About the Course

This introductory course explains how the seven other courses in the program will assist you to improve your understanding of your role and work as a teacher.  This set of courses will enhance your knowledge and understanding about learning and teaching and what makes a teacher a professional. 

Practical activities are provided to assist you in using what you have learned to improve your teaching practice.  While these are optional, it is strongly recommended that you undertake them if at all possible.

Of particular importance is a guide to the development of a portfolio to help you organize and document your thinking about what you have learned. In addition, you may be able to use the portfolio to access other opportunities in the future. 

The program consists of the following courses:

1. Introduction2. Being a Teacher3. Learners and Learning4. Curriculum5. Planning for Teaching and Learning6. Introduction to Student Assessment7. Being a Professional8. Developing Relationships 

Course Syllabus

This course will provide:

an explanation of how the Foundations of Teaching for Learning program will benefit you in your role as a teacher;

an explanation of the three domains that constitute the basis of the program; an overview of each of the seven courses in the program; details of the components of the courses; information on evaluation techniques to provide feedback on your learning; and guidance on the development of your portfolio. 

This course will help you answer the questions:

Who am I and how have I learned? How have race, gender, class, language and culture informed how I have learned? What has been my most powerful learning experience? Who, what, where and when has had a significant impact on my own learning. Why and how?

This course will help you answer the following questions:

who are the learners?

what do they know, feel and do? how do they learn? What are the major theories of learning? how do I engage my learners in a way that is meaningful for them? what are the most effective strategies to promote learning? 

This course will help you answer the following questions:

how do I understand curriculum? what are the different ways in which “curriculum” is understood? what are the connections between my students and the curriculum? how do I use the curriculum to develop learning activities for my students both within the

learning environment and beyond?

This course will help you:

formulate learning goals for diverse learners; engage your students in ways that will achieve these learning goals through planning lessons

using appropriate teaching strategies and resources; organise and manage a safe and productive learning environment; develop strategies for supporting positive student behavior; and communicate effectively with students, colleagues, parents and others.

In this course you will consider:

concepts and types of assessment in teaching and learning: formal, informal, diagnostic, formative, and summative;

the nature of feedback in improving teaching and learning; guidelines for developing and using assessment procedures; and reporting student achievement.

 In this course you will explore:

what it means to be a professional; ethics, codes of conduct and standards for teachers; legal and administrative responsibilities of a teacher; developing a personal philosophy of teaching; being part of a professional learning community; seeking advice on how to improve your teaching; and planning for your future development as a teacher.

In this course you will explore how to:

develop appropriate relationships with your students; develop positive working relationships with colleagues; understand the importance of family partnerships in children’s learning; develop positive relationships with families and the wider community;

work effectively with parents and the wider community to improve student learning; understand and respect social, cultural and value differences in your school community;

and work with the school’s leaders to improve your school.