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Unit of study_

EDMT5678: Literacy and Numeracy: Secondary Schools

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study is a compulsory component of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to meet the language, literacy and numeracy needs of secondary school students across the curriculum. It explores the language, literacy, numeracy and mathematics demands of the secondary school curriculum, across and within the range of subject areas. The unit examines effective approaches to supporting students' language, literacy and numeracy development and explores research-based practical strategies for moving all students from everyday to academic school language. There is a particular focus on the needs of EALD learners. There is a particular focus on the needs of students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EALD), that is students of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island backgrounds, refugee, migrant or international students.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDMT5678
Academic unit Education
Credit points 4
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
10 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Janica Nordstrom, janica.nordstrom@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Janica Nordstrom, janica.nordstrom@sydney.edu.au
Eddie Woo, eddie.woo@sydney.edu.au
Martina Sharpe, martina.sharpe@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Analysis of subject specific texts and reading activities
Analysis of subject specific texts and reading activities
40% Week 03
Due date: 18 Aug 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6 LO7
Assignment Portfolio of teaching resources
Portfolio of teaching resources
60% Week 07
Due date: 15 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

 

Assessment 1 (40%)

You will analyse language and literacy demands of subject specific texts and readings in your discipline. You will then design teaching strategies that help students develop their disciplinary reading skills.

Assessment 2 (60%)

For this assessment, you will design a portfolio of teaching resources to teach the literacy and numeracy of your subject(s).

Detailed information including rubrics for each assessment are available on Canvas.

Note that you must pass both Assignment 1 and 2 to pass this unit.

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties will follow the School of Education requirements.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and history of literacy and numeracy (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7
Introduction and history of literacy and numeracy (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Reading, speaking and listening (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7
Reading, speaking and listening (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Numeracy (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7
Numeracy (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Numeracy across the curriculum (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Numeracy across the curriculum (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Academic language, literacy, and numeracy (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Academic language, literacy, and numeracy (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Writing, text types and genres (lecture) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Writing, text types and genres (tutorial) Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5

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 evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. 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 4 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 80-100 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Weekly readings are available on Canvas.

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. analyse the language, literacy and cultural demands of subjects, syllabuses in your teaching area
  • LO2. Analyse the numeracy demands of your subject discipline and plan learning outcomes to support student numeracy learning
  • LO3. develop strategies and adapt units of work and lesson plans for the effective teaching of first and second language and literacy and numeracy and for culturally inclusive classroom practices
  • LO4. demonstrate an understanding of home-school language, literacy, numeracy and mathematics practices and of the impact of cultural and linguistic factors on school experiences and outcomes
  • LO5. show an understanding of current literacy, multicultural, anti-racism and ESL policies and programs and their impact on students educational experiences and outcomes
  • LO6. demonstrate research skills in collecting and interpreting data about students and communities – about strengths and resources, needs, learning styles
  • LO7. reflect on and critique your cultural assumptions, your teaching strengths and needs in terms of language, literacy and numeracy and the ability to identify strategies to improve teaching and learning.

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
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1.1 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 A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3.1 A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
1.5.1 A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
2.2.1 A (Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
2.3.1 A (Graduate) Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
2.5.1 A (Graduate) Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
2.6.1 A (Graduate) Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
3.1.1 A (Graduate) Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
3.2.1 A (Graduate) Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.
3.3.1 A (Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4.1 A (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.6.1 A (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
NESA Priority Area Elaborations -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
4-LAN.01 A Understanding of the literacy demands of the curriculum areas they teach
4-LAN.02 A Understanding of the pervasive nature of literacy and numeracy and their role in everyday situations, and of the importance of home and community literacy and numeracy practices
4-LAN.03 A Awareness that all students can be literate and numerate
4-LAN.04 A Understanding of the diversity of literacy and numeracy abilities and the needs of learners, including English as a Second or Other Language needs
4-LAN.05 A Understanding of the explicit teaching of reading and writing, speaking and listening appropriate to their level and area of teaching
4-LAN.06 A Sound knowledge of mathematics appropriate to their level and area of teaching
4-LAN.07 A Knowledge of contemporary understandings of research evidence related to teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics appropriate to their level and area of teaching
4-LAN.08 A Knowledge of a range of resources to support students’ literacy and numeracy learning, appropriate to their level and area of teaching
4-LAN.09 A Ability to identify the literacy and numeracy needs of students and understand a range of strategies to support those needs
4-LAN.10 A Ability to analyse the literacy and numeracy demands of the subjects and curriculum in their teaching areas
4-LAN.11 A Ability to recognise and exploit opportunities to support literacy and numeracy learning within their curriculum areas
4-LAN.12 A Ability to develop units of work and teaching plans that embody a literacy and numeracy focus and incorporate the effective use of literacy and numeracy strategies and assessment tasks to inform teaching and the selection of subject matter
4-LAN.15 A Ability to develop specific strategies to cater for students requiring additional support
4-LAN.17 A Ability to teach reading and writing, speaking and listening and mathematics appropriate to their level and area of teaching using approaches based on knowledge and evidence
4-LAN.18 A Where relevant, ability to use a range of effective teaching and assessment strategies in reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics
4-LAN.19 A Where relevant, ability to sequence reading, writing and mathematical learning experiences appropriately
6-EALD.03 A Understanding of the concepts of culture, identity and cultural diversity with regard to education and the impact of cultural and linguistic factors on the performance of students in schools
6-EALD.04 A Understanding of the impact of culture, cultural identity and diversity in schooling, specific culture and language learning needs of students and appropriate teaching strategies
6-EALD.05 A Knowledge of the cultural and language demands and biases of classroom resources and modified and used them appropriately
6-EALD.07 A Development of effective teaching and learning strategies for teaching second language learners in the context of the mainstream classroom and the range of key learning areas, and for working with ESL and Community Language teachers
6-EALD.09 A Knowledge of Development of skills in applying culturally inclusive practices in relation to the curriculum, classroom teaching and assessment
6-EALD.10 A Development of strategies for the establishment of partnerships with parents and community for the education of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
6-EALD.11 A Understanding of ethical issues related to education in a culturally and linguistically diverse society, and developed strategies in the areas of values education, civic and citizenship education, and the comparative study of religion

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

Increased numeracy perspective throughout the unit, as per suggested feedback.

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

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