1. What is an Internship and what is expected of me in this placement?
EDFE14020 / EDFE13034 Internship
What is an Internship and what is expected of me in this placement?

2. Internship Overview Duration: 5 weeks
Eligibility depends on completion of all coursework
Successful demonstration of the APST (Graduate Level) during PP4 is a mandatory prerequisite for an Internship
An Internship Authorisation is granted by the Queensland College of Teachers
Authorisation covers specific dates
Outcomes align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level)

3. How does the Internship Program work?
Preparation of a plan
50% face-to-face responsibility for the mentor’s class / classes
Participation in at least one school co-curricular activity
Maintenance of a working portfolio including planning, reflection, information and records on student learning

4. Clarification
Negotiate with the mentor a teaching program with up to 50% face to face responsibility for your mentor’s classes
50% responsibility refers to the extent of unsupervised face to face teaching time that is experienced by an Intern i.e. mentor teachers have non-contact time during this period

5. Absence during the Internship (p.4)
Permitted absences e.g. attendance at interviews or exams
Absence for valid and substantiated reasons of up to 3 days – waived
Unsubstantiated absence – must be made up
Over 3 days and up to 2 weeks – professional judgment by mentor in conjunction with university coordinator

6. Reporting Intern – Self-reflective statement
Due at the end of Week 3
Reflection on the outcomes for students and the school community and inclusive of a personal professional philosophy
Mentor –Feedback on the self-reflective statement
Due at the end of Week 4
Verification of the claims made in the self-reflective statement
Internship Mentor Teacher Statement
Conclusion of internship
Signed verification of the length of the Internship

7. Self-reflective statement
Maximum 1000 words
Refers explicitly to the APST
Emphasis on evidence and outcomes for students and the school community
Inclusive of a personal philosophy on teaching and learning

8. Example of a self-reflective statement (Introduction)
During my Internship, I have been able to enhance my application of the knowledge and skills described in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage) to support student learning and engagement.
I believe that students are capable, competent and diverse individuals who make sense of the world around them when they are actively engaged in their education. Consequently my role as a teacher is to plan around the strengths, needs, interests and backgrounds of my students and design learning experiences that support their growth and success.

9. Example of outcomes – Links to Standards 2 & 3
I have:
Embedded numeracy across the curriculum by teaching the use of graphs, statistics and timelines for communicating ideas in a geographical inquiry.
Explicitly taught the organisation and features of a genre required for final summative tasks in English and History through the use of scaffolding and modelling (“I do, we do, you do”).
Developed a reading comprehension program that teaches the skills of effective reading using strategies for before, during and after reading

10. Example of outcomes – Standards 2 & 3
I have devoted time to the explicit teaching of language and literacy through grammar and vocabulary exercises, ability based reading and comprehension activities and scaffolded writing through activities such as journal writing, persuasive texts and poetry.
In numeracy, I have modelled core concepts such as the addition of mixed numbers, extended division and conversion between fractions and percentages before creating investigations that required students to apply these skills to real world problem solving.

11. Example: Building relationships (Standard 4.1 and Standard 7.3)
Over the course of my internship, I have built a rapport with my students that allows them to feel supported and encourages them to contribute ideas to class discussions. This rapport has been especially important for a small group of disengaged learners who were low performers in literacy. My teaching methods of cooperative learning and modelling have seen these students improve in their school work and demonstrate strategies for self-regulation that have resulted in relationship benefits with their peers and other teachers.
I have enhanced these relationships through my involvement in extra-curricular activities such as sport coaching and stage management for the upcoming theatre restaurant. These activities helped me to build an understanding of the school community and engage with parents, colleagues and students from many classes outside the classroom environment.

12. Example: Standard 1 plus related philosophy
Standard 1: Know students and how they learn
I believe students are capable and competent in directing their own learning and understand my role as a teacher as involving a deep understanding of student strengths, needs and interests as an integral aspect of creating relevant and engaging curriculum for all students
Evidence:
Comprehensive class and student profiles that include interpretation of assessment data, and records of social, language and behaviour for each student
Differentiated lessons with modified tasks, mixed ability grouping and personalised learning goals that contribute to the success of all students
Collaboration with learning support teachers to ensure continuity and support for students with ASD and ADHD within the classroom

13. Making the most of the Internship
Grasp opportunities to extend and enhance your professional knowledge and skills through experience and observation of other settings / year levels
Observe and engage in collegial discussion about difficult areas for gaining experience as a pre-service teacher
Engagement with parents and carers
Engagement with external and internal professionals
Using specific databases and IT systems
Build your knowledge of practices, processes and accountability for responding to system priorities
Interpreting student data
Moderation and reporting
Literacy and numeracy improvement agendas
Catholic School identity project (Students enrolled in EDFE13034 only)