Overview

In this unit, pre-service teachers are introduced to a range of educational research approaches with a view to having them identify with the role of the teacher-as-researcher. Pre-service teachers will conduct research to investigate innovations in education. This unit will develop the student’s capacity to engage in and critically evaluate innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Pre-service teachers are introduced to various types of research, and methods for gathering data in the study of the context, processes and outcomes of schooling. The unit prepares pre-service teachers to engage critically with research throughout their professional career. Pre-Service teachers will explore current and contemporary innovative practices for teaching and learning using an inquiry model and develop strategies for critical evaluation of a diverse range of approaches towards innovation and current practice. They will engage in research to design, develop and evaluate innovation in the education arena. This unit supports pre-service teachers in becoming leaders and innovators in their area of primary specialisation (primary education) and methods (secondary education) within educational settings.

Requisites

Concurrent prerequisites
EDU80020 Professional Experience 2

Rule - Concurrent Pre-requisite
EDU80051 Professional Experience 2
OR
EDU80020 Professional Experience 2

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Quarter 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
29-January-2024
31-March-2024
Last self-enrolment date
29-January-2024
Census date
16-February-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
01-March-2024
Results released date
23-April-2024
Quarter 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
15-July-2024
15-September-2024
Last self-enrolment date
15-July-2024
Census date
02-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
16-August-2024
Results released date
08-October-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse and apply educational research to your professional practice, demonstrating inclusive, learner-focused, evidence-based decisions.
  • Consolidate and synthesise expert content and pedagogical knowledge and judgement to develop highly effective and innovative solution to an identified problem.
  • Undertake critically reflective practice including social, environmental and cultural professional awareness in both local, national and global contexts.
  • Apply high level problem-solving and critical and creative thinking to investigate local and global issues in education and masterfully articulate the implications of these issues, providing potential solutions to bring about positive change.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class
2.00 6 weeks 12
Specified Activities
Various
4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Various
6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
ProjectIndividual 50% 1,2,3,4 
ReportIndividual 50% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Teachers as Researchers
  • The research process and question/focus
  • Different research approaches and paradigms
  • Ethical and practical considerations
  • Strategies for data collection
  • Data analysis
  • Lifelong/self-directed learning
  • Exploration of contemporary research
  • Innovative methods of teaching and learning
  • The use of innovative teaching strategies
  • Learning spaces
  • Emerging Technologies

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.