Overview

This unit introduces pre-service teachers to theories of learning and development. They are introduced to the major theories of learning and explore how these relate to teaching processes. Pre-service teachers will be challenged to reflect upon their own belief system and how this relates to different contemporary theories and contexts of learning and its potential impact on teaching. In addition, pre-service teachers will explore how developmental factors impact learning.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse key learning theories and relate them to values, beliefs and contexts
  • Critically reflect upon personal beliefs about learning and teaching and relate these to contemporary theories and practice
  • Apply their understanding of learning theories to analyse pedagogy and classroom practice
  • Demonstrate and communicate knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, physical, language, emotional, moral, social and psychological development of children and young people in contemporary society and how these may affect learning

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		6.00 12 weeks 72
Unspecified Activities
Various		3.50 12 weeks 42
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
EssayIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4 
PresentationIndividual 20% 1,2 
ReportIndividual 40% 3,4 

Content

  • Complexities of learning
  • What is a learning theory
  • Where do theories come from and how are they used
  • Benefits and limitations of learning theories
  • Application of learning theories to practice
  • World views and their impact on practice
  • Behavioral perspectives
  • Cognitive  perspectives
  • Constructivist/Socio-cultural perspectives
  • Post structural perspectives
  • Contemporary theories from different perspectives
  • Overview of how research is used in education
  • Key theorists in psychological and social development of children
  • The impact of social, cultural and environmental factors on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development
  • Applying developmental theory in adapting pedagogy to the developmental level of students

Study resources

Reading materials

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