Professional Experience
School of Education
People use a variety of names when referring to practice teaching in schools. Some of these are: "the practicum"; "school experience"; "teaching rounds";"teaching practice" or "field experience".
No matter what people call it, school experience involves a number of people working together to ensure student teachers develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to demonstrate beginning teacher competencies. It is intended that this practicum page will clarify issues and processes relating to the practicum, ensure successful placements for our students and provide students and schools with the opportunity to give us feedback on their practicum experiences.
The Professional Experience Office is located on the Melbourne Campus at Burwood and Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool campus.
For current students:
Students are able to visit the offices and talk to us about their queries or concerns in relation to professional experience or contact us by phone or email.
We run our own information system so students need to inform us if their address changes during the year.
Placements in schools are made by the Professional Experience Office, within 60 minutes of a student's home address. Students are requested NOT to approach schools and organise their own teaching practice - schools do not welcome approaches by students and complain to this office when they have been contacted by students.
More information about professional experience is located in the Professional Experience Handbook. Please make sure you get a copy of the Handbook from the Professional Experience Office and that you read it carefully.
