Unit rationale, description and aim
Through investigating links between theory and practice, pre-service teachers will learn effective strategies to make adjustments to cater for and support the full spectrum of learners in terms of abilities, difficulties and differing needs, including learning difficulties, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, and giftedness. Pre-service teachers will examine a broad range of approaches, strategies, programs and resources including inclusive education practices, teaching for literacy and numeracy, specialist support, government and community services. Pre-service teachers will develop skills in analysing effective diverse and inclusive approaches that may best meet and enhance the learning of individuals with differing educational needs.
This unit aims to assist pre-service teachers to gain knowledge and skills to meet the diverse learning and differing educational needs of individuals.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.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.
Analyse and develop solutions for the potential ba...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate an understanding of evidence-based pra...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate an understanding of effective support ...
Learning Outcome 03
Demonstrate a range of strategies for engaging and...
Learning Outcome 04
Articulate and critically examine the principles u...
Learning Outcome 05
Understand the need for ongoing professional learn...
Learning Outcome 06
Content
Topics will include:
- Socio-cultural and cross-cultural political context of special educational needs: values, attitudes, equity, rights, inclusion, diversity, reasonable adjustments
- Relevant inclusive and special educational legalisation, policies, strategies and practices
- Assessment – curriculum based assessment and monitoring procedures for identifying prior achievement and making differentiated assessment and learning decisions, including the reasonable adjustments required to enable students to meet curriculum outcomes
- Developing, implementing and evaluating effective strategies including personalised learning and inclusive lesson plans
- Differentiating – making curriculum, instructional and environmental adjustments
- Using numeracy and literacy capabilities to support students with special educational needs
- Using personal and social capability to support students with special educational needs
- Support strategies to meet a range of challenging behaviour needs
- Specific strategies to support a range of special educational needs including those who are gifted
- Collaborative consultation
- Working effectively with classroom assistants
- Accessing and critiquing resources including ICT and support services
- Indicators of successful inclusive practice in whole school communities
- Professional learning resources and opportunities
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment will relate directly to the achievement of the outcomes above.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. Assessment tasks will comprise two major pieces. The total of assessment tasks will amount to the equivalent of 4,000 words.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Case study on differentiating...
Assessment Task 1:
Case study on differentiating the curriculum to include students with specific learning needs in relation to their linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds
Pre-service teachers will address the following questions
- What are the most common issues regarding this case study student?
- How can I now put into practice what I have learned?
- How will I differentiate a lesson for my whole class with adaptations and assessments for my case study student?
- Indicate the strategies you would use to convey the information to students, carers and parents. <
50%
Assessment Task 2 Research on teaching students ...
Assessment Task 2
Research on teaching students with diverse learning needs including strategies for the identification and support of ESL students.
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. The unit will be taught in a variety of teaching and learning modes during on campus weeks 1 – 12 or equivalent in intensive and online modes. Teaching and learning strategies may include:
- Lectures face-to-face or online/active learning activities
- Seminars, tutorials or workshops– which may include student-led discussion and group work
- Online discussion and activities
- Audio-visual presentations
- Reading guides which could involve students in both directed reading for the unit as well as self-directed online study materials
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total with a normal expectation of 36 hours of directed study and the total contact hours should not exceed 36 hours. Directed study might include lectures, tutorials, webinars, podcasts etc. The balance of the hours then become private study.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to: