EDF5175 - Psychology education in the secondary years A - 2019

This unit explores the learning and teaching of psychology in secondary schools. It enables students to teach psychology and lay a strong foundation for career-long professional learning. Students become familiarised with psychology curricula and national and international research literature, including current developments and historical views. Students explore the complexities of teaching to enhance student learning of psychology and use these understandings to design and implement purposeful learning activities within a range of contexts. This unit encourages students to consider the purpose of teaching psychology in schools. Students develop an understanding of the subject discipline's place within secondary schools, at senior level (Years 11 and 12) and junior level (Years 7 to 10), including within the science domain, and its links to other domains such as health and humanities. The unit emphasises a view of learning about teaching as an ongoing, collaborative process that is developed through engaging with theory, research and critical reflection on experience.

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

1. appreciate the nature and scope of psychology as a subject discipline in secondary schools
2. demonstrate familiarity with the curricula policies related to the teaching of psychology, both nationally and internationally
3. follow ethical guidelines when teaching psychology and plan responsibly, especially when carrying out research investigations and teaching potentially sensitive or controversial topics
4. acquire a sound understanding of key theoretical and pedagogical perspectives and issues in the teaching of psychology
5. develop competence in planning and implementing lessons and units of work, including assessment strategies, that embrace the diverse social and cultural backgrounds and personal experiences of students
6. select and utilise appropriate resources, including drawing on current local or global issues and popular media to create effective learning activities that may incorporate information and communication technology (ICT) to suit the school context and the students' learning needs
7. inspire learners of psychology to foster an interest in and positive attitude toward the understanding of human mental processes and behaviours
8. value the links between psychological understandings, the real world and students' everyday lives and consider what it means to be a psychologically literate citizen in today's society
9. work collaboratively with peers to help articulate the pedagogical issues, consider different perspectives and understand that learning to teach is a social endeavour
10. reflect critically on the development of their own teaching and learning to teach psychology.

Investigation into learning and teaching psychology (2000 words, 50%)

Reflective journal (2000 words, 50%)

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • 2-3 contact hours per week
2. Additional requirements
   • independent study to make up the minimum required hours per week

See also Unit timetable information

For D3001:

Secondary education