EDFD100 to EDFD133

EDFD100 Child Development and Learning                                                                                         10 cp

This unit aims to provide students with clear links between the substantive research findings within educational and developmental psychology. One goal of research in educational and developmental psychology is to carefully examine questions about the factors that contribute to human learning using objective research based methods. The understanding of the interrelationship between human development and learning and its application to teaching at the primary level is of particular interest.

This unit is not intended to be prescriptive, but is meant to encourage in the student a way of thinking, an outlook on teaching that brings consistency to one's decisions validating one's developing professional knowledge.

EDFD101 Global Development Education                                                                                            10 cp

This unit is concerned with developing understanding and cooperation in our interdependent, multicultural world. Based on informed perspectives of social justice, it examines our global context and develops skills in analysing relevant issues. It aims to expand students’ knowledge, clarify social, economic, cultural, political and environmental values, and equip teachers to facilitate children’s learning and participation in global development.

EDFD102 Race and Racism in Australian Contexts                                                                              10 cp

This unit is designed to build on the student's understanding of those historical and contemporary experiences which underpin the emergence of an Australian nationalism as we move into the third millennium. The unit is predicated on the notion that all individuals should have the skills and understandings to encourage cultural and linguistic tolerance in others in the search for true pluralism in post-industrial society. Content treated in a this unit will include: theoretical overviews of the causes of racism, prejudice and stereotyping; the historical and contemporary Aboriginal experience of racism; the immigrant experience after 1945 and a review of those contemporary educational and political strategies designed to promote social pluralism through inter and intra-group understanding.

EDFD103 Education and Society                                                                                                          10 cp

This unit is designed to help students understand contemporary educational policy and practice by applying major sociological perspectives to the social and cultural factors impacting on schools. Students will have the opportunity to relate sociological theory to decision-making concerning social and educational change that they may experience and initiate both as teachers and as citizens.

EDFD104 Early Childhood Studies 1                                                                                                     10 cp

This unit introduces the student to early childhood education. Within this unit, students explore the contemporary face of early childhood education against its historical traditions, which date back to the sixteenth century. A range of theories and models for practice that reflect a variety of educational and social issues are examined to enable students to gain a greater understanding of current contexts of early childhood education and care.

EDFD105 Early Childhood Studies 2                                                                                                     10 cp

This unit provides students with the opportunity to build on their knowledge about child development, growth and learning (birth-8). Students are challenged to critically consider their own assumptions and socio-cultural influences on learning when exploring and studying theories on aspects of child development, within the context of a range of interdisciplinary settings for young children. Through the practical application of child study, the students have the opportunity to develop skills in using a range of observational techniques, as well as to enhance their understanding of child development and behaviour.

EDFD107 Human Development                                                                                                            10 cp

This unit introduces students to a holistic approach to developmental psychology.

The aim of this unit is to assist students to develop an understanding of the physical, cognitive and psychosocial aspects of child and adolescent development with particular relevance to the school years. Students will examine the developing person’s perspective of the world about them with specific reference to family, school, peers, culture and diverse social contexts. Significant models of development will be introduced and illuminated by relevant classic and current theory and research. Lectures and tutorials will actively engage the student in a range of learning activities that encourage the development of a critical reflective approach to learning.

EDFD109 Learning                                                                                                                               10 cp

This unit aims to provide students with an introduction to educational psychology which places particular emphasis on relevant aspects of the learner, the teacher, and their inter–relationships. The unit will emphasise the application of theories of learning in classroom settings. This unit is not intended to be prescriptive. It is intended to encourage and support students in the development of soundly based, critical, and reflective thinking. These will contribute to an outlook which brings consistency to educational decisions and underpins a continuous process of validating one’s professional knowledge.

EDFD111 Alternatives in Education                                                                                                      10 cp

By referencing key philosophical contributions within the philosophy of education the student is challenged to develop a personal philosophy of education by reviewing the philosophies and curriculum practices present within the alternative schools movement in New South Wales. This unit provides both philosophical and experiential bases by way of opportunities for small group discussion and visits to alternative schools.

EDFD112 Children at Risk                                                                                                                     10 cp

This unit will focus on the identification and provision of services for those children and young people considered to be at risk of harm and prepare you as a mandatory notifier of child abuse. It is intended that participants in this unit will have an understanding of the importance of child protection and personal safety programs and their implementation at the classroom and whole school level.

EDFD115 Women in Sport                                                                                                                    10 cp

Prerequisites 1 Women’s Studies unit at introductory (100) level

This unit is designed to assist students to make provisions for individual differences and to appreciate the significant impact that sport participation has on the development of a person.

EDFD116 Interpersonal Communication Skills                                                                                     10 cp

This unit is designed to build a sound knowledge of basic interpersonal and communication skills and their application in personal and professional settings. Students will demonstrate understanding of the ways in which experiences, feelings, values, abilities, gender and cultural background influence human relationships; identify their strengths and weaknesses as communicators; analyse interpersonal interactions using a transactional model of communication, and demonstrate and apply a range of communication skills.

EDFD117 Psychology of Women                                                                                                          10 cp

Prerequisites 1 Women’s Studies unit at introductory (100) level

This unit is designed to develop students’ understanding of developmental psychological processes as they relate to women. This is a key area in a multidisciplinary course of women’s studies.

EDFD119 Women and Religion                                                                                                            10 cp

Prerequisites 1 Women’s Studies unit at introductory (100) level

A discussion of the manner in which religious traditions have shaped women’s identity, and the way in which religious traditions are shaped by the stories, events and issues of women’s lives.

EDFD120 Women and Work                                                                                                                 10 cp

Prerequisites 1 Women’s Studies unit at introductory (100) level

This unit contributes to a greater understanding of the history of women and work in Australia and the issues related to their work involvement.

EDFD122 Human Growth and Development                                                                                         10 cp

This unit provides students with an understanding of the process of growth and development throughout the lifespan and the influence of the context in which the person develops. From this, students will be in a better position to assist the development of those with a disability. The general aim is to provide students with a sound knowledge and practical awareness of the major factors that help transform a child into an adolescent and later an adult. The unit focuses on the many transitions people encounter as they develop through the lifespan.

EDFD124 Social Analysis and Community Outreach                                                                            10 cp

This unit aims to provide students with first hand experiences of injustices existing in our local and global community. Such injustices result in the denial of basic human rights to many citizens. The unit provides students with tools to analysis the causes and effects of these injustices. It also enables students to reflect upon their own values and attitudes concerning justice issues and how consider how these may impact on their future professional and personal lives. The Community Outreach Program component of this unit provides students with a relevant, modern day context in which to come to a personalised understanding of mission, justice and service while relating the service learning to teacher education.

EDFD125 Learning and Learning Technologies                                                                                   10 cp

This unit aims to introduce students to the study of learning addressing relevant aspects of the learner, the teacher, and their inter-relationships. It seeks to link theoretical perspectives on learning with educational practice and it recognises that learning technologies have an impact of what and how we learn.

It is intended to encourage and support students in the development of soundly based, critical and reflective thinking. These will contribute to an outlook that brings consistency to educational decisions and underpins a continuous process of validating one's professional knowledge.

The unit recognises that the teacher/learner relationship is at the centre of educational processes and that an understanding of factors influencing learning of individuals is critical for prospective educators. It both studies and uses learning technologies as tools and influences on learning.

The unit seeks to encourage students not only to reflect on their own and others’ learning but also to develop the capacity to learn about learning from practice.

EDFD126 Human Development and Education                                                                                     10 cp

This unit aims to provide students with clear links between the substantive research findings within educational and developmental psychology. It will examine questions about the interaction between the development of the self and learning focussing on the understanding of the interrelationship between human development and learning and its application to teaching.

This unit will introduce the student to professional attitudes, understandings and skills in relation to teaching the student with special needs. Particular focus will be on integrating the student with special needs in the mainstream and teaching the student who is gifted and talented. An emphasis will be placed on the teacher as a decision-maker with regards to maximising the learning opportunities in all students.

EDFD127 Contexts for Learning and Development                                                                              10 cp

This unit is the first in a six unit study sequence in the Education Studies Major. Through the major the students begin to address the questions of the role of schools in a democratic society in educating for a more just an equitable society, and in particular the mission and nature of Catholic schools in our society. Specifically, this unit focuses on important concepts and theories which deepen understanding of school aged young people as individual persons and members of social groups. Developing such an understanding is fundamental knowledge for teachers. Students will consider and critique a range of theories concerning the physical, cognitive and psychosocial aspects of development with particular relevance to the school years. Students will examine ideas and debates about the context of development with specific reference to family, school, peers, culture and diverse social contexts.. Students will be introduced to information communication and learning Technologies (ICLT) to develop skills and applications for learning. Lectures and tutorials will actively engage students in a range of activities that encourage a critical reflective approach to their knowledge of development and learning. Along side the content explored in the unit students will be inducted into appropriate university level study skills. In terms of the dimensions of quality pedagogy, Unit 1 looks to the dimensions of intellectual quality (notably elements of problematic knowledge and higher order thinking) and significance (with specific reference to elements of background knowledge, cultural knowledge, inclusiveness and connectedness.

EDFD133 Understanding Learning                                                                                                       10 cp

Co-requisite EDFX110 Professional Experience 1

This unit is the second in a sequence of six units designed to expand the students’ knowledge of learning processes. The unit explores a range of relevant theories to help students understand their own and others learning. It thus enables teacher education students gain key knowledge for their central professional task of constructing effective learning environments. Particular emphasis is placed on relevant aspects of the learner, the teacher and their interrelationships as well as learner differences. As part of their studies, students will work in groups as learning communities. These experiences and their experiences in school settings will be used to provide a base for the concepts and theories of learning introduced in the unit. The unit enables students to develop knowledge of the variety of ways in which human beings can learn: become aware of different forms of learning – physical, perceptual, rote memorizing, metacognitive, narrative, analytical; understand human learning as an active process of meaning making; comprehend important theories of learning, cognition and intelligences and their cultural histories; and explore differences in learning styles and other individual and group differences in cognition and learning. This study will assist students in developing strategies to help children and themselves to become more effective learners. Using technology as a tool for learning will be incorporated throughout the unit.. In terms of the dimensions of quality pedagogy, Unit 2 looks to the dimensions of intellectual quality (notably elements of deep knowledge, deep understanding, problematic knowledge, higher order thinking) and quality learning environment (with specific reference to elements of explicit quality criteria, engagement, high expectations, social support and student direction).