Overview

This unit explores key issues of teaching, leadership and policy, including principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession. Students examine relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage. They critically examine the nature and purpose of schooling and the social and political forces that impact formalised education. Students gain understanding of strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers. They develop skills to constructively respond to policies within organisational contexts and evaluate the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

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

  • Consider developments in leadership theories that contribute to greater understandings and improvements in professional practice in education
  • Evaluate policies and strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers and community representatives
  • Critically evaluate the nature and purpose of schooling through social, political, historical and cultural contexts
  • Analyse the role of policies, codes of ethics and legislative requirements within school systems to support staff and student wellbeing and safety
  • Identify and analyse contemporary education reform agendas both within Australia and globally; including an understanding of key national and international stakeholders

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Workshop
2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various
6.00 8 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Various
5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 30% 1,3 
PresentationGroup 30% 3,4 
ReportGroup 40% 1,2,5 

Content

  • Codes of ethics and legislative requirements
  • Complexity associated with secondary schools’ staff and student wellbeing and safety
  • Education sectors, role of the state, internationalism, globalisation.
  • Educational Leadership in a changing world: challenges and opportunities
  • Leadership concepts and theories.
  • Leadership styles, purpose of educational leadership, roles, governance of schools.
  • Nature and purpose of schooling
  • Policy agendas, policy drivers, twenty first century learning.
  • Women in educational leadership, multiculturalism, diversity, Indigenous leadership.
  • Working effectively with teachers, students, parents/carers and community representatives.

Study resources

Reading materials

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