UTS secondary teacher education visited Macquarie Fields High School (MFHS) for a full day of professional learning on Thursday, the 7th of March. Prospective teachers actively participated in literacy and numeracy seminars, microteaching, and classroom observations to develop a firm foundation in effective teaching skills. This immersion experience was part of the coursework for two core teacher education subjects, ‘Literacy and Numeracy across the Curriculum’ and ‘Professional Learning.’
Our visit was a resounding success due largely to the organisational skills of teacher education students and MFHS staff Gemma Pethybridge and Inara Iftekar, and MFHS Professional Experience Co-ordinator Sangeeta Hegde. Gemma had attended the inaugural MFHS visit in 2023 as a student in both of the core UTS subjects and brought valuable insights and ideas for how to make the most of this wonderful opportunity for pre-service teachers’ professional development.
The day kicked off with a welcome by Principal Karyn O’Brien and the beautiful singing of the National Anthem (in Dharawal and English) by MFHS choir students, followed by a professional learning session focusing on how MFHS embeds literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, with Sangeeta Hegde sharing MFHS’s impressive whole-school, data driven and evidence-based approach; Head Teacher Literacy Julie Hall describing initiatives in transforming MFHS students and teachers into a community of readers; and Head Teacher PDHPE Nicole Boyles providing examples of how literacy skills are explicitly embedded in her teaching. The morning session concluded with a panel comprising the Head Teachers of Science and HSIE, Bill Matchett and Troy Neale, ex-MFHS students and current pre-service teachers Nathan, Brandon and Bill, Sangeeta Hegde, and Principal O’Brien, sharing the culture of collegiality that lies at the heart of their school.
Principal Karyn O’Brien, Nathan, Brandon, Head Teacher of HSIE Troy Neale, Bill, Head Teacher of Science Bill Matchett, Professional Experience Coordinator Sangeeta Hegde
After morning tea, UTS students were divided into three rotational activities that included microteaching small groups of Year 7 MFHS students and classroom observations.
UTS pre-service teachers teaching literacy to Year 7 students through a friendship bracelet making activity.
There was also a panel of teachers with the early career teachers they were currently mentoring: Rhiannon Hall with Kane Gayler, Nirma John with Gemma Pethybridge, and Carol Fong with Inara Iftekar.
Kane Gaylor, Rhiannon Hall, Gemma Pethybridge, Nirma John, Carol Fong, Inara Iftekar
This was followed by lunch and a short Bollywood dancing workshop led by two vivacious MFHS students, and then a well-being panel, with Head Teacher Learning and Wellbeing Melissa Collins, former MFHS principal and NSW Department of Education Professional Experience Hub Advisor Jan Dolstra, School Counsellor Sam Freeman, and Student Support Officer Henry Yoo.
UTS preservice teachers getting geared up for Bollywood dancing
Throughout the day, education professionals shared insights into how a pre-service teacher might make the most of their time in a school:
“Ask for advice. Listen to feedback.”
“Observe the students you will be teaching in many different contexts.”
“Establish your own expectations for classroom behaviour.”
“Put away your phone. Actively engage in your placement.”
Like the passing of the baton between one relay runner to another, the induction of new teachers involves the sharing of a vision, and there was a tremendous amount of good-will from MFHS staff and students in helping UTS preservice teachers embark on a rewarding teaching career. UTS sincerely thanks their close partner, MFHS, for their incredible hospitality and generosity in setting our preservice teachers up for success.
Pauline Kohlhoff (UTS Director of Professional Experience), Sangeeta Hegde, Inara Iftekar, Gemma Pethybridge, Jan Dolstra, Joanne Yoo (UTS academic)