EDF5694 - Taking a stand in education debates - 2018

This unit positions postgraduate students in education as future leaders in contemporary debates in education. The unit demonstrates how key debates can be identified and apprehended through different research frames. A contemporary issue (for example, school funding; education and employability; international benchmarking; defining evidence and quality in educational research; selective schools) is used as an example of where and how education debates are constructed in Australia and internationally. Attention is paid to the intellectual trends and traditions on which commentators/researchers draw and to the ways in which people come to be positioned as critical in the debate. This supports students to take their own critical stand in educational debates of relevance to them and position them so that they can make a contribution to ongoing intellectual debate in an area of their interest.

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

1. understand critical educational debates in Australia and internationally
2. identify how research conversations are structured
3. critically evaluate different contributions to educational debates
4. develop the capacity to contribute to educational debates using a variety of approaches
5. develop identities as knowledgeable commentators in education.

Investigative essay (4000 words, 50%)

Case study (2500 words equivalent, 30%)

Poster presentation and evaluation (1500 words equivalent, 20%)

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:

1. 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
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester

See also Unit timetable information

Option for Master of Education in:

Adult learning

Digital learning

Early childhood education

Educational leadership and policy

Expert teaching practice

General education studies

Inclusive and special education

TESOL

Elective for Master of Teaching in:

Early years education

Primary education

Secondary education