EDCURRIC 700 : Contemporary Pedagogies

Education and Social Work

2023 Semester Two (1235) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Critical examination of contemporary pedagogical approaches and teachers’ own professional knowledge and practice associated with curriculum delivery, appropriate for all learners and their educational outcomes, traversing the early childhood, primary and secondary sectors.

Course Overview

This course focuses on a range of contemporary pedagogies, for example digital learning, modern learning environments, inquiry learning, and integration. A range of pedagogies is explored through lectures, discussion, reading and reflection. To complete this course, students will select one pedagogy and carry out an independent inquiry into how this pedagogy could be incorporated into their educational setting for the benefit of learners. Students will present their ideas to their peers for critique and write a report. It is a course where the material covered can be tailored to any educational sector.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Master of Education

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explore models and constructs of teachers' personal and professional knowledge and their relationship to, and use in, teaching practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 and 4.1)
  2. Critique theories of a range of pedagogical models, constructs and approaches in use across educational sectors. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  3. Critique and apply practice of a specific pedagogical model to a specific educational context. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3 and 3.2)
  4. Evaluate the implications of the application of the model for teachers and learners. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 5.2 and 5.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Critical Analysis of Readings 45% Individual Coursework
Presentation 15% Individual Coursework
Proposal for Change 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Critical Analysis of Readings
Presentation
Proposal for Change

There are 3 'Think-aloud' tasks spread across the semester. The purpose of the Think-alouds is formative and to help to scaffold your thinking towards the main assignments of the course. Each Think-aloud has a ‘trigger’ or guiding questions that you are to answer orally in a 2-minute (maximum) voice recording that  will be uploaded onto Canvas on designated due dates. No marks are attached but feedback will be given. All three Think-Alouds must be completed in order to pass this course.

To pass this course to the satisfaction of the examiner, students need to submit all assignments, the 3 'Think-aloud' tasks, and achieve a combined score of at least 50% .

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you should expect to commit 36 hours to the delivery of this course. You can reasonably expect to commit to approximately 200-240 hours of independent learning. This may include reading (and more reading) and thinking about the content, note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, problem solving, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment preparation and completion.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings only if the lectures are delivered in rooms with lecture recording facilities. Other learning activities including seminars and tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled for block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students who completed the last iteration of this course said that they liked the clearly presented outlines of lecture preparation material and assignments. They also liked the opportunities for discussions with different people in the class. Comment was made that the pedagogical approaches studied were beneficial for classroom practice.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.