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Unit of study_

EDUP2033: Supporting Behaviour and Well-being

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Teachers, parents, school authorities and the general community have become increasingly concerned with the support of student behaviour in our schools. In the past, school discipline has depended on a system of strong teacher control and expected student compliance. With the move towards inclusion of all students in general education classrooms, including those with behaviour disorders, there is a need for all teachers to gain skills in the effective support of behaviour. This unit is designed to investigate the techniques and procedures, developed from sound research and theory, teachers can use to be proactive in their support of student behaviour.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDUP2033
Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
36cp of 1000-level EDUP units
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Cathy Little, cathy.little@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Functional Assessment Plan
Undertake and report on a functional assessment of behaviour
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment Behaviour Support Statement A + B
Personal Statement on Behaviour Support
25% Multiple weeks 1000 w (Part A 500 wds, Part B 500 wds)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO3 LO2
Assignment Online tasks
2 x 250 word online tasks
10% Multiple weeks 2 x 250 word online tasks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO5 LO3
Presentation group assignment Mental Health & Wellbeing Presentation
Reflection on and implementation of resources to support mental health
25% Week 08 10 minutes (1000 word equivalent)
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Behaviour Support Statement: This assignment will provide you with an opportunity to draft a personal statement about how you will address behaviour support issues as part of your professional role.
  • Mental Health & Wellbeing Presentation: In groups, you will develop and deliver a professional, in-class presentation about a mental health challenge that may be presented by a school-aged student in your class.
  • Online tasks: In weeks 5 and 12, you will complete two short online tasks that check your understanding of the unit content, readings, and support materials.
  • Functional Assessment Plan: As part of your Professional Experience placement, you will undertake a functional assessment of behaviour for a school-aged student in your PEX class. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (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. For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

All assessment rubrics can be found on Canvas.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is behaviour and how do the characteristics of students affect their behaviour. Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
What is behaviour and the implications for student learning Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 02 Theories of discipline and models of behaviour support Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Explorations of seminal theorists: their beliefs about students and how they learn Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 Multi-tiered systems of support for behaviour and wellbeing Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Exploring the elements of a school-wide, multi-tiered system of support Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Environmental influences on behaviour and school climate transformation Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO8
The influence of the environment in supporting student behaviour Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO8
Week 05 Guest lecture: Mental health in school-aged students Lecture (1 hr) LO5 LO7 LO8
Student mental health and its impact on the social-emotional wellbeing of schools and the broader community Tutorial (2 hr) LO5 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Ethical responses to behaviour support Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO7
How children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties see themselves Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO7
Week 07 The principles of Functional Assessment Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO6
Engaging with the process of functional assessment Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO6
Week 08 Current systemic and school-based policies and practices to support student wellbeing Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO7
Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment presentations Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO7
Week 09 Identifying and responding to bullying in schools Lecture (1 hr) LO4 LO7
School-wide supports for responding to bullying Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO7
Week 10 Using evidence-based teaching strategies to support the teaching of behaviour Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO5
Case study: Evidence-based strategies and student self-determination Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 11 Teacher workforce sustainability Lecture (1 hr) LO5 LO8
Maintaining productive, realistic study/work/home life balance Tutorial (2 hr) LO5 LO8
Week 12 Interagency collaboration and networking to support health and wellbeing Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3
Teamwork - working with students, families, and colleagues to support behaviour and wellbeing Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, 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. Demonstrate awareness of seminal theories and recent research in preventing and supporting student behaviour
  • LO2. Explore a range of evidence-based strategies to plan for and teach behaviour within a multi-tiered school-wide support framework
  • LO3. Engage in the practices of collaboration and consultation in supporting students and teachers, recognising the diversity of backgrounds and experiences
  • LO4. Discuss the importance of school climate on behaviour and the role of teachers in transformational change
  • LO5. Reflect on the current evidence addressing mental health and social-emotional wellbeing in educational settings
  • LO6. Analyse the behaviour of students in a classroom environment using functional assessment
  • LO7. Identify and critique strategies to minimise physical and emotional bullying, including cyberbullying, and to support victims of bullying
  • LO8. Critically reflect on teacher and student wellbeing and workforce sustainability

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
1.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
1.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.3.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
6.2.1. (Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers.
LO2
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
2.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.
2.2.1. (Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
3.2.1. (Graduate) Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.
4.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
LO3
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.3.1. (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.
1.6.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
3.7.1. (Graduate) Describe a broad range of strategies for involving parents/carers in the educative process.
7.3.1. (Graduate) Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.
LO4
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.4.1. (Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
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.
7.4.1. (Graduate) Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.
LO6
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
1.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.6.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2.2.1. (Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
5.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
LO7
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
4.4.1. (Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
4.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.
7.1.1. (Graduate) Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
LO8
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - AITSL
7.1.1. (Graduate) Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
7.2.1. (Graduate) Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1.1 A T (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 T (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3.1 A T P (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.
1.6.1 A T P (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2.1.1 T P (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.
2.2.1 T P (Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
3.7.1 T P (Graduate) Describe a broad range of strategies for involving parents/carers in the educative process.
4.1.1 A T P (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.2.1 A T (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
4.3.1 A T P (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
4.4.1 A T (Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
4.5.1 A T P (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.
5.1.1 A T P (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.4.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice.
6.2.1 T (Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers.
7.1.1 A T P (Graduate) Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
7.2.1 T (Graduate) Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.
7.3.1 T (Graduate) Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.
7.4.1 A T P (Graduate) Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

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

This is the first time this unit has been offered. We look forward to receiving your feedback regarding improvements or considerations for future delivery.

All assessment tasks must be submitted.

Disclaimer

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