Study for a degree in primary school teaching

The child in the community (15 credits)

You will explore theoretical perspectives of literacy acquisition and approaches to learning that support the interrelationship between making meaning and creating meaning. You will also develop research-informed knowledge and practice about understanding, using and creating oral, written and visual texts focussing on individual learners’ literacy learning.

Who will I be when I am a teacher? (15 credits)

Explore your own personal learning foundations and frameworks in order to understand and develop a holistic identity as a healthy classroom teacher who takes responsibility for their own learning pathways and manages their own wellbeing (Hauora).

The Health and Physical Education curriculum, teaching perspectives and strategies will be introduced through inquiry learning, enabling student teachers to develop and reflect on the relationship between wellbeing and learners’ social, emotional and academic learning. Student teachers will practise interpersonal skills required to contribute to effective knowledge-building communities.

How can we explain learning? (15 credits)

Explore how learners develop and learn, drawing on theories of human and child development, and learning theory. You will focus on relating this learning to how children develop conceptual understandings in Science, including cultural perspectives, and particularly the development of language, reasoning abilities, investigative processes, skills, and attitudes. You will also develop your own confidence and knowledge in Science and learn the knowledge and practice of pedagogies appropriate to this curriculum area.

Introduction to Pacific principles in teaching practice (15 credits)

You will consider a range of approaches and methods integral to Pacific ways and how these may inform teaching and classroom practices. A thorough review of the programmes conceptual framework will set you up with a background steeped in Pacific epistemologies.

Engaging with learners and learning (15 credits)

You will learn about current assessment practices and how, when and why small group learning can be effective. You will also challenge your own understandings of effective practice by examining what teachers do and why, to meet learners’ needs, particularly in Mathematics and Statistics. Improve your knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics and develop research-informed knowledge and practice about current Mathematics and Statistics pedagogies, relevant to the socio-cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand curriculum: A vision for children’s learning in Aotearoa (15 credits)

Explore how the New Zealand Curriculum provides a framework and direction for student teachers to work with primary school learners to become productive contributing members of society in an increasingly technologically driven world. You will develop research-informed knowledge and practice about technology through the exploration of the Technology Curriculum and technological investigation.

Culturally responsive teaching (15 credits)

Learn the theoretical and practical framework for culturally responsive teaching that takes account of the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of learners within the context of teaching from the Learning Languages curriculum, including Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori, and the special place of Pasifika in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will develop an awareness of Māori culture and an appreciation of the dual heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand through engaging with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Professional practice and inquiry 1 (15 credits)

Delivered while on block placement in an Aotearoa New Zealand primary school setting, this course complements the practice-based experiences of all other Level 5 courses by focussing on your understanding of the learning processes, the learning environment and the fundamental relationships between learning and teaching.

Being your first practicum course, it additionally provides the background and context for all future practicum courses.

Organising for learning (20 credits)

Explore key concepts including citizenship, culture, identity, perspectives, social cohesion, society and values, and utilise the Social Sciences curriculum to develop and implement effective learning programmes. You will explore classroom citizenship and participation, enabling you to organise and manage positive classrooms in ways that engage all learners and maximise their full learning potential.

Communities of learners (20 credits)

Explore how teachers and learners’ function and engage in learning communities, including the classroom, the school and the wider social and cultural community. You will further develop understandings of the social, historical, philosophical and cultural contexts of learning, critique their own beliefs and broaden their relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Through an emphasis on investigation and problem-solving in Mathematics and Statistics, the focus will be on how communities work to promote learning and use relevant pedagogically and culturally appropriate approaches across all areas of the school.

Professional practice and inquiry 2 (20 credits)

Delivered while on block placement in an Aotearoa New Zealand primary school setting this course complements the practice-based experiences of all other Level 6 courses by focussing on your understanding of curriculum and its organisation and implementation and meeting the needs of learners individually and in communities.

Meeting learner needs (20 credits)

Develop your understanding of diversity and inclusion and how the needs of diverse learners can be met. Building on 9xx.5xx The Child as an Individual more deeply exploring the theoretical perspectives of literacy acquisition and approaches to learning that support the relationship between making meaning and creating meaning.  You will develop research-informed knowledge and practice about understanding, using and creating oral, written and visual texts with a focus on progressing toward meeting learners’ diverse needs and raising achievement.

Curriculum in action (20 credits)

You will focus on how teachers use the integration of the curriculum to meet the learning needs within the unique bicultural and multicultural character of Aotearoa New Zealand. You will also explore the theoretical perspectives and implementation of The Arts curriculum through integrated learning approaches that challenge, affirm and celebrate unique artistic expressions of self, community and culture. Develop research-informed knowledge and practice about whole class integrated learning. You will also be introduced to the legislation relevant to the teaching profession.

Professional practice and inquiry 3 (20 credits)

Delivered while on block placement in an Aotearoa New Zealand primary school setting, this course complements the practice-based experiences of all other Level 6 courses by focussing on your understanding of curriculum and its organisation and implementation, meeting the needs of learners individually and in communities; with increasing complexity and effectiveness over a greater sustained period.

Pedagogy and curriculum (20 credits)

You will be challenged to develop and exhibit the dispositions of ‘professionals’ by taking responsibility for your own professional development, drawing on and contributing to the educational community. You will revisit and extend knowledge and critique of contemporary pedagogy appropriate to specific curriculum content and justify your emerging personal-professional philosophy of learning and teaching.

Contemporary issues (20 credits)

The role of teachers in society extends to being able to contribute to the critical debate around broader curriculum and social issues. You will explore contemporary issues in relation to the New Zealand Curriculum and children's learning in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will also engage in educational debate in global contexts and contribute to the development of the curriculum by developing strategies and resources to begin to address an identified issue.

Teacher as inquirer (20 credits)

You will illustrate the ways in which you have developed your teacher identity and dispositions, have acted ethically and have raised learner achievement.

Professional practice and inquiry 4 (20 credits)

Delivered while on block placement in an Aotearoa New Zealand primary school setting, this course complements the practice-based experiences of all other Level 7 courses by focussing on your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy, integrated and inquiry approaches to learning, reflective practice approaches to change and improvement; with further increased complexity, effectiveness and sustained period.

Teacher as a researcher: Raising learner achievement (20 credits)

Using action research methodology, you will design and implement an action research project, drawing together the research skills required of a critically reflective practitioner. Particular emphasis will be on working within the knowledge building community, raising learner achievement and improving learner outcomes.

Professional practice and inquiry 5 (20 credits)

Delivered while on block placement in an Aotearoa New Zealand primary school setting, this course complements the practice-based experiences of all other Level 7 courses by focussing on your understanding of: the school and class as multi-layered and extremely complex organisations for learning and teaching in a context of law, community, culture, need and achievement; with sustained achievement in effective classroom teaching practice commensurate with Graduating Teacher Standards.