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Overview

Course Prescription

Uses an evidence-based approach to support students to develop the professional knowledge, skills and dispositions required for effective primary teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand, while examining what it means to demonstrate commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Builds professional relationships and enacts practices that sustain culturally responsive, ethical, learner-focused relationships with diverse ākonga, colleagues and whānau in complex environments.

Course Overview

This practicum course provides an important learning opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of theory and content knowledge through applying it in practice. Students will be working with experienced associate teachers in our partnership schools who will mentor them in their teaching journey. Working in schools gives students experience of the various structures, systems and relationships to the wider community, and policy, that teachers’ practices are informed by. Students will have an opportunity to build culturally responsive and bicultural pedagogies to meet the learning needs of our diverse learning communities and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They will further develop the professional disposition of a teacher who builds ethical and learner-focused relationships with an ongoing practice of inquiry and critical reflection. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a practice-based, 15 point course. Preparation for each assessed practicum, requires engagement in 15 hours of online course content prior to practicum, inclusive of asynchronous online learning activities including readings, recorded lecture materials, videos, and collaborative and independent tasks.

EPRAC 615 consists of two practicum, one at the start of the semester and the second towards the end of the semester. The first practicum is a 3-week block for semester 1 students, or 10 days (over five weeks) for semester 2 students. Both semester intakes then do a six-week block in the same school toward the end of the relevant semester.

Students are expected to attend their allocated practicum school for at least eight hours each day during their in-school placement. Starting and finishing times will be negotiated with the associate teacher (usually between 8.00am – 4.00pm), although commitment to staff and team meetings may extend this on some occasions.

Student teachers are required to maintain professional documentation in a digital folder evidencing their progress towards meeting the Learning Outcomes of the practicum. Student teachers observe the associate teacher's practice and the needs of individual learners to inform their planning for and teaching of multiple groups and the whole class. As the practicum progresses, student teachers take on increasing responsibility for planning for and managing aspects of the learning programme, before taking full teacher responsibility for the classroom programme under the supervision of their associate teacher.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Online
City
Online

Teaching and Learning

Online

Learning activities will be provided in modules on the University of Auckland's learning management system called Canvas. These will be published and available each week, inclusive of asynchronous online learning activities including readings, recorded lecture materials, videos, and collaborative and independent tasks. 

In-person attendance on practicum is required for assessment.

This course runs from:

January to July for semester 1 enrolments

July to the first week(s) of December for semester 2 enrolments. Please note, the course material is only offered online in semester 2—practicum is still in-person.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Information about all learning resources for practicum is provided in Canvas, the University's learning management system. All course materials to support practicum will be provided digitally.

As part of your practice on practicum you will be required to have a personal mobile device in order to use the IRIS Connect app. Full details will be provided in Canvas.

Any in-school recordings of teaching practice are only permitted using the IRIS Connect app in accordance with school agreements and practicum requirements. Full details of how to use IRIS Connect will be provided in Canvas.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

Practicum assessment is recorded as Pass or Fail. Students must demonstrate that they have met all Learning Outcomes for the practicum in order to achieve a pass grade for this course

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

No suggestions for improvement were made at the end of 2025.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.