Units
Middle Years Students and Schools
Unit code: SPB008
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit provides an understanding of the developmental needs and interests of young adolescents and reform initiatives being implemented by schools to address these issues. The unit analyses the work of agencies and major reports in the middle years of schooling and examines aspects of research focussing on reform in curriculum, pedagogy and the way schools are organised. The unit is one of four units forming a pathway into the middle years of schooling for primary and secondary teaching.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit has been designed to enhance your understandings of students in the middle years of schooling. Thus, the learning from this unit will assist you in developing educational practices that improve the educational outcomes for early adolescent students.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with the tools to develop a critical perspective on the issues faced by early adolescents in contemporary society and the ways in which middle schooling practices have developed in response to these issues.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of current practices and underlying philosophies in the middle years of schooling within Australian contexts. [QCT Standards 1 & 3]
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theory and research relating to early adolescent learners and how to apply these understandings to professional practice. [QCT Standards 1, 3, & 4]
3. Demonstrate understanding of how middle schools address the needs and interests of early adolescent learners. [QCT Standards 7 & 8]
5. Demonstrate acceptable standards of literacy and communicaton. [QCT Standard 2]
Content
The unit includes the following topics:
1. Practices, policies, and future directions of the middle years of schooling movement.
2. Current theory and research on early adolescent development and learning, including physical, cognitive and social development, skills for lifelong learning, and the roles of family, peers, school, community, culture and the media.
3. Responsive and inclusive practices during the middle years, including cooperative and negotiated learning, community and family partnerships, teacher collaboration.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will complement work associated with the unit, Middle Years Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment and the approach to teaching and learning in both units will illustrate the principles of effective learning and teaching that underpin significant pedagogical developments in the middle years of schooling movement. This unit will be taught by integrating lectures, workshops, tutorials, possible community engagement and independent study that is further supported by web-based activities
Assessment
Assessment will be both formative and summative.Formative assessment will be provided during classroom discussions and in the feedback provided for Assessment Item 1. There are 2 summative assessment items in this unit. These are:
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
A written assignment on the developmental needs and interests of young adolescents and the challenges confronting young people today.
Length: approx.1,500 words
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 & 4
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid-Semester
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
A mutimodal presentation on an identified learning issue for middle years students.
Length: approx 1,500 words or equivalent
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 & 4
Weight:
60%
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
Text
Pendergast, D., & Bahr, N. (Eds.). (2010). Teaching middle years: Rethinking curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
References
Carrington, V. (2006). Rethinking middle years: Early adolescents, schooling and digital culture. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Groundwater-Smith, S., Mitchell, J., & Mockler, N. (2007). Learning in the middle years: More than a transition. South Melbourne: Thomson.
Risk assessment statement
Because students may undertake site visits involving schools, and community and government agencies, students are expected to abide by the health and safety requirements of any sites visited. Other than this, no out-of-the-ordinary risks are associated with 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: 31-Oct-2012
