Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Individuals engage with the business environment as consumers, workers or business owners. There is a need for young people to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to allow them to participate competently and responsibly within this environment. This is the first of three complementary units in the teaching of Business Education. In this first unit, the focus will be on curriculum development and teaching approaches in Lower Secondary Business and ICT Education. In this unit, the emphasis will be on situating classroom practice within a defensible theoretical context. Collectively, the three units propose that effective teaching results from the integration of theory and practice and through continual critical reflection.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with opportunities to develop an understanding of teaching and learning in lower secondary school business subjects, and to begin to recognise the importance of the learning environment to learning.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the philosophies underpinning the syllabus and their influence on the learning/teaching environment (QCT Standard 1; QCT Standard 3)

2. explore a range of theories of learning and analyse their influence on teaching business related subjects. (QCT Standard 1; QCT Standard 3)

3. use a range of basic teaching strategies to explain concepts confidently and to assist learners as they explore their world (QCT Standard 4; QCT Standard 6)

4. implement techniques and use a variety of resources to develop students' literacy and ICT skills (QCT Standard 2)

5. demonstrate your awareness of factors influencing the establishment of effective and safe learning environments (QCT Standard 7)

Content

This unit will cover the following topics:

• provide you with 'insight' to Business Education both locally and internationally, and will help you to reflect on what it means to be a teacher of business related subjects in Queensland.



• It will provide you with a theoretical framework for teaching business education and an understanding of adolescent development regarding business concepts.



• Your exploration of the Business Education Subject Area Syllabus and Guidelines will provide you with a greater understanding of what is involved and also begin to equip you with the knowledge necessary to plan units of work and teaching episodes.



• You will develop the skills necessary to translate curriculum documents and apply teaching approaches to the planning of a unit of work and the development full lesson plans and resources.



• You will also begin to develop the skills to manage the learning environment and to ensure it is supportive and provides student with optimal learning opportunities.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

With business subjects there is the notion of equipping students for emergent knowledge-age work practices. Technology is embedded in emergent practices and it follows that extensive use needs be made of technology in these units. Online technologies (primarily Blackboard) will be utilised as a means to bridge the on-campus/off-campus divide. For internal students, a mixture of interactive lectures, discussions, active participation, group activities, integrated technology, micro teaching and critical reflection will be used in this highly practical and interactive unit. External students will progressively complete a portfolio of reflective and practical activities based on written notes and readings, as well as participate in micro teaching and critical reflection, discussions and group activities, through the integrated use of technology.

Assessment

Assessment in the unit is both formative and summative and will be viewed in terms of the principle of 'assessment as learning'. Formative assessment is provided through verbal and online feedback, and through written comments on assignment work.

Assessment name: Collaborative task
Description: An on-line collaborative task involving the development of a rationale and completion of activities.
Length: Equivalent to 1000 words
Relates to objectives: 2 & 3.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Plan
Description: Plan a unit of work.
Length: Equivalent to 1500 words
Relates to objectives: 1 & 4.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Lesson plan
Description: Lesson plan, resource development, microteaching and reflection.
Equivalent to 2500 words
Relates to objectives: 2, 3, 4, & 5.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Texts

Featherston, T. (2007). Becoming an effective teacher. South Melbourne, VIC: Thompson.

Mylonas, A., Schilling, K., Schneider, J., Webb, A., & Arko, M. (2006) Nelson Business Education. Melbourne: Thompson Nelson.

References

Queensland Studies Authority. (2005). Business Education subject area syllabus and guidelines.

Queensland Studies Authority. (2005). Information and Communication Technology Education subject area syllabus and guidelines.

Mannison, M. (1997). Interactive teaching strategies in the Business Studies classroom. Adelaide: Auslib Press.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in the use of computers will apply.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Oct-2012