Theories of Teaching and Learning
On-campus: 12 hours + Blended Swinburne online - Nil
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit introduces pre-service teachers to different learning perspectives and how they relate to contemporary theories of learning. The unit challenges them to reflect upon their own belief system and how this aligns with contemporary approaches to teaching and learning and the capacity to create effective learning environments.
Requisites
Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-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:
- Recognise and explain why learning is a complex concept
- Describe and define learning theories and articulate their benefits and limitations
- Describe and compare different learning perspectives and relate them to contemporary theories of learning
- Relate and reflect upon personal beliefs about learning and teaching to contemporary theories and how this impacts on practice
- Identify and predict factors that contribute to effective learning environments
- Identify how research aligns with theories of teaching and learning and informs education
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 | 4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
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 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Studies | Group | 30% | 2,3,5 |
| Essay | Individual | 50% | 3,6 |
| Presentation | Individual | 20% | 1,4 |
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
- Behavioural perspectives
- Cognitive perspectives
- Constructivist/Socio-cultural perspectives
- Post structural perspectives
- Contemporary theories from different perspectives
- Teaching and learning processes/pedagogy
- Overview of how research is used in education
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.