Year
2021Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Prerequisites
EDSS232 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment in Geography Education 1
Unit rationale, description and aim
In order to plan and deliver lessons that promote learner engagement and enhance student learning, intending secondary teachers need knowledge and understanding of the senior secondary curriculum, along with theoretical frameworks and pedagogical approaches that are emblematic of teaching in their chosen teaching areas, including teaching/learning that responds to the high-stakes assessment that is a usual feature of senior secondary schooling.
In this unit, pre-service teachers will consider the place of Geography Education in contemporary Australian society, and the senior secondary Geography Education curriculum, in particular. They will explore a range of evidence-based approaches for curriculum development and alignment and plan for effective teaching and learning, including formative and summative assessment. Pre-service teachers will learn approaches for building knowledge of Geography Education and how to provide constructive feedback and reporting. They will learn approaches for engaging senior secondary learners and to meet the learning needs of diverse students in the senior secondary years. They will further develop skills to shape the dialogic talk of the classroom. Pre-service teachers will formulate unit and assessment plans in order to demonstrate a knowledge of curriculum, learning and assessment theory. They will assemble a resource folio to demonstrate the capacity to collect, create and critique resources for effective teaching and learning and to link with curriculum. They will investigate issues and considerations of curriculum implementation as found in the practical reality of schools.
The aim of this unit is for the pre-service teacher to develop their pedagogical content knowledge through becoming familiar with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for teaching Geography Education at a senior secondary level.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - generate and critically evaluate a Geography Education curriculum program for senior students which involves a variety of pedagogical approaches and resources appropriate to these year levels, assessment tasks and curriculum content (GA4, GA5; APST 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 3.2, 3.4)
LO2 - critically analyse a variety of classroom strategies which differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning strengths and needs of students across the full range of abilities in the Geography classroom and to cater to the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds (e.g. cognitive, physical, social, cultural backgrounds, and including students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds) and integrate general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities (GA4, GA5, GA9; APST 1.3, 1.5, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3)
LO3 - demonstrate an understanding of the literacy and numeracy strategies applicable to teaching and learning in Geography Education and analyse a variety of classroom strategies which differentiate teaching to meet the variety of student needs in this respect (GA4, GA5; APST 1.5, 2.4, 2.5, 3.3)
LO4 - examine the relationships between student learning and expertise, higher-order thinking, learning task design, assessment, feedback, reporting and evaluation in Geography Education (GA4, GA5, GA8; APST 2.3, 3.6, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5)
LO5 - interpret and explain the relationship of assessment to intervention strategies, student learning and high stakes examination practices in Geography Education (GA5, GA8; APST 2.1, 2.3, 3.6, 5.1, 5.4)
LO6 - articulate the relationship between Geography Education, legislation, relevant community and professional agencies and the professional responsibilities of Geography teachers (GA8; APST 6.2, 7.1, 7.4)
LO7 - demonstrate understanding of sociocultural influences of Geography Education within society, at individual, interpersonal, institutional, social and cultural levels (GA5; APST 2.1).
Graduate attributes
GA4 - think critically and reflectively
GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession
GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information
GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:
1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
1.5 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities. |
2.1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area. |
2.2 Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence. |
2.3 Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans. |
2.4 Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of, and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages. |
2.5 Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas. |
2.6 Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students. |
3.1 Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics. |
3.2 Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies. |
3.3 Include a range of teaching strategies. |
3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning. |
3.6 Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning. |
5.1 Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning. |
5.4 Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice. |
5.5 Demonstrate understanding of a range of strategies for reporting to students and parents/carers and the purpose of keeping accurate and reliable records of student achievement. |
6.2 Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers. |
7.1 Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession. |
7.4 Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice. |
Content
The topics will include:
- factors in the educational context (international, national, state, territory and local levels) including curriculum policies and perspectives that shape the identity of Geography Education in the senior years.
- coverage of resources relevant to jurisdictional syllabus documents
- specific professional practices related to teaching and learning in Geography Education (eg. OHS, safe practices)
- general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities including the integration of literacy and numeracy, and local, state, territory and national perspectives in the Geography classroom
- alignment and coherence in content, learning outcomes, pedagogy in curriculum programming in Geography Education
- the relationship between reflexive learning and effective concept formation to build higher-order thinking in Geography Education
- catering to a diverse range of learners in Geography Education
- discipline-specific teaching strategies and issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Geography Education
- effective use of resources for teaching, including ICT’s and technologies specific to Geography Education
- literacy and numeracy teaching strategies applicable to teaching and learning within Geography Education
- pedagogical strategies to promote problem-solving and critical thinking in Geography Education
- school-based assessment, external examinations in Geography Education
- interpreting assessment data, intervention, feedback, and reporting in the Geography Education
- extending and challenging learners in Geography Education.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit applies a social constructivist approach to develop the pre-service teacher’s understanding of effective pedagogies through active engagement and collaborative learning. The pre-service teacher will build an understanding of teaching strategies through critical reading, lecturer modelling, discussion, and practice in tutorials. The pre-service teacher’s skills of professional communication and ability to work collaboratively will be practised through group work. The pre-service teacher’s teaching skills of planning and assessing, and his/her ability to locate and synthesise information, will be developed through designing a curriculum appropriate for a Geography Education context. The pre-service teacher will continue to gather and reflect upon evidence of attainment of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: Graduate.
The teaching and learning strategy described above will use an appropriate selection of approach, including, for example:
- Weekly face-to-face lectures and/or online lectures (synchronous and asynchronous)
- Hands-on tutorials and discussions that promote peer learning
- Microteaching opportunities
- Self-directed reading and research
- Collaborative learning opportunities
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed so that the pre-service teacher can progressively achieve the course learning outcomes and the professional standards. The Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment units in this course focus on pre-service teachers acquiring content knowledge and developing the skills to assimilate conceptual knowledge in order for that knowledge to inform skills that will be applied in practice.
The two assessment tasks are sequenced to allow feedback and progressive development. By completing Task 1 the pre-service teacher will apply knowledge of assessment strategies. In Task 2 pre-service teachers develop a program of work for senior students over a period of time.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Formative and Summative Assessment Practice: An assessment plan of two or more tasks designed for senior students. Each task designed will include:
| 50% | LO1, LO2, LO3 | GA4, GA5, GA9 |
Assessment Task 2: All relevant Learning Outcomes must be addressed in both assessment task choices. Curriculum, assessment and evaluation practice: A program of work or scope and sequence statement constructed for senior students over a nominated period of time (eg. term/ semester/ year). The curriculum will be designed to address:
OR An essay or position paper that addresses current issues and debates in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment in the teaching subject. | 50% | LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7 | GA4, GA5, GA8 |
Representative texts and references
Australian, state and territory curriculum documents
Bliss, S,, & Paine, J. (2010). Geoactive I: Stage 4 global geography (3rd ed.). Milton, Qld: Wiley.
Handley, R. et.al. (2009). Geography focus stage 4 – teachers edition. Port Melbourne, Vic: Pearson Heinemann.
Kleeman, G. et. al. (2009). Global explorations: Stage 4 geography (2nd ed.). Pearson Heinemann, Port Melbourne, Vic.
Otter, M., & Toovey, P. (2009). Stage 4 mandatory geography: Skills and activities (2nd ed.). Ruse, NSW: Tigershark Press.
Paine, J. et. al. (2009). Geoactive II: Stage 5 Australian geography (3rd ed.). Milton, Qld: Wiley.
Parker, B. et. al. (2008). Geography for global citizens (3rd ed.). South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan.
Parker, B. et. al. (2009). Geography for Australian citizens (3rd ed.). South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan.
Parker, B. et. al. (2009). Geography for Australian citizens: Teachers resource book. South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan.
Peters, A (2009). Australian explorations: Stage 5 geography activity book. Port Melbourne, Vic: Pearson Heinemann.
Toovey, P., & Otter, M. (2005). New millennium geography Ruse, NSW: Tigershark Press.