EDPROF 759 : Investigating Mentoring Practice

Education and Social Work

2024 Semester Two (1245) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Utilising teacher inquiry methodologies students will undertake an in-depth inquiry focused on a contemporary idea, issue and/or innovation as applied to mentoring and its potential to support teacher professional learning. Independent work demonstrating application of highly specialised knowledge that is at the forefront of mentoring practice is a central component of this course.

Course Overview


This course is designed for teachers who are, or will be, mentors for pre-service, beginning and experienced colleagues. Focus is given to inquiring into your own mentoring approaches with a view to developing your professional knowledge and mentoring  practices.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Education

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critique the use of mentoring as a way of furthering professional knowledge and practice, both from mentors’ and mentees’ perspectives (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
  2. Apply an inquiry stance in order to undertake an independent study pertaining to a selected aspect of mentoring practice (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
  3. Critically evaluate the findings from the inquiry as they relate to teacher professional learning (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
  4. Identify the implications and recommendations for future personal, professional practice (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research Plan 30% Individual Coursework
Mentoring Inquiry Progress Report 30% Individual Coursework
Mentoring Inquiry Project Report/Poster Presentation 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Research Plan
Mentoring Inquiry Progress Report
Mentoring Inquiry Project Report/Poster Presentation

To pass this course students must submit all assessments and achieve at least 50% for the overall course.

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.

A variety of instructional methods will be employed, including lectures, group discussion, online self-evaluation and reading articles. To make the class more valuable for everyone, all students are expected to engage with the material assigned for each class and actively participate in the class discussions. 

For this course, students can expect both interactive on-campus lectures and Zoom sessions during the semester. Additionally, students can expect 4-6 hours of reading, thinking about the content, undertaking  independent professional learning tasks and reflecting on practice per week. The expectation is that students spend an average of 12-14 hours per week on the course outside of class.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including Zoom sessions to complete components of the course. The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

Attendance on campus is required for the project report/poster presentation.

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.

This course will be first delivered in 2024. 

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, 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.