Hi all,
Sorry I am a little late entering the blogging space - it is end of semester for us teachers, so its been a frantic last few weeks. I'm sharing with you a photo of my campus. Our campus is quite large spanning over two blocks. You can see the big green space which we use for many community events and can also bring our students out to do some of the practical skills.
I am a Workplace Trainer and Casual teacher for Early Childhood Education and Care (Children's Services) here at Southbank Insitute TAFE in Brisbane, Queensland. My main role is as a Workplace trainer -so most of my teaching happens out in Early Education services across the Brisbane region(within a 100km radius of our campus. These services range from outside of school hour care in a school, to long day care centres and also family day care centres(in home care). As a workplace trainer we support the learning of students who are trainees; that recieve training in the workplace and external students(or otherwise known as self paced students). We offer flexible night classes to suupport these students.
We also have on campus students who came into TAFE 5 days a week into full time or part time face to face classes.
For those classes I teach on campus, we mainly use traditional spaces desk and chairs in a classroom(though quite often I will push all the tables to the side and create a circle space for the students to come together). We are lucky enough to also have a running playgroup, which is also our simulated early education setting. We have an allocated playgroup co-ordinator that oversees this space, however it is our students who run the playgroup. It is an opportunity for them to put into practice the skills and knowledge that they are learning in thier classes.
I am looking forward to sharing and learning new ideas from you all. :)
Wow Rebekah, impressive building!
ReplyDeleteYou and I have much the same story and Role as educators. I look forward to getting an insight into the ways of TAFE north of the boarder :)
Hey Ann, yes - we are pretty lucky to have the campus we have. We are located almost right in the Brisbane city - We are in what they call the "Cultural Precinct". It will be great to share cross border ways! :)
DeleteWhen the students have completed their education, are they getting a degree that allows them to work as teachers in preschools or is it a broader education that also gives them opportunity to teach classes in school? I'm curious about Australian education and it's similarities with/differenses to the Swedish model of educating future preschool teachers.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, here in Australia, to work in an early childhood service (0 - 5 years) you must have either a Certifcate III qualification or a Diploma level qualification. 50% of staff must have the certificate III and 50% must have the diploma(or higher such as a teaching degree). For our students to be able to teach preschool or in a school, they must go on to University to complete a teaching degree. In Australia our preschools are sometimes part of a school(5yrs - 13yrs) or maybe in a early education service(0-5years). The laws have changed recently and early education services now must have at least 1 person working thier that has a teaching degree. This person usually works in the preschool room(so the service can apply to run a government approved Preschool). It is all a little confusing. Does the swedish model just have degree qualified people?
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