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International Experience Program: AIM Professional Experience, USA 

Faculty of Education

This unique program will explore teacher education and teaching practice in the USA. Two weeks will be spent on academic classes, professional visits and seminars, cultural activities and field trips. The third week will be dedicated to observation and participation in American classrooms.

Program Dates: Jan / Feb 2011

Number:  10 (single students may apply)

Program Cost: Approx: $5000.00 ( includes the tuition, accommodation, some meals, all the local visits, cultural activities, materials etc. )  Airfare, insurance is an additional cost.

This program is eligible for an OS HELP loan of up to $5611 in 2011.  For more info please see: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/Quickfind/StudyOverseas/OSHELP.htm

Eligibility & Credit:   Please confirm with your course coordinator.  You must receive 8 subject points credit to be eligible for the OS HELP loan.  Previous students have received credit for

• ERP403 - Special Topic in Education

Timeline:

• Application Deadline: July
• Successful students notified (email): July
• Payment required: August / September

Please contact Louise for an application:
Ms. Louise Haberecht
CSU Global Coordinator
Office of International Relations 
Charles Sturt University
Panorama Avenue
Founders Cottage Bldg N9
Bathurst NSW 2795
Email: lhaberecht@csu.edu.au

Program Outline

Part 1: Academic Classes (21 hours)

There will be at least 21 hours of academic classes, mostly during the first two weeks of the program. There will also be debriefing time and preparatory time for the following week’s activities.

The academic class component will cover topics such as:

• Urban education, 2 hrs
• Education for special needs students, 2 hrs
• Diversity in the classroom, 2 hrs
• Assessment, 2 hrs
• Use of technology, 2 hrs
• National and State curriculum, 2 hrs

There is no national curriculum in the USA. Each State has its own curriculum often called the ‘Standard Course of Study’. This class will look at these Standard Courses of Study, as well as consider how they fit into a national context of education.

• Performance-based pay (and other related issues), 1 hr
• Indigenous education.
  
  In the U.S. this closely related to minority and diversity issues and will cover:
  
  • Native American education, 1 hr
  • African American education, 1hr
• The US education system: history, development, function etc. 1 hr
• Skills development. 1 hr
• How the US deals with vocational/technical education, 1 hr

Part 2: Practical Components (48 hours)

The program will include practical components such as:

• Observation and Participation in American Classrooms - participants will have opportunities to observe American teachers as well as create and lead their own classroom lessons on various topics.
• Visits to American Schools - participants will visit and the various types of schools in America to learn how different teaching philosophies are applied. Visits will include a tour, classroom observations and meetings with faculty and staff.
• Seminars on American Education - these seminars will provide information about various aspects of U.S. society and education practices.
• Discussion Sessions with Teachers, Principals and Administrators - participants will meet with educators and administrators throughout the class-based portion of the program to converse about various topics related to education and culture.
• Leading a classroom lesson – individual amount of time spent on this component will vary.

Cultural Activities

Some local cultural activities will also be included in the program. This may include:

• Visits to local museums and historical sites
• UNC Charlotte Community Events
• Sporting Events

Cultural Events In and Around the City of Charlotte

Student background/pre-requisites

Students must be enrolled in a tertiary-level teaching program at an Australian university – this may be at either Diploma or Bachelor level. Students undertaking both Primary and High School teaching programs are encouraged to participate. 

Assessment/Certification

Students will complete assessment as part of the program. This may include: preparation of example lessons, participation in teaching exercises, presentations, quizzes and/or group work.

Students will receive a certificate from UNCC upon successful completion of the course.

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated in a simple, comfortable hotel adjacent to the university campus. Accommodation is on a twin-share basis.

The accommodation includes breakfast 7 days per week as well as dinner 4 nights per week.