Fast-tracked teaching pathways on offer at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) aim to play a part in preparing the next generation of teachers to front of the classroom faster than ever.
Larsen says the innovative teaching pathways won’t compromise on education quality.
As the national teacher shortage continues, new research by UniSQ School of Education senior lecturer Dr Ellen Larsen, alongside her colleagues Associate Professor Mia O’Brien, Dr Lisa Ryan and Dr Katie Cawte, will investigate the experiences of pre-service teachers learning to teach, whilst also being paid to teach in Queensland classrooms.
“We have a number of pathways now where we have pre-service teachers who are still studying to be teachers, but they’re also employed and working as teachers in schools,” she says.
“Our research is making sure that our pre-service teachers are still experiencing high-quality and equitable teacher preparation and learning while they’re undertaking these pathways.”
The 18-month research project is funded by a Queensland Government Education Horizon grant, and Larsen says she hopes to share some initial findings by the end of 2024.
Larsen believes UniSQ is in a unique position to investigate the experiences of these practising pre-service teachers because it is one of the only universities to offer all three different teaching pathways available to pre-service teachers in Queensland.
Delivering quality teacher education
The three pathways include Queensland Government internship initiatives Trade to Teach and Turn to Teaching, as well as opportunities to undertake Permission to Teach, which enables a school to employ a pre-service teacher if they are unable to recruit a fully qualified teacher.
“Australia is experiencing an escalating teacher shortage and one way of addressing that issue is to draw on these eager and passionate pre-service teachers who are keen to get out and into classrooms,” she says.
“But because all these opportunities for pre-service teachers have escalated really quickly, we’re still learning how to support them in the best way possible. It is an ongoing process of transformation as we strive for excellence in preparing our teachers.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the Queensland Department of Education and the range of stakeholders involved in this work who are all committed to quality teacher education.”
Pre-service teachers need support
Support for pre-service teachers is important, Larsen told EducationDaily, because “pre-service teachers are our future educational leaders”.
“At the University of Southern Queensland, we know this, and as such, we ensure that our students are supported through innovative and transformative programs to become high-quality teachers with the knowledge and understanding, professionalism, and dispositions they need to be successful in the profession and highly effective educators,” she says.
“We ensure they have important academic and practical opportunities throughout their programs of study that will give them the confidence they need in the profession, and we ensure that they are surrounded by highly qualified and caring teacher educators that can support them on their journeys. For those preservice teachers in Turn to Teach and Trade to Teach initiatives, it is great to see how we are all- the Department of Education, universities, and schools- working together with a common goal to support these pre-service teachers.”
Diversity enriches the profession
Larsen says pre-service teachers today are very different to pre-service teachers of 10-15 or more years ago.
“Many are not all straight from school with part-time jobs. Many have families and mortgages, they are working full-time and studying. They can be time-poor and managing many significant responsibilities. That said, they are passionate about becoming teachers and working hard in their studies. Their success is important and therefore we work to support them. If we look at the big picture, we are faced with a significant teacher shortage, and these preservice teachers are an important part of managing that issue. Their success will mean that schools and students will have the teachers they need to flourish.”
“Teaching is enriched when we have diverse teachers in the profession, and as such, it is exciting to see that we have school leavers who continue to be an important group of pre-service teachers, alongside people entering teaching from all walks of life who have come to teaching as career changers,” Larsen told EducationDaily.
“By that, we mean people who may have had careers in other professions such as accountants, architects, engineers, and so on, who move into teaching. The current Department of Education Turn to Teaching initiative is an example of an opportunity for this group of people, who already have a qualification and have often been working in other careers, to join the teaching profession. The Trade to Teach initiative is an opportunity for those with trade qualifications to make the shift to teaching. In providing these pathways, we have a profession that can leverage the strengths and experiences of a broad range of teachers. At the University of Southern Queensland, we are proud to work with such a diverse group of pre-service teachers.”
Making a difference
For people considering a teaching career, Larsen told EducationDaily that, “while it is demanding, it brings a kind of satisfaction that is unique to the profession”.
“As a teacher, you get to make a difference in the lives of students, and their families, and contribute in a way that only a teacher has the opportunity to do. You work with colleagues with whom you form lifelong connections and friendships,” she says.
“No day is exactly the same, no year is exactly the same, and there is the opportunity to evolve and grow in this profession. Also, you just never know where teaching will take you – teaching opens up a world of opportunity.”
