Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

In a rapidly changing world, young people need to understand how their society and those of other cultures function. This is the second in a suite of three complementary units which are undertaken in the Social Education curriculum area. This unit prepares you for a professional role as a teacher of secondary school, senior social education subjects such as Study of Society and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. It builds on the planning and teaching strategies developed in your first social education curriculum studies unit. The unit focuses on the various curriculum documents and teaching methodologies pertinent to the senior social sciences, and senior assessment principles and practice. The unit situates classroom practice within a defensible theoretical context emphasising that effective teaching results from the integration of theory and practice and through continual critical reflection.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to (1) develop a thorough understanding of various senior social education school syllabuses and assessment approaches, (2) appreciate the significance of theory and research in the social sciences, and (3) enhance your unit planning and assessment skills and personal sense of purpose for teaching senior social science subjects.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate personal and professional understanding of the subject knowledge, processes and skills, including central concepts, modes of inquiry and structures of the relevant discipline areas and curriculum frameworks relevant to senior social education within the senior phase of schooling. [QCT Standards 1 & 3]

2. Design inquiry-based, senior social education units that reflect effective teaching, learning and assessment strategies where ICT is embedded to promote the active construction of personal knowledge. [QCT Standards 1 & 3]

3. Understand the importance of the language, literacy, numeracy and assessment requirements of senior social education curriculum frameworks and be able to implement strategies to incorporate these priorities and modes of assessment into senior social education curriculum units [QCT Standards 2, 3 & 5]

4. Show knowledge of Australian indigenous culture and history, demonstrate cross-cultural awareness and be able to plan and implement individual and group learning activities that take account of the backgrounds, characteristics and learning styles of students. [QCT Standard 4]

5. Critically reflect on your professional practice and demonstrate acceptable standards of communication. [QCT Standards 10 & 2]

Content

This unit will cover the following topics and contribute to your developing Professional Learning Profile.

This unit provides an introduction to the teaching of social science subjects in the senior school. It provides an in-depth analysis of the various Senior Syllabuses including Study of Society, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and Social and Community Studies SAS. Teaching methodologies, strategies, learning experiences and assessment approaches and requirements of the senior phase of schooling are addressed, as well as the development of practical classroom resources. The syllabus documents are used as the basis to develop units of work, plan assessment programs and design assessment instruments.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The pedagogic approach is critical analysis conducted through a lecture/tutorial sequence. You will experience a range of teaching strategies such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars, group work, discussions and self-directed learning, supported by the QUT Blackboard site. These activities will enhance your knowledge and ability to critically reflect on your personal approach and sense of purpose in teaching senior social education

Internet students will have access to the weekly readings, resources, lecture and tutorial materials posted on Bb. The tutorial materials are written to enable internet students to work through the materials in their own time using unit readings and resources. Optional on-campus sessions or phone consultations are offered to internet students to clarify assessment requirements.

Assessment

The assessment for this unit is both formative (through feedback) and summative, and will provide you with opportunities to demonstrate the unit outcomes. The unit is assessed through two written assignments. Satisfactory completion of both assessment tasks is required to achieve a pass in this unit.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: A reflective essay comprising a rationale for a social science unit of work, discussion of social theory and the teaching of social sciences in the classroom.
Length: 2500 words
Relates to objectives: 1 & 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Professional Plans
Description: Curriculum development - Unit of work, resources and assessment instrument and unit evaluation
Length: 3500 words
Due: Last week of lectures.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Both
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

Queensland Studies Authority. (2001). Study of society senior syllabus 2001. Brisbane: QSA

Queensland Studies Authority. (2009). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies senior syllabus. Brisbane: QSA.

Queensland Studies Authority. (2008). Social and community studies study area specifications. Brisbane: QSA.

Marsh, C. (2008). Studies of Society and Environment: exploring the teaching possibilities Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia.

References

Banks, J. A. (1999). Teaching strategies in the social studies. New York: Longman

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use 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: 29-Oct-2012