Learning Area A2

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

60 Hours. Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

These subjects will further develop the associates’ understanding of and capabilities in the curriculum, pedagogy and assessment of their specific teaching areas. As in first year, the subjects will be taught largely online and through individual mentoring. The specific focus will be on refining practice through assessment of student learning and critical reflection. Associates will be encouraged to link their classroom practice to key theory and research into the teaching of the particular subject. Ongoing online interaction will promote a strong sense of peer sharing, supporting the students in continuously reflecting on their own developing philosophy of teaching in their learning areas.

On completion of these subjects associates will be able to;

• Demonstrate an enhanced ability to gather evidence that will enable them to reflect critically on their own practice in relation to student needs;
• Demonstrate an enhanced ability to plan and evaluate learning and teaching experiences for diverse learners in their Learning Areas;
• Understand and recognise starting points (prior understandings and beliefs), design activities that help overcome aspects that may be difficult or complex to learn, monitor student learning and provide feedback;
• Design interventions that maximise each individual student’s learning;
• Report to stakeholders about student learning and make recommendations for support and intervention;
• Reflect critically on their own learning, teaching and assessment practices within their learning area and identify implications for their own professional growth as teachers of their Learning Area.

There is one assessment task:

• An investigation into the teaching of specific subject matter to enhance student learning (2000 words) due July, 100%.

There are five hurdle requirements:

• Students are required to complete the five rounds of online workshops. The workshops require students to personally reflect on the monthly topics and readings in terms of teaching and learning of the specific learning area.

Prescribed readings will be made available on the LMS.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, associates will have the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to:

• Be skilled communicators who can effectively articulate and justify their practices as knowledgeable agents of change;
• Be flexible and able to adapt to change through knowing how to learn;
• Understand the significance of developing their practice on the basis of research evidence;
• Work in teams with skills in cooperation, communication and negotiation;
• Be independent of mind, reasonable, resilient, self-regulating;
• Have a conscious personal and social values base.