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Q&A – TP assessment alternatives and TP rearrangement (2021-22, Term 2)

 

1.If my TP is assessed by microteaching/teaching video, can I still have TP at school after school suspension? And how could it be done? Is it mandatory? (for full-time students)

We understand that authentic teaching experience is important for a student teacher. So we strongly encourage students to do TP at schools when there is such an opportunity, even though it is not for assessment. We will try our best to negotiate with schools to provide TP after school suspension, but it is not guaranteed given the current uncertainties.

We are providing flexibility to schools to conduct TP in order to suit their special circumstances:

Students	Teaching & Experiential Hours	Activities that could be counted
PGDE (FT Non-English)	20	co-teaching, tutorial classes, lesson observation, preparing teaching materials, participation in school activities etc.
PGDE  (FT English) + UG	30

The TP period is also flexible but normally would not extend beyond 2 June 2022, unless it is agreed by you and your TP school. Anyway, you should keep communicating with your TP mentors on the formats and period of TP. You are required to report to our office the details after your TP.

Doing TP at school is a normal part of TP as required by the Faculty, so you should not decline the TP opportunity provided by a school. Only with very legitimate reasons will we grant you an exemption, such as taking summer course, exchange, etc. Please apply to us as early as possible for the exemption with evidence.

 

2.When will we know whether we have TP after school resumes? (for full time students)

Official email regarding the TP rearrangement will be sent to your TP schools on 28 Feb 2022. We expect to receive school’s preliminary reply within 1-2 weeks. In the meantime, we encourage students to keep communicating with their TP mentors/coordinating teacher for the arrangement. We will notify students of the school’s decision in due course.

 

3.If I wish to have TP experience but my TP school declines, what can I do? (for full-time students)

We understand that school have concerns in accepting student teachers in these fluid and volatile times. As such, we will try our best to find a new placement school for you but it is not guaranteed. You are also welcome to approach your alma mater or any school you have connections. We will fully support it.

 

4.Will the TP supervisors use a different rubric in grading the alternative TP assessment, since there would be no student interactions in the teaching video?

TP supervisors will revise their rubric accordingly.

 

5.Should I contact my TP supervisor for the alternative TP arrangement?

You better wait for your TP supervisors to contact you after they have come up with a solution.

 

6.Can I take leaves during the TP? (for full-time students)

Yes, if your leave is highly legitimate and the school is well informed in advance. Teachers seldom take personal leaves from school since their classes will need to be taken care by other teachers. Even though you are not having classes at the time, a leave also needs to be well-justified. Frequent leaves for job interview, for example, are not appropriate.

 

7.Can I extend my TP period, like till August? (for full-time students)

It will be reviewed case-by-case. But the deadline for grade submission will not be changed.

*ELED students will have immersion from June to July/August and thus it is not recommended.

 

8.I am a UG student. Can I have TP in another period (e.g. July to August) because it overlaps with my summer course?

It will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please talk to us first if you have such request and we will seek the TP school’s approval.  

 

9.I am a full-time student. If I can have TP after school resumes, can I use it for TP assessment?

We do not encourage it. First, TP grades have to be submitted in May for the release of course grades and graduation.  Second, it is highly uncertain as to when school can resume.

 

10.Could we obtain a certifying letter for TP? (for full-time students)

Yes. We could issue the certifying letter that specifies your TP period and school.

 

11.Do mentors from our TP school need to write up a report for us? Will this affect our TP grade? (for full-time students)

The mentors will submit a report of your TP performance, but it will not affect your TP grade if you have done TP assessments by online microteaching/teaching video. When your TP is assessed by TP supervisors visiting your class, the grade is mainly based on your performance in the visited class, while the report from the mentor is a kind of formative assessment to help you improve. The report may also be a useful reference when there is a great discrepancy in the grades given by different TP supervisors.

 

12.Do I still need to attend the pre-assigned Pre-TP school visit in March?

No, but you need to keep contact with your mentor.

 

13.Can a supply teacher job replace my TP?

No, since it is a paid job, rather than a study opportunity provided by the programme.

 

14.Would these alternative ways of TP assessment affect my teacher registration?

No, these alternative TP assessments had been done two years ago. Until now we got no notice of any problems of teacher registration from our alumni.

 

15.Would the suspension of school affect my time of graduation?

No, if your TP grades can be submitted by the deadlines stipulated on the document.

 

16.Is there any specified combination of the alternative TP assessment, like 1 online microteaching + 1 teaching video?

No. The two alternative assessment options (online microteaching & teaching video) are open to TP supervisors and students to select without any limitation.

Students are advised to communicate well with your TP supervisor(s)/SCT to know more about the new assessment framework and arrangement.

For PGDE majors that have multiple TP supervisors, our office will invite the respective SCT to coordinate the assessment arrangement. Assessment template, resources and technical support will also be provided to TP supervisors. Thus, students could wait for the announcement from your TP supervisors/SCT/TP coordinator.

 

17.If my TP school allows, could I do the micro-teaching in the authentic school students?

This is surely better than microteaching in front of your peers. Some programmes, like PE, conduct zoom lessons with publicly recruited students.

 

18.I have done some TP assessments in real school context in term one. Can I ask for a greater weight of these assessment?

An overall TP grade is made by the SCT/TP coordinator based on several TP grades given by different TP supervisors. In general, we will see the grade from authentic teaching more valid than those from microteaching/teaching video in showing one’s teaching abilities. We will remind SCT/TP coordinator on that.

 

19.Can I choose pass/fail for TP grades?

The TP will be graded as usual since the University has not given the Faculty this option.

 

20.Do I submit my teaching video or other related assignment by the grade submission deadline?

No. You are expected to submit the video and assignments much earlier than the grade submission deadline since your TP supervisor will need time to grade them. The submission dates are decided by your TP supervisor.

 

21.I am a part time PGDE student and I have completed all of my TP assessments in this academic year. Do I still need to do the alternative assessment?

No, you have completed the TP.

 

22.I am a part time PGDE student. I will have school teaching until August after school resumes. Should I choose the alternative TP assessments or normal assessment at school?

If you are year one students, you are encouraged to have normal TP assessments since you can submit TP grades by August. But if you are year two students, you are advised to do alternative TP assessments since you need to submit TP grade by May. Nonetheless, the decision needs to be agreed by your TP supervisors.

 

23.I am a part time year 1 PGDE student. Originally, I have to borrow lessons from other teachers in my school to do TP. If my school does not allow me to borrow lessons again after school resumes, what should I do?

You are advised to adopt alternative assessment (online microteaching /producing teaching video) in this case. You may consider to postpone one TP assessment to year 2. Please talk to us if you choose it.

 

24.Do I still need to attend my original SCRC appointment?

Yes. Our office will send the new certifying letter with the revised TP period to you ASAP.