EDFD400 to EDFD460

EDFD400 Classroom Discourse                                                                                                             10 cp

This unit is designed to enable students to extend their knowledge of the elements of discourse. It examines patterns of discourse in speech and writing, as well as exploring the cultural aspects. The implications of studies in discourse for classroom practice are a major focus of the unit.

EDFD426 Educating Gifted Students                                                                                                     10 cp

The challenge for schools today is how to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. Schools have traditionally allocated more material and human resources to special education and there are widespread concerns that the educational needs of gifted students are not being met. The provision of equal educational opportunity indicates the need for educators to differentiate their curriculum, instruction and assessment to cater for the diverse learning needs of all children including gifted students. This unit reviews different models, pathways and teaching and learning strategies for identifying and meeting the educational needs of gifted students in schools.

EDFD430 Programming for TESOL                                                                                                       10 cp

This unit assists students to develop cohesive classroom programs suitable for TESOL students. An understanding of the characteristic features involved in developing program frameworks will be a central focus of the course. A knowledge of how the socio-cultural background of students together with their linguistic needs, require consideration when planning a TESOL program, will be a major theme of this unit.

EDFD436 Human 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 secondary level is of particular interest.

EDFD437 Reflective Education                                                                                                             10 cp

This unit introduces the philosophy and methods of reflective practice through a process of examining the development, implementation and critiques of reflective practice strategies. Utilising reflective practice methodology and field-based research, students will investigate current educational and social justice issues that impact on the planning, delivery and evaluation of educational strategies in various settings. Through the process of reflective practice students will examine their own values and attitudes related to identified issues as a tool to analyse causes and effects of the issues. The final stage in the reflective process is identifying and implementing change within their own personal context and consequently evaluating its effectiveness in terms of learning/teaching success.

EDFD438 Educational Assessment/Field Experience                                                                            10 cp

This unit provides the context for student teachers to develop a deep understanding of major assessment concepts and gain relevant skills in classroom assessment. Assessment is viewed as an integral component of the process of learning and teaching. Students will be provided with opportunities through lectures, discussions and workshops to acquaint themselves and develop their skills in informal and formal information gathering skills about students learning, analysis and interpretation of such information about student performance and using it to help them make better decisions. Students will be exposed to effective ways of using classroom information to provide feedback and reporting to students, parents, and other stakeholders in the educational process.

This unit will incorporate a 10-week teaching internship.

EDFD441 Human Development and Special Needs in Education                                                         10 cp

This unit aims to provide students with clear links between the substantive research findings within Educational and Developmental Psychology. One goal of this unit is to examine questions about the interaction between the development of the self and learning. The understanding of the interrelationship between human development and learning and its application to teaching at the secondary level is of particular interest.

EDFD442 Global Education Policy                                                                                                        10 cp

This unit takes an inter-disciplinary approach whereby students will be required to explore how the current discourse of global education favours a particular ideology. Students will be required to deconstruct a range of education policies at state, national and international levels so as to critically evaluate the how and why of what is made transparent and what remains opaque. Four key inter-related issues pertinent to contemporary society: globalisation, the mass movement of people, sustainability and technology, will be the major themes chosen to explore how education within Australia and across the world chooses either to critically engage with these issues, to pay them lip service or chooses to ignore them.

EDFD443 Adolescent Mental Health and the School Community                                                         10 cp

This unit is designed to develop an understanding of the nature and development of adolescent mental health. Incorporating a whole school framework this unit will look at ways of promoting and protecting the mental health of all members of the school community: Students, Parents, and Staff. The aim of this unit is to assist pre-service teachers to explore issues such as: inviting student to succeed, dealing with bullying, understanding mental illness and mental health, communication, mental health and the curriculum, and enhancing resilience. Students will be expected to become familiar with available resources and develop new resources to facilitate their understanding of mental health issues in the school setting.

EDFD444 The Middle Years of Schooling                                                                                             10 cp

This unit is designed to develop an understanding of the rationale and implications of the policy and research shift of focus to the middle years of schooling since the early 1900s. Incorporating a whole school framework the unit will explore strategic planning initiatives to meet the needs of middle years of schooling students. In particular studies in the unit aim to assist pre-service student teachers develop a critical perspective of emerging issues and to develop a range of instructional designs, learning techniques, and communication strategies appropriate to the middle years of schooling. Students will also be expected to become familiar with available resources such as the Middle Years Research and Development Project (MYRAD) and to develop their own resources to facilitate an understanding of the schooling needs of adolescents in the middle years.

EDFD445 Middle Schooling Studies 3                                                                                                  10 cp

This unit focuses on the nature of the curriculum development for Middle Years of Schooling. Perspectives and principles underlying contemporary approaches to quality middle years education are considered in terms of developmentally appropriate practice and socio-cultural influences on learning. The pedagogical issues such as developing multiple grouping strategies that emphasise interdependence, cooperation, and individual responsibilities are explored. This unit will build on and extend the student’s knowledge about adolescent development, the sociology of adolescence, and curriculum development.

EDFD446 Development and Learning                                                                                                  10 cp

This unit incorporates insights from Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology and Sociology to explore issues of child development and learning in particular from a Catholic perspective. The aim is to assist students to understand student characteristics and frames of reference in the middle and adolescence years, and help students understand and apply processes of learning and teaching in the classroom. Particular emphasis is placed on relevant aspects of the learner, the teacher and their interrelationships. The primary goals are for students to:

(a)     reflect and revise their own theories of learning;

(b)     examine and compare how others learn from individual and social perspectives;

Develop a rich understanding of the teacher’s role in creating effective class and school learning environments.

EDFD447/527 Diversity in the classroom                                                                                               10 cp

This unit is designed to provide students with knowledge and strategies for addressing student needs. Students will investigate theoretical perspectives to understand and implement specific strategies for teaching: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with Special Educational Needs, Non-English Speaking Background Students and Students with Challenging Behaviours. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills in creating inclusive classrooms and schools to effectively meet the educational needs of all students. This challenge becomes more complex each year given the range of cultures in our schools and the national focus on improving student literacy and numeracy. Individual states will place particular emphasis on one or more of these areas to reflect employment requirements.

EDFD448/529 Effective Teaching and Professional Practice                                                                 10 cp

This unit is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of theories and practices that underpin teaching and learning environments including the role of language and literacy. In the course of this unit theoretical perspectives of teaching practice will inform and provide contexts for creating and developing learning in the classroom. Students will develop a critical approach to teaching and learning through engaging with research, scholarship and school based professional experience. Students will critically address the complexities of teacher performance, classroom management strategies, planning processes, teaching strategies, social contexts that inform learning environments and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the learning process. Additionally, literacy and language needs of students will be addressed. The implementation of communication and interpersonal skills will be addressed within various school, classroom and community contexts. Through knowledge and implementation of various teaching strategies students will develop an understanding of productive pedagogy with particular reference to the importance of creating quality learning environments. The transition from student teacher to professional practitioner will also be investigated to address the complexities of professional practice and standard requirements that authorise quality teaching.

EDFD450/526 Program planning for Literacy and Numeracy                                                                10 cp

This unit extends the professional knowledge, skills and values of the teacher as decision maker, curriculum designer and implementer. The unit integrates theoretical and practical principles of the teaching and learning paradigm that have been addressed in the discipline-specific mode of curriculum studies of the course. This unit involves students in effectively appraising professional teacher competencies in literacy and numeracy curriculum knowledge, program development and professional practice with reference to National, State and system demands for professional competence, accomplishment and leadership.

The unit is intended to assist students develop an informed practice concerning literacy and numeracy in all curriculum areas. The unit will focus upon program development and evaluation together with contemporary curriculum issues that include student assessment, critical reflection for enhanced teaching and learning, outcomes based education, student profiling and reporting using performance indicators and benchmarks.

EDFD452 Transition into the Profession                                                                                               10 cp

This unit is the sixth in a six unit study sequence in the Education Studies Major This unit is designed to synthesis theories and practices addressed in previous education, professional and curriculum units to explore the nexus between curriculum development and pedagogical practice. Students in this unit are typically finalising their pre-service education and are preparing to undertake a final professional experience. Students are consolidating and developing an autonomous approach to reflective practice in teaching and learning experiences. This unit aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of theoretical frameworks of classroom management to facilitate effective management implementation in the classroom. Students will develop a mastery approach for understanding and implementing teaching strategies to develop and design effective teaching and learning experiences. Teaching as a profession will be investigated to provide students with an understanding of a variety of professional forums that inform educational practice. Students will develop knowledge and skills to produce their digital portfolio as evidence of their professional practice.

EDFD453 Social and Cultural Contexts of Education                                                                            10 cp

This unit explores the diverse social, cultural, ethnic and religious contexts of schooling. Students will explore the way in which these factors affect learning and impact on the identity of both school systems and individuals within these systems. Students will evaluate online learning environments, identify issues relating to their safe and ethical use and develop web-based learning resources. One of three case studies will be explored; (1) the contexts, policy frameworks and present realities of a Catholic education system, (2) the historical context, policy frameworks and present realities of schooling for students in Australian schools, (3) the broader, social and cultural context of issues for schools including those of the National Framework for Values Education and the National Safe Schools Framework.

EDFD454 Curriculum Literacies                                                                                                             10 cp

In this unit participants will examine the range of literacies and learning required for different curriculum areas in secondary school subjects and the way these literacies need to be developed for learners from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. Participants will examine the range of literacies needed for humanities, mathematics and science content areas. The unit will extend participants’ knowledge of the technical vocabulary, linguistic forms and structures of different curriculum areas. They will consider the requirement of spoken, written, visual, graphic and multimodal texts and the interconnectedness of learning in content areas. This knowledge will offer a resource for teachers to enhance the development of literacy and learning within specific curriculum areas.

EDFD457 Action Research as a Reflective Practice                                                                               10 cp

This unit is designed to introduce students to using action research as a means of enabling reflective practice thus informing their teaching and learning. The unit focuses particularly on the practical implementation of reflective processes through field based research where students will face several teaching problems or issues. They will make a choice to investigate one of these, formulating a research question focused on improving or developing their practice. They will then design and implement a research project to further their understanding of their own teaching and learning within this focus area, and evaluate the outcomes of the research finding and the impact of the selected strategies used. The unit encourages students to develop an understanding of themselves as teachers through reflecting on the findings from their research. This unit emphasises the students’ development of self-regulatory strategies that provide a scaffold for continued use of reflective practices throughout their teaching career.

EDFD458/530 Catering for Diversity in the Classroom                                                                           10 cp

An ongoing challenge for schools is how to meet the educational needs of every student. This unit brings together the learning and teaching of mathematics and literacy with a clear focus on the diverse backgrounds and needs of children in the primary classroom. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ knowledge, understandings and skills in creating inclusive classrooms and schools to meet the educational needs of all students effectively. Students will explore effective teaching practices designed specifically to take account of a range of factors that impinge on children’s learning in literacy and mathematics, such as cultural backgrounds, learning difficulties, attitudes and abilities. The focus on diverse student backgrounds is developed from a human rights perspective and is based on a social justice paradigm of equal educational opportunity for all children within the regular class. Students will extend their studies of a variety of methods and teaching strategies to accommodate learning differences.

EDFD459 The Learning Space                                                                                                             10 cp

This unit explores the ideas of the learning space. Teachers are often involved in contributing to plans for the design and development of new learning spaces or in the utilization of environments outside the school for excursions and projects or in the development of electronic networks and facilities. As we move beyond the traditional classroom, teachers are required to consider a wide variety of factors which come into play in developing learning spaces for now and the future.

Designed as a modular unit, it comprises a number of particular focus areas: the classroom and the school; the learning space beyond the classroom; the electronic learning space; the individual learning space; and the group learning space. The unit investigates issues and considerations in designing and developing current learning spaces and aims to allow the teacher to explore factors within and beyond the curriculum which need to be considered as we move to redevelop or create learning spaces to meet the needs of students today and tomorrow.

EDFD460 Creativity and Imagination in Education                                                                               10 cp

Based on the work of educational thinkers such as Kieran Egan, this unit explores the nature of creativity and imagination and the potential they offer education today. As the world of education becomes dominated by government and business directives for accountability, ‘standardisation’ and compliance, and as children particularly in the western world are subjected to the social mores of media-driven standards of accepted social practice, the encouragement of originality, inventiveness and deeper thinking in decision making, which are fostered through creativity and imagination, become critical abilities for the adults of tomorrow. This unit embraces a broad understanding of the concepts of creativity and imagination and explores ways in which teachers might adopt principles and practices from a values-based perspective to encourage the abilities of their students.