units

EDF4025

Faculty of Education

18 September 2017 26 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Education
OfferedNot offered in 2014

Synopsis

This unit develops students' understanding of the place of sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum and AusVELS. Students develop an appreciation for how education for sustainability has emerged as a global priority by exploring research and policy including goals and agreements developed by the United Nations and other education providers in this field. They develop an understanding of the concepts of 'environmental studies' and 'sustainability' and explore how these concepts are inextricably linked. They learn how to develop integrated approaches to studies of the 'environment' and 'sustainability' across primary school curriculum. Students investigate and understand the cultural, social, economic, ecological and political factors that influence attitudes and actions towards environment and sustainability. They develop theoretical and pedagogical knowledge and understanding of how to implement whole school approaches and classroom learning experiences for environment and sustainability at different levels of primary education.

Outcomes

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

  1. describe and understand the difference between environmental and sustainability education
  2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the national and global reasons that have led to the emergence of education for sustainability as an educational priority
  3. develop a knowledge and understanding of how education for sustainability is related to the Australian Curriculum and AusVELS
  4. discuss and evaluate the influence of cultural, social, economic, ecological and political factors on how concepts of environment and sustainability are understood and incorporated into primary curricula in Australia and internationally
  5. design and implement learning experiences that incorporate 'environment' and 'sustainability' at different levels of primary education.

Assessment

Essay: comparative theoretical and practical analyses (can include individual and/or group work) (2000 words or equivalent per student, 50%)
Unit of work to teach environmental education and sustainability in a primary school (can include individual and/or group work) (2000 words or equivalent per student, 50%)

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • 24 hours per semester

(b.) Additional requirements:

  • independent study to make up the minimum required hours per semester

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Education - Primary