Year

2021

Credit points

10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

Nil

Unit rationale, description and aim

In order to plan and deliver lessons that promote learner engagement and enhance student learning, intending secondary teachers need knowledge and understanding of the senior secondary curriculum, along with theoretical frameworks and pedagogical approaches that are emblematic of teaching in their chosen teaching areas, including teaching/learning that responds to the high-stakes assessment that is a usual feature of senior secondary schooling.

In this unit, pre-service teachers will consider the place of ICT and Digital Technologies in contemporary Australian society, and the senior secondary ICT and Digital Technologies curriculum, in particular. They will explore a range of evidence-based approaches for curriculum development and alignment and to plan for effective teaching and learning, including formative and summative assessment. Pre-service teachers will learn approaches for building knowledge of ICT and Digital Technologies and how to provide constructive feedback and reporting. They will learn approaches for engaging senior secondary learners and to meet the learning needs of diverse students in the senior secondary years. They will further develop skills to shape the dialogic talk of the classroom. Pre-service teachers will formulate unit and assessment plans in order to demonstrate a knowledge of curriculum, learning and assessment theory. They will assemble a resource folio to demonstrate capacity to collect, create and critique resources for effective teaching and learning and to link with curriculum. They will investigate issues and considerations of curriculum implementation as found in the practical reality of schools.

The aim of this unit is for the pre-service teacher to develop their pedagogical content knowledge through becoming familiar with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for teaching ICT and Digital Technologies at a senior secondary level.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - demonstrate mastery of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of ICT and Digital Technologies, and an in-depth understanding of how students learn in ICT and Digital Technologies (GA5; APST 1.2, 2.1)

LO2 - critically analyse, synthesise, develop, and implement a range of ICT and Digital Technologies learning and teaching activities and sequences for junior students (7-10), which involve a variety of pedagogical approaches and resources (including safe and ethical use of ICT resources) appropriate to these year levels and curriculum content (GA4, GA5, GA9, GA10; APST 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.5)

LO3 - describe, design, evaluate and implement a variety of teaching strategies which cater for individual differences in student learning (e.g. cognitive, physical, social, cultural) and integrate general capabilities and cross curriculum priorities in ICT and Digital Technologies (GA1, GA4, GA5, GA9; APST 1.3, 2.5, 3.3, 4.1)

LO4 - analyse the relationships between learning task design, student learning and expertise, higher order thinking, assessment, feedback and reporting in ICT and Digital Technologies, and apply to the development and modification of own teaching practice (GA4, GA5, GA9; APST 2.3, 5.1, 5.2).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:

1.2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.

1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.

2.1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.

2.2 Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.

2.3 Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.

2.5 Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.

2.6 Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.

3.1 Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.

3.2 Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.

3.3 Include a range of teaching strategies.

3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.

4.1 Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.

4.5 Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.

5.1 Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.

5.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to students about their learning.

Content

The topics will include:

  • factors in the educational context (international, national, state, territory and local levels) including curriculum policies and perspectives that shape the identity of ICT and Digital Technologies in Years 7-10.
  • the concepts, substance and structure of curriculum content in the two strands of the ICT and Digital Technologies
  • contemporary understandings of the unique ways in which students learn in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • specific professional practices and key pedagogical approaches related to teaching and learning in ICT and Digital Technologies contexts, and their theoretical underpinnings; including safely and ethically exploiting information systems to systematically transform data into digital solutions, share information online, manage online projects and evaluate success
  • general capabilities and cross curriculum priorities including the integration of literacy and numeracy and local, state, territory and national perspectives in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • planning, implementing and evaluating sequences of learning activities in ICT and Digital Technologies relative to specific school context and identified factors impacting teaching and learning
  • the relationship between reflexive learning and effective concept formation to build higher order thinking in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • catering for a diverse range of learners in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • discipline specific teaching strategies and issues related to Indigenous students in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • effective use of a range of resources for teaching, including ICT’s and technologies specific to ICTs and Digital Technologies Education to engage learners
  • classroom management in ICT and Digital Technologies and the impact of curriculum rigour, engagement, participation and inclusion on learner behaviour
  • pedagogical strategies to promote problem solving and critical thinking in ICT and Digital Technologies
  • a range of approaches and strategies for assessment, feedback, and reporting in ICT and Digital Technologies Education
  • strategies to develop students’ literacy and numeracy skills in the context of ICT and Digital Technologies Education
  • ways to assess student learning, provide effective feedback, make consistent and comparable judgments, interpret student data and report on student achievement in ICT and Digital Technologies Education

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit applies a social constructivist approach to develop the pre-service teacher’s understanding of effective pedagogies through active engagement and collaborative learning. The pre-service teacher will build an understanding of teaching strategies through critical reading, lecturer modelling, discussion, and practice in tutorials. The pre-service teacher’s skills of professional communication and ability to work collaboratively will be practised through group work. The pre-service teacher’s teaching skills of planning and assessing, and their ability to locate and synthesise information, will be developed through designing curriculum appropriate for a ICT and Digital Technologies context. The pre-service teacher will continue to gather and reflect upon evidence of attainment of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: Graduate.

Teaching and learning strategy described above will use an appropriate selection of approach, including, for example:

  • Weekly face-to-face lectures and / or online lectures (synchronous and asynchronous)
  • Hands-on tutorials and discussions that promote peer learning
  • Microteaching opportunities
  • Self-directed reading and research
  • Collaborative learning opportunities

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed so that the pre-service teacher can progressively achieve the course learning outcomes and the professional standards. The Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment units in this course focus on pre-service teachers acquiring content knowledge and developing the skills to assimilate conceptual knowledge in order for that knowledge to inform skills that will be applied in practice.

The two assessment tasks are sequenced to allow feedback and progressive development. By completing Task 1 the pre-service teacher will apply knowledge of assessment strategies. In Task 2 pre-service teachers develop a program of work for senior students over a period of time.

Overview of assessments

Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment TasksWeightingLearning OutcomesGraduate Attributes

Assessment Task 1:

Lesson planning

Develop a series of at least three sequential lessons / learning activities.

These must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • the concepts and structure of ICT and Digital Technologies in the 7-10 curriculum;
  • the ways in which students learn in ICT and Digital Technologies;
  • learning objectives, teaching content and strategies appropriate to the identified outcome/s, topic and year level;
  • nominated pedagogical approach/es;
  • sequencing; and
  • appropriate resources and strategies, including ICT, to meet the identified strengths and needs of diverse learners and to promote critical and creative thinking.

40%

LO1, LO2, LO3

GA4, GA5, GA9, GA10

Assessment Task 2: Analysis of the Curriculum

Analysis of ICT and Digital Technologies 7-10 curriculum content, skills and topics; and diagnostic test and/or self-audit to identify key gaps in pre-service teacher’s knowledge, understandings and skills.

Undertake independent research and/or skill practice. Demonstrate mastery of key topics/gaps identified through:

  • skill test and/or
  • written examination and/or
  • written paper and/or
  • group presentation.

30%

LO1

GA4, GA5

Assessment Task 3:

CHOICE - For the purposes of national moderation all campuses must select the same task.

Option A: Teaching and Assessment Implementation and Critical Reflection

Implementation and evaluation of a sequence of learning and teaching activities which will take place in microteaching small-group or similar settings and within which:

  • identified syllabus content is addressed;
  • diverse learner backgrounds and needs are catered for;
  • student higher order thinking is promoted;
  • provision is made for assessment of student learning and feedback; and
  •  the cross curricular priorities and General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum are incorporated. 

Critically evaluate the ways in which the above addresses identified syllabus content, promotes student higher order thinking, caters for the needs of diverse learners, and addresses the cross curricular priorities and General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum including the integration of literacy and numeracy.

OR

Option B: Resource Folio and Critical Reflection

Create a folio of 6 – 10 practical activities that cover a range of curriculum topics and skills, within which:

  • identified syllabus content is addressed;
  • diverse learner backgrounds and needs are catered for;
  • student higher order thinking is promoted;
  • provision is made for assessment of student learning and feedback;
  • and the cross curricular priorities and General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum are incorporated. 

Critically evaluate the ways in which the above addresses identified syllabus content, promotes student higher order thinking, caters for the needs of diverse learners, and addresses the cross curricular priorities and General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum including the integration of literacy and numeracy.

30%

LO1, LO4

GA1, GA4, GA5

All students, regardless of whether their teaching area has adopted the Australian Curriculum, must make reference to the cross-curriculum priorities and General Capabilities identified in the Australian Curriculum.

Representative texts and references

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2013). Draft Australian Curriculum: Technologies. Accessed at http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Static/docs/Technologies/Draft%20Australian%20Curriculum%20Technologies%20-%20February%202013.pdf (To be replaced by Final Australian Curriculum Technologies in 2014).

Bowden, G., & Maguire, K. (2008). Practice IT: Book 1 for lower secondary (3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press.

Bowden, G., & Maguire, K. (2008). Practice IT Book 2 middle secondary (3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press.

Grover, D., Knights, H., & Gormley, E. (2011). Information and software technology: A project-based approach (2nd ed.). Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.

Hennessy, S., Ruthven, K., & Brindley, S. ( 2007). Teacher perspectives on integrating ICT into subject teaching: commitment, constraints, caution and change. In Journal of Curriculum Studies, 37(2), 155-192.

Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT: Digital pedagogies for collaboration and creativity. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Kalantzis, M., & Cope, B. (2004). The learning by design guide. Victoria: Common Ground Publishing.

Luce-Kapler, R. (2007). Radical change and wikis: teaching new literacies. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 51(3), 214-224.

Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MYCEETYA)(2006). The Statements of Learning for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) were managed by Australian Education Systems Officials Committee (AESOC) on behalf of MCEETYA, and developed by Curriculum Corporation.

Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians-, 8 September 2008, p. 3.

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