Postgraduate - UnitEDF5649 - Language and literacies across educational contexts

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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12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

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

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Education
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2015 (Flexible)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Graham Parr

Synopsis

This unit examines the centrality of language (verbal, visual and gestural) in teaching and learning in and beyond formal education institutions. Students explore the importance of language and literacies in a range of social, cultural and communication phenomena, and examine the mediating influence of culture and new technologies on teaching and learning across a range of contexts. In exploring these issues, the unit provides theoretical and practical tools for education professionals to deploy in their workplaces or communities and in their own ongoing professional learning. The approach to inquiry in this unit demonstrates the ways language and literacy curriculum influences the wider politics and practice of education. Similarly, students undertake critical research into the language and literacy practices and/or the curriculum in the educational contexts with which they are familiar.

Outcomes

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

understand language and literacy development in and beyond formal education institutions and workplaces
interpret the latest research and theory in the areas of language and literacies education across a range of sociocultural contexts
construct and articulate an informed and critical perspective on language and literacy debates and policy developments nationally and internationally
create innovative and robust curriculum and practices in schools, workplaces and/or community settings
conduct research into literacy practices and/or policies in familiar settings, and critically evaluate language and literacy research in less familiar settings
communicate the findings of their research to educators, administrators and the wider community.

Assessment

Critical review of relevant language and literacy literature (3000 words, 40%)
Scholarly article/essay/project drawing on empirical research (5000 words, 60%)

Workload requirements

Flexible mode offers a stand-alone online offering that allows students to learn and engage in content and assessment in a supported way. It also provides a face-to-face component of 12 hours over the semester to engage students with the online learning content, which students can attend if they are able and interested.

Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for flexible students:

12 contact hours and 24 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester or
36 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Graham Parr

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

Expert teaching practice
General education studies
Leadership

Prohibitions

EDF6301