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Unit of study_

EDMT5676: Re-thinking: Students, Teachers, Schools

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

EDMT5676 is the first unit in the 'Foundations' suite of MTeach units. EDMT5676 introduces relationships at the core of teaching, focussing on the relationship between students and teachers. Through in-school observations pre-service teachers will gather a range of information to be analysed to disrupt existing thinking on schools, students and teachers opening to the wide possibilities for future schooling. Central to the relationship between students and teachers is the support of students' social and learning behaviour. Recognising teaching as problematic, EDMT5676 explores the complex relationships between students, teachers, pedagogy, and student behaviour.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDMT5676
Academic unit Education
Credit points 5
Prohibitions
? 
EDMT5500
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Nicole Mockler, nicole.mockler@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Neriman Coskun, neriman.coskun@sydney.edu.au
Phillip Poulton, phillip.poulton@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Becoming a Teacher: Personal Reflection
Written Response
0% Week 03
Due date: 08 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Good Teaching in Practice (Observation - Discussion - Report)
Written and Oral Response
0% Week 07
Due date: 12 Apr 2024 at 23:59
1250 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment Supporting Students' Social and Learning Behaviour (Essay)
Written Response
0% Week 11
Due date: 10 May 2024 at 23:59
1500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

Task 1: Becoming a Teacher (Personal Reflection) 

Task 2: Good Teaching in Practice (Observation - Discussion - Report) 

Task 3: Supporting Students' Social and Learning Behaviour (Essay)

Assessment criteria

All assessment in the MTeach is graded as ‘Does Not Meet Criteria’ or ‘Meets Criteria’.

 

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Apprenticeships and aspirations: Becoming a teacher Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Teacher professional identity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6
Week 03 Three message systems of schooling: Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Introduction to curriculum: Key concepts and questions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 05 Introduction to pedagogy: Key concepts and questions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 06 Introduction to assessment: Key concepts and questions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 07 Understanding students: Exploring the 'virtual backpack' Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Understanding students: Motivation and learning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Structures and strategies for supporting students' social and learning behaviours Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Creating the conditions for learning: Teachers, learners, pedagogy and engagement Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate Special Consideration must be sought, which will require evidence of illness or misadventure.  Further details are provided in the School Canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 5 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 100-125 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please see the reading list and additional resources on the EDMT5676 CANVAS site.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Articulate key factors that shape teacher professional identity and their influence on teachers
  • LO2. Recognise teaching as a complex endeavour and the implications of this for teachers’ work
  • LO3. Determine key tenets of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, and their interconnectedness
  • LO4. Examine the relationship between good teacher/student relationships and good learning
  • LO5. Assess the role of factors such as students’ needs, backgrounds, interests and motivation and engagement in shaping teaching and learning
  • LO6. Explain the role of teachers in creating the conditions for student learning, and identify strategies to support this in primary and secondary classrooms

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
6.3.1. (Graduate) Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.
6.4.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.
LO3
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
2.3.1. (Graduate) Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
5.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to students about their learning.
LO4
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
3.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement.
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
LO5
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
LO6
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
3.1.1. (Graduate) Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
4.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
4.3.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
4.4.1. (Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
7.3.1. (Graduate) Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1.1 T P A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
1.2.1 T P A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
4.3.1 T P A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This Unit of Study has been redesigned this year on the basis of both Student Feedback and recent reviews of the Master of Teaching programs.

 

 

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.