SDAC219 Advocacy, Power and Empowerment

10 cp

This unit will assist students to understand the role and importance of advocacy in the lives of people with disabilities. Various forms of advocacy will be identified and critiqued, and students will actively research the utility of different sorts of advocacy. Concepts of power and empowerment will be examined, and their relevance to people with disabilities and their supporters will be addressed. A major focus of this unit is on assisting students to gain a practical understanding of advocacy and empowerment for and by people with disabilities.

 

SDAC402 Nature of Community and Community Organisations

10 cp

This unit will focus on facets of community and adult education in informal and formal settings. Consideration will be given to the historical development of adult and community education within different environments. There will be an emphasis on critically analysing underlying cross-cultural theories and diverse conceptual frameworks of adult community education programs. A study will be made of selected offerings in community education in a variety of contexts to determine their design, objectives, processes, funding strategies and to examine their relationship to government policies, organisational goals and international movements.

 

SDAC424 Social Justice: Ethical and Legal Issues

10 cp

This unit provides students with a greater understanding of the philosophy and practice of social justice, particularly as it applies to the rights of Indigenous people. Also considered is the struggle for legislative change in the fight for human rights for Indigenous people. The constitutional and legal structures and the political contexts affecting Indigenous communities are analysed.

 

SDAC427 Case Studies in Diversity

10 cp

This unit will allow students to develop a case study in a specific area of Indigenous culture and/or history. Students will be developing a broad understanding of personal, social and political issues relating to particular issues in their own cultural and cross-cultural contexts.

 

SDAC615 Indigenous Education in Australia

10 cp

This unit will initially examine how the development of specific policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education arose from Aboriginal experience of exclusion and assimilation in education. A range of specific issues will be further explored including: the impact of trauma and social dislocation on education for Indigenous Australians; adult education in the community context; issues relating to consultation and teaching about Indigenous Australia and issues concerning research ethics and access and equity involving Indigenous Australians.

 

SDFD103 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.

 

SDFD112 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.

 

SDFD127 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.

 

SDFD133 Understanding Learning

10 cp
Co-requisite SDFX110 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).

 

SDFD204 Catholic Education and Schooling

10 cp

This unit provides students with the opportunity to explore the nature of Catholic education and schooling in Australia. It draws upon theological, philosophical, historical, and sociological understandings of Catholic education and schooling. The unit will emphasise skills of critical analysis and argument consistent with the interdisciplinary nature of the unit.

 

SDFD212 Professional Ethics in Education

10 cp

This unit is designed to help students examine ethical issues that arise in the professional field of education. Students will learn principles, values and habits of thought relevant to the moral situations that arise in educational contexts. A central aim of the unit is to integrate education and teaching with helpful theoretical, analytical and problem solving skills - these are important abilities in the mature moral thinker and competent professional. This unit will enhance the application of Christian ethical principles to moral dilemmas in the school context.

 

SDFD214 Language, Community Contexts and Empowerment

10 cp

This unit builds on earlier units that deal with human development, learning and technology. It is designed to develop student's understanding of the concepts and major issues in literacy education and competence in teaching practices which are appropriate to particular educational settings and in the context of different curriculum areas. Students will be involved in volunteer service with community agencies.

 

SDFD220 Teaching and Managing Learning Environments

10 cp

This unit is designed to provide students with an introduction to theories and practices informing teaching and learning environments. They will investigate theoretical perspectives of teaching practice and implementation to establish and maintain effective learning environments. Students will develop a critical understanding of approaches 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 and social contexts that inform learning environments and evaluate online learning environments. They will identify issues relating to their safe and ethical use and develop web-based learning resources. The implementation of communication and interpersonal skills will be addressed within various school, classroom and community contexts. Through various perspectives of teaching practice students will develop an understanding of productive pedagogy with particular reference to the importance of creating quality learning environments.

 

SDFD221 Creating Inclusive, Safe and Supportive Schools

10 cp

This unit is the fifth in a six unit study sequence in the Education Studies Major This education unit focuses on a commitment to social justice, inclusive schooling and a teacher’s duty of care. Within the context of the National Framework for Values Education and National Safe Schools Framework, teaching for social justice is used to further develop students’ knowledge of gifted children, children with special needs and a teacher’s duty of care. It develops the student teacher’s knowledge and skills to meet relevant professional requirements, communication and interpersonal skills in working with students, parents and colleagues through a spirit of service and care of children in schools and community. Professional requirements include reference to Commonwealth Parliament Reports on Disability Standards for Education 2005 and 2001 Senate Report on Education of Gifted Children.

 

SDFD307 Educational Assessment

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.

 

SDFD436 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.

 

SDFD438 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.

 

SDFD447 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. 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.

 

SDFD452 Transition to 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.

 

SDFD454 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.