Postcompulsory Pathways

This subject is not offered in 2015.

170 hours

Admission to the Master of Teaching (Secondary)

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

This subject examines the Australian and Victorian postcompulsory education and training landscapes and the role of schools and other education providers in enabling successful outcomes for young people. The postcompulsory landscapes are examined through several different lenses: factors influencing school completion, regional, gender and socio-economic differences in school completion, early leaving and its causes and outcomes, career exploration and education in schools, the role of vocational, technical and applied learning, and post-school transitions to employment, vocational education and higher education. The subject assesses the strengths and weaknesses of current policies and approaches from both strategic and theoretical perspectives. Within this subject students will develop an understanding of the current trends and patterns in Australian postcompulsory education and the implications for their own practice. The key themes within this subject will be explored through the use of case studies and data from the current and recent research of the teaching team.

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

• Describe and interpret Australian and Victorian contexts for school completion and postcompulsory education;
• Understand issues and trends influencing school completion, early school leaving and participation in vocational education and training (VET), post-school transition to employment, and training and higher education;
• Have an awareness of social and economic influences on participation in postcompulsory education and the implications for their practice;
• Critically appraise the frameworks and models of postcompulsory provision and understand their implications for school policy and their own practice; and
• Use strategic and theoretical perspectives to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of Australian and Victorian policy approaches to strengthening postcompulsory pathways.

• Topic based analytical essay - 2000 words, due mid-semester, 50%
• Reflective essay - 2000 words, due end of semester, 50%

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.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• Be skilled communicators who can effectively articulate and justify their practices in relation to student outcomes in the compulsory and postcompulsory years of education.
• Understand postcompulsory pathways as part of a broader landscape of secondary education;
• Critically reflect on their practice and professional role as it relates to the postcompulsory pathways of their students and cohorts;
• Commit to developing their practice on the basis of research evidence about the compulsory and postcompulsory years of education;
• Work in teams with skills in cooperation, communication and negotiation to explore issues concerning the compulsory and postcompulsory years of education;
• Apply a conscious personal and social values base to support the purpose of schooling and the postcompulsory pathways of exiting students.