Undergraduate - UnitEDF3210 - Education policy and practice

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 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.

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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.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Education
Offered	Berwick First semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Rosalyn Black

Synopsis

This unit involves students in investigations of the educational policy and practice interface, through critical analyses of Victorian, national and international educational policy discourses around a range of issues and their impact on teachers' practices in schools. Students develop understanding of what legislative requirements must be met, e.g. anti-discrimination and equity laws, and how policies can impact on how diverse learners' needs can be supported to ensure social justice, inclusion and equity for students from varied linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Students examine the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians and other federal and state policies that aim to develop curriculum and practice emphases in line with key priorities for education in Australia. They also examine how a range of policies including developing understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures and learner needs, professional standards, curriculum, assessment, and the ethical use of information and communication technology (ICT) are enacted at the school and classroom level.

Outcomes

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

describe and understand the implications for schools of key Victorian, national and international policies pertaining to social justice, equity and inclusion of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
understand relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers and schools and how these impact on practice
investigate the ways in which a range of policies are implemented at school and classroom levels and know how to apply these in practice.

Assessment

Critical essay on policy discourse and practice (2000 words, 50%)
Project on implementing policy and practice (2000 words, 50%)

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

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

2 contact hours per week comprising of lectures, tutorials and online activities

(b.) Additional requirements:

independent study to make up the minimum required minimum hours per week

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Rosalyn Black

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

Primary education
Primary and secondary education
Primary and secondary special education