Leader: Dr Helen Watt (Clayton), Dr C Charles (Gippsland)

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit focuses on significant aspects of adolescent development in the context of teacher education. Building on the sequence of core education units studied in the first two years of this course students are introduced to psychological research into adolescent age span and encouraged to develop critical perspectives on knowledge claims rather than relying on anecdotal information. The unit considers psychological, motivational, social, cognitive, biological and sociocultural perspectives of adolescent development and learning. Students inquire into interpersonal and teaching strategies for teaching and learning with adolescents based on contemporary knowledge of adolescent development.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. appreciate adolescence as a discrete period of individual development in our society;
2. articulate theories of adolescent development from a scientific viewpoint;
3. explain the developmental tasks of adolescence;
4. understand how teacher-student relationships are influenced by issues of adolescent development;
5. identify problems in teaching adolescents and apply relevant frameworks;
6. analyse multidimensional facets of influence (motivations; self-esteem; anxiety, stress, coping; biological processes; cognition; moral development; development of the self; familial, peer and sociocultural influences; issues of diversity; additional issues including substance abuse, deviance, depression, truancy, bullying, and resilience); and
7. access relevant information on aspects of adolescents' development.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Research Essay (2,000 words, 50%)
Assessment task 2: Examination (2,000 words equivalent, 50%).

Contact hours

2 hrs per week

Prerequisites

Must have passed 2 units in {EDF1301, EDF1302, EDF1303, EDF1304} AND (Must have passed 2 units in {EDF2001, EDF2002, EDF2004, EDF2005} OR Must have passed 2 units in {EDF2003, EDF3002}