Unit rationale, description and aim
Contemporary educational leaders are expected to be “evidence-based” and “evidence-informed” in their own practice, as well as lead their communities to make sense of what the “evidence” means for learning. The ability of educational leaders to read, interpret, and apply relevant data is therefore of critical importance.
This unit develops skills in using and interpreting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed data types, understanding research design and methodologies, and interrogating research critically. Underlying epistemological and ontological assumptions of “evidence-based” and “evidence-informed” policy and discourse are evaluated and critiqued, especially through indigenous and other social critical perspectives. Principles of equity and justice are explored through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
The aim of this unit is to develop knowledge and skills to assist students in understanding, using, and critiquing a range of relevant system and school data. Students will develop skills in identifying and interpreting data that supports sustainable improvement and innovation, as well as consider the benefits and limitations in the purposeful use of evidenc
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.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key res...
Learning Outcome 01
Analyse and interpret educational data to inform j...
Learning Outcome 02
Evaluate the benefits, limitations, and ethical co...
Learning Outcome 03
Communicate complex ideas and concept when discuss...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Data literacies, epistemologies, and ontologies
- Approaches to the collection and interpretation of data
- Identifying meaningful research questions
- Choosing appropriate methods:
- Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, experimental design
- Theory development: inductive, deductive, abductive
- Limits of evidence claims: Ethics, reliability, validity, bias
- Interpreting and presenting data for improvement and innovation
- Data sets and student information databases (NAPLAN, PISA, TIMMS, PERLS, school information systems and other relevant sets of data)
- From data, to knowledge, to wisdom: strengths, limitations, and questions about “evidence-informed”, “evidence-based”, and “best practice” educational discourse
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes. Assessment tasks build on each other through a developmental and applied approach and provide students with the opportunity to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, professional standards and criteria consistent with University assessment requirements.
This unit applies theory and skill development to students’ practical professional challenges. Assessment 1 requires students to demonstrate skills in literature searching, critical analysis, and synthesis of findings to clarify the nature of a research problem. Assessment 2 draws on knowledge and skills gained throughout the unit to prepare a presentation in response to the problem identified in Assessment 1. Completion of these assessments is a prerequisite for capstone projects in EDCP650.
The assessment tasks and their weighting for this unit are mapped to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes and the related academic and professional standards.
In order to pass this unit, students are required to successfully complete both assessment tasks regardless of their mode of enrolment.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Critical Analysis Identify a...
Assessment Task 1: Critical Analysis
Identify an area of interest in your professional context or practice, or a relevant case study. Develop an extended critical analysis and synthesis of published research that addresses ethically the identified issue of concern.
50%
Assessment Task 2: Presentation Drawing on findi...
Assessment Task 2: Presentation
Drawing on findings from Assessment 1, prepare and deliver a community presentation (e.g., staff, school, system) that uses a range of relevant data analysis to detail the nature of the problem and to suggest appropriate responses or solution strategies.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is offered in offered in multimode and uses an active learning approach to support students in the development of knowledge, skills, and critical insights. Students are introduced to core concepts through a combination of lectures, online tutorials, and scholarly literature. They examine various examples of data through both research literature and case studies; where possible and ethically appropriate, they are encouraged to draw on their own professional data and systems. Teaching strategies move increasingly towards students defining their own research analysis based on professional priorities. Effective skills at presenting implications of data are developed which culminate in presentation of research findings.
Students will participate actively in discussion forums as initiators and responders, mediated through the Learning Management System site to facilitate their learning.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the teaching period, comprising directed tasks and self-study.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - LEAD LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, students should have gained evidence towards the following standards:
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARD FOR PRINCIPALS - PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
In addition to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers this unit addresses the following Professional Practices: