EDPROF 757 : An Investigation into Practice

Education and Social Work

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will use selected research methods to address a problem of practice through an independent, supervised inquiry. Working as a cohort in authentic settings, students will critically consider issues, including ethical concerns.

Course Overview

This compulsory  block-course in the Master of Teaching ITE programme equips students to use inquiry to investigate a problem of practice during their final practicum.

Course Requirements

Corequisite: EDPROF 758

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
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine the use of teacher research as a way of furthering professional knowledge and practice (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  2. Apply understandings about a selected teacher research method (Capability 2.3)
  3. Be able to carry out a small-scale independent investigation into a problem of practice (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 4.2 and 6.2)
  4. Use iterative inquiry to improve practice during sustained periods of practice (practicum) (Capability 1.2, 3.3, 5.3 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research Plan 30% Individual Coursework
Research Progress Report 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Research Plan
Research Progress Report
Presentation
Students must complete all course work and achieve at least 50% for the course.

Learning Resources

Grudnoff, L., Ell, F., Haigh, M., Hill, M., & Toker, K.  (2019). Enhancing Equity Through Inquiry. NZCER.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, a 5 hour tutorial, 35 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 45 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital 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.

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.

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 at 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.

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.

Student feedback was very positive regarding the design of the course and how it scaffolded and supported their learning i.e. front loading of content, collaborative inquiry group discussions, critical friend engagement, and assignment reporting templates were highly valued.  Students liked the way the inquiry process allowed them to experiment and apply the course content to their own practicum experiences. They suggested  consideration  be given to undertaking  the inquiry in ILE schools  as they thought teaching in open plan  environments was more challenging, and building relationships and connecting with large number of learners  was more difficult than in single-cell classrooms.


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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 18/12/2019 09:42 p.m.