposal (30%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.