In February 2010, Stacey Oliver was among the first cohort of students commencing their studies in the new Master of Teaching (Primary to Year 12). Unique to the La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga campus, the course is compressed into an eighteen-month period, with the final semester focussing on a research project and extended teaching practicum.

Transcript

Narrator:

In February 2010, Stacey Oliver was among the first cohort of students commencing their studies in the new Master of Teaching (Primary to Year 12). Unique to the La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga campus, the course is compressed into an eighteen-month period, with the final semester focussing on a research project and extended teaching practicum.

Stacey Oliver:

I completed my extended placement at Wodonga South Primary School, starting at the beginning of the school year in February and finishing off at the end of May. This really gave me the opportunity to become and feel part of the school staff and the school community. I wasn't just a teacher in training, the students saw me as their teacher, which was really nice.

Narrator:

Clint Eckhardt, a past graduate of the Albury-Wodonga campus, is Assistant Principal at Wodonga South Primary School and coordinates the student teacher placements.

Clint Eckhardt:

One of the real benefits of the extended professional placement is they're in effect a team teacher with the teachers within those classrooms. They do have their teaching supervisor, but we used them across all the classrooms in that 1/2 level, or 3/4 level, 5/6 level.

Stacey Oliver:

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at Wodonga South. One of the reasons being that I got to work closely with my mentor teacher, Prue, who was fabulous, she really guided and supported me right through my experience. And another benefit of the extended placement was I really got the chance to know my students, learning their hobby's, their interests, their learning styles and even getting to know their families - which for me really made the experience a meaningful one.

Narrator:

It has been a very positive coincidence that the school has recently transferred its operations to a brand new school site and buildings.

Stacey Oliver:

One of the beauties of working in the open plan spaces is having the chance to observe other teachers in their teaching practice, I found myself absorbing and learning from the other teachers in the grade 1/2 team almost every day of my placement. I feel that a team teaching approach in the early years is something that would suit me - and my teaching style.

Narrator:

Stacey has recently heard that her hard work has had its rewards, as her application for a position in a primary school in the region has been successful.

Stacey Oliver:

Three weeks ago I got a call to say that I had got a job, I am very ecstatic, it's in a local school which is exactly what I am looking for - and I'm so pleased now that I can start my career. Study has been quite a journey, the Masters was certainly full-on; however, I feel that my training has definitely prepared me well for my future endeavours. My school placements over the past eighteen months have been fantastic. I've learnt a great deal about what life is like as a teacher. My teacher training experience was a rewarding one - and I believe that I am ready to teach.

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