COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

APPLIED CURRICULUM PROJECT

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICUM
Bachelor of Education P - 12
Preservice teachers are responsible for completing this planning document in negotiation with the
School Partnership Coordinator (or nominee) and the University Colleague. Refer to PP Policy and
Procedures Book at http://education.vu.edu.au/partnerships/ for additional details. Preservice teachers
are required to download a copy of the Applied Curriculum Project (ACP) Plan template from the PP
website. This Plan should be negotiated in conjunction with the University Colleague. Every preservice
teacher must submit a copy of their ACP Plan to their PI lecturer by the date indicated below. This
document must be word processed.
Submission Deadline: Preservice teachers must submit their ACP Plan to their PI lecturer

Preservice Teacher submitting this report:
Applied Curriculum Project Title: Global Practicum Malaysia.
Campus: St Albans/FP Submission Date: 4/9/2014
School/Educational Site: Primary and Secondary Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (names
listed below)

Address: NA
Phone number: NA Fax: NA

Preservice Teachers:

LIST OF PARTICIPATING
SCHOOLS
NO SCHOOLS First Name Family
Name
Method
1
Method 2
2 SMK (P) SRI AMAN,
PETALING JAYA
Elizabeth Wannon F Phys Ed Health
3 SMK METHODIST (L)
KUALA LUMPUR
Christopher Falvey M English Media
Study
10 SK LA SALLE PETALING
JAYA
Jacqueline Agius F
11 SK KG.TUNKU
PETALING JAYA
Ece Iscimen F
12 SK TAMAN MEGAH Hayley Jacobs F
13 SK BUKIT BANDARAYA
BANGSAR
Adele Miller F
14 SK SERI BINTANG
UTARA
Sithy Nawas F
15 SRJK KUEN CHENG 2 Brooke Sweeney F
16 SRJK(T) FLETCHER Tatum Solomon F
17 SRJK JALAN
DAVIDSON
Amy Wickerson F


Mentor Teacher participating in the ACP: Principals and Teachers of the above named schools.

University Colleague: Dr. Peter Thomas

1. Background (Preservice teacher to complete)
The key issues and requirements that have brought about this applied curriculum project are:
This project is based on an applied curriculum project which involves teaching and learning in an
international context. Importartly this project includes a number of key features
Teaching and learning practicum in a primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (minimum of 10 days).
Teaching content or relevant content in English to students in primary and secondary
classrooms
Collaborating with staff and principals
Getting to know students and their classrooms
Planning and implementing teaching and learning
Experimenting with approaches and teaching styles
A basic knowledge of the historical and socio-cultural context of Malaysia.

Rational:
The Global Practicum: Malaysia provides Victoria University pre-service teachers (PSTs) with the
opportunity to undertake a teaching practicum in Kuala Lumpur and/or surrounding regions of Malaysia.
The practicum is designed to develop their professional experience, intercultural capacity and
engagement with Asia through people to people relationships. These relationships will be developed
through schools and university partners. The Practicum was initially supported by the Victorian Council
of Deans of Education and is now implemented through Deakin, Monash, Latrobe, RMIT, Edith Cowan
and Victoria University.
There has been evidence of PST's working across multiple university affiliations sharing influences from
differing programs to create meaningful working groups. University staff have also been able to
effectively engage across institutional affiliations and learn from one another through co-constructed
discussion/sharing sessions with PSTs. These discussions enabled reflection on teaching in practicum
classrooms and provided opportunities to craft joint professional development sessions. These
strengthened relationships provide meaningful sharing and rapport for future cross-university
partnerships. Teaching in a foreign context would also help strengthen preservice teacher
understanding of challenges faced by ESL learners. This insight will be of benefit to preservice teachers
when they teach ESL students in future years.
2. Action Plan (Implementation and Timeline)
Aim: To plan, design curriculum and implement teaching and learning in a primary and
secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur


Date Activity

Notes
KL
Fri June 20

Arrive KL check in 3pm
4.00pm Welcome session with MoE tbc
6.00pm - Group Welcome function at Bistari
Accommodation
Bistari

Sat June 21

Orientation to Malaysia at Bistari (both
groups)
Race around KL includes lunch
Accommodation
Bistari
Sun June 22 Practice run to schools
Mon June 23 School Placements
Tues June 24 School Placements
Wed June 25 School Placements

Thurs June
26
School Placements
Fri June 27 School Placements
Sat June 28 Day trip to Melaka

Sun June 29 Free Day
Mon June 30 School Placements
Tues July 1 School Placements
Wed July 2 School Placements
Thurs July 3 School Placements
Friday July 4 School Placements
Sat July 5 Free Day
Sun July 6 Free Day
Mon July 7 School Placements
Tues July 8 School Placements
Wed July 9 School Placements
Thurs July 10 School Placements
Friday July 11 School Placements

Informal get
together
Sat July 12 Group presentations and farewell *Group farewell
Dinner
Sun July 13 Group hotel checkout Depart Kuala
Lumpur


Who benefited from this project?
Stakeholders:
VU preservice teachers
Schools and staff of the listed primary and secondary schools around Kuala Lumpur
School students and communities around Kuala Lumpur
Outcomes:
The program involved a range of activities in a range of settings including regular learning circles.
Through a sequence of activities this unit of study supported preservice teachers growing awareness of
Malaysias multiply layered culture. Based on inquiry and reflection preservice teachers generated
questions and propositions to shape professional conversations tied to teaching and learning within the
context of Malaysia. This study and practicum provided the impetus for study, shaping the questions
and pedagogical issues, such as enriched pedagogy for teaching diversity and collaborative and
Inclusive practices
For VU students the classes and study timetable included,
Planning time
Cultural time
Study time
Recreation
Higher Education Classes
Reflective writing opportunities
Schools and Buddy time.
All preservice teachers (PSTs) involved in the self study tour. Peter has confirmed that this
experience has been invaluable both personally and professionally. The international
practicum has given preservice teachers an opportunity to enhance their cultural knowledge.
This knowledge will enrich the quality of their teaching and learning practices in the local
schools they teach in.
The opportunity for PSTs to undertake their placement in an International setting is taking the
pressure from the local schools and providing an ideal learning environment for PSTs.
Some preservice teachers have expressed an interest in working in International teaching
sessiosn in future years.



Signatures

Preservice Teacher:

Preservice Teacher:

Preservice Teacher:

Preservice Teacher:

Preservice Teacher:

Preservice Teacher:

University Colleague:


Date: 06/09/14

P.Thomas

Preservice teachers must ensure that all signatories (above) receive a copy of this ACP plan. Year
3 Bachelor of Education preservice teachers are to submit a copy of this plan to their lecturer.
University Colleagues are required to support the negotiations of these ACP projects as required.