FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING?

EPL describes the regular, structured experience in a Learning Site that is a key component of the LM programs.

2. WHAT IS LEARNING MANAGEMENT (LM)?

Learning Management (LM) is broadly defined as the process of designing learning experiences to achieve learning outcomes in all students. 

3. WHAT ARE THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT (LM) PROGRAMS?

The Bachelor of Learning Management (BLM) is a four year degree leading to teacher registration that can be completed in a three year accelerated mode. The Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (GDLT) is a one-year postgraduate pre-service teacher education degree designed for graduates with non-education degrees to gain teacher registration. 

4. WHAT IS A LEARNING SITE?

Learning Sites include Teaching Schools, Early Years contexts like childcare centres and Industry Sites including Registered Training Organisations. 

5. WHAT IS THE TEACHING SCHOOL MODEL?

The Teaching School is a partnership between the university and school's teaching professionals. LM students are attached to a Teaching School for an extended period to maximise their learning and ensure that during periods of continuous blocks of days, they are "set for success" by having a thorough understanding of the learning context (e.g. the school ethos, the mentor's professional expectations, learning routines, knowledge of their learners etc).

6. WHAT ARE PORTAL TASKS (PTs)?

A Portal Task is defined as a learning in action task. By participating in a PT, students learn and then demonstrate that they have achieved the outcomes associated with a corresponding university course and that they can "put the theory into practice."

7. HOW DOES THE EPL PLACEMENT PROCESS WORK?

Placements become final and permanent after five working days of LM students having been notified of the placement. LM students are required to contact their LLMs prior to the commencement of the placement in order to arrange a meeting with Mentor Teachers. This meeting will be an orientation to the Learning Site and the LM student will be required to present a brief CV at this time.

 8. WHAT IS THE ‘AT RISK' PROCEDURE?

A LM student may be deemed ‘at risk' of not meeting expectations in the context of the EPL experience for various reasons. These are usually reasons of professionalism and can often be initially identified by completing e.g. a Progressive Review (see the relevant Mentor Teacher Information and Reporting document). 

9. WHAT IS A WORKING PORTFOLIO?

The purpose of this portfolio is to validate with evidence, the student's performance during the EPL experience. More importantly, it is a working document similar to a working portfolio that any professional would keep as a record of their work. This portfolio should not be an elaborate document with extensive word processing and decorative additions. It is a working document that the LM student uses to record their planning and reflections.

10. WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO?

In the final EPL experience (the Internship), in addition to maintaining the required Working Portfolio for this experience, the LM student should also develop a Professional Portfolio. The Professional Portfolio should NOT be thought of as a collection of everything done during the LM program. It is not the same as the Working Portfolio which is a working document the LM student needs to maintain during the progressive EPL experiences (and which should also be regularly reviewed by the Mentor Teacher and the LLM).