Unit rationale, description and aim
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 1990s. Incorporating a whole school framework the unit will explore strategic planning initiatives to meet the needs of middle years of schooling students. Students will be expected to become familiar with available resources and to develop their own resources to facilitate an understanding of the schooling needs of adolescents in the middle years.
This unit aims to assist pre-service teachers develop a critical perspective of emerging issues and a range of instructional designs, learning techniques, and communication strategies appropriate to the middle years of schooling.
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.
Describe and critically appraise policy and resear...
Learning Outcome 01
Synthesise current theoretical/policy understandin...
Learning Outcome 02
Develop instructional design skills through produc...
Learning Outcome 03
Identify and generate a range of resources to supp...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- A history of policy and research initiatives since the early 1990s.
- Issue-based approaches to the middle years eg. transition to Year 7; gender, cultural and socio-economic factors; numeracy and literacy attainment; determining authentic assessment principles and procedures; preventing student alienation and making the experience of school meaningful and joyful.
- Exploring the concept of middle school pedagogy and its application to issues of student learning in the middle years eg. curriculum integration/correlation as a way to develop student centred learning.
- Applying integrated/correlation models to reorganise curriculum provision for years 7 and 8.
- Empowering students through supporting adolescent leadership and initiative eg. making connections to and acting in the local community, making connections and acting in a global community.
- Review of research directions and how school-based action research may contribute to both theory and practice eg. the centrality of curriculum leadership and coordination to implement effective middle school reform.
- Locating and generating resources to support curriculum practice and the management of change.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed to allow pre-service teachers to progressively demonstrate achievement against the unit learning outcomes and demonstrate attainment of professional standards.
The first assignment will focus on issues associated with the concept of middle schooling and its development. The second assignment will incorporate practical applications, for example, the development of an integrated curriculum unit of work exemplifying best practice teaching and learning strategies.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome.
The total assessment requirement will not exceed the equivalent of 3,500 words.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: The adolescent learner Indivi...
Assessment Task 1:
The adolescent learner
Individual task
50%
Assessment Task 2: Developing an integrated curr...
Assessment Task 2:
Developing an integrated curriculum unit
Group task
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Pre-service teachers will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to progress and demonstrate their understandings in this unit. Participants will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to support learning, including: lectures, workshops, and tutorials. Information and communication technologies including web-based resources will be used to enhance delivery and student participation.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to: