Year
2024Credit points
20Campus offering
Prerequisites
Nil
Unit rationale, description and aim
Emerging educational leaders need to demonstrate reflexive evidence-based practice that impacts their educational setting. This is the first of two units undertaken in the Highly Accomplished/Lead Educational Practice specialisation of the Graduate Certificate in Education. This unit focuses on clarifying and reflecting on the emerging educational leaders’ current practice in action. Emerging educational leaders will learn to use ethical data collection measures to collect and collate data that demonstrates evidence of highly accomplished practice and to undertake substantial reflective and reflexive processes in order to evaluate how their current practice adds value to their educational community. Emerging leaders will then develop a critical enquiry proposal that addresses a problem of practice within their specified educational context, focusing on professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement. This critical enquiry will then be used as the basis for preparing a proposal which influences educational practice, aligning with AITSL Highly Accomplished or Lead).
This unit aims to support the ongoing professional learning needs of emerging educational leaders by guiding evaluation and reflection of current practice.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Describe the relationship between their consolidated professional knowledge, practice and engagement commensurate with relevant professional codes of ethics and conduct, and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) Highly Accomplished and Lead Standards (APST 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 7.1) | GC1, GC2 |
| LO2 | Interpret, analyse and evaluate educational data to make expert judgements about teaching and learning practices and environments in alignment with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) Highly Accomplished and Lead Standards (APST 3.6, 5.4, 6.2, 6.4) | GC1, GC2 |
| LO3 | Evaluate the impact of intervention strategies on transforming practice for educational change and develop a specific intervention strategy (APST 1.2, 3.2, 3.6, 5.1, 5.4) | GC2, GC3, GC6 |
| LO4 | Plan a critical, ethical, evidence-based enquiry in leading educational practice (APST 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 4.1, 5.1, 5.4, 6.2, 6.4, 7.1) | GC2, GC3, GC4 |
Australian Professional Standards For Teachers - Highly Accomplished
On successful completion of this unit, students should have gained evidence towards the following standards:
1.1 Physical, Social and intellectual development and characteristics of students Select from a flexible and effective repertoire of teaching strategies to suit the physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students. |
1.2 Understand how students learn Expand understanding of how students learn using research and workplace knowledge. |
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds Support colleagues to develop effective teaching strategies that address the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities Evaluate learning and teaching programs, using student assessment data, that are differentiated for the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities. |
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting Support colleagues to plan and implement learning and teaching programs using contemporary knowledge and understanding of curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements. |
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals Develop a culture of high expectations for all students by modelling and setting challenging learning goals. |
3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs Work with colleagues to plan, evaluate and modify learning and teaching programs to create productive learning environments that engage all students. |
3.3 Use teaching strategies Support colleagues to select and apply effective teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem solving and critical and creative thinking. |
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs Work with colleagues to review current teaching and learning programs using student feedback, student assessment data, knowledge of curriculum and workplace practices. |
4.1 Support student participation Model effective practice and support colleagues to implement inclusive strategies that engage and support all students. |
5.1 Assess student learning Develop and apply a comprehensive range of assessment strategies to diagnose learning needs, comply with curriculum requirements and support colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of their approaches to assessment. |
5.4 Interpret student data Work with colleagues to use data from internal and external student assessments for evaluating learning and teaching, identifying interventions and modifying teaching practice. |
6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs Analyse the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to plan personal professional development goals, support colleagues to identify and achieve personal development goals and pre-service teachers to improve classroom practice. |
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice Plan for professional learning by accessing and critiquing relevant research, engage in high-quality targeted opportunities to improve practice and offer quality placements for pre-service teachers where applicable. |
6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice Initiate and engage in professional discussions with colleagues in a range of forums to evaluate practice directed at improving professional knowledge and practice, and the educational outcomes of students. |
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning Engage with colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of teacher professional learning activities to address student learning needs. |
7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities Maintain high ethical standards and support colleagues to interpret codes of ethics and exercise sound judgement in all school and community contexts. |
Australian Professional Standards For Teachers - Lead
On successful completion of this unit, students should have gained evidence towards the following standards:
1.1 Physical, Social and intellectual development and characteristics of students Lead colleagues to select and develop teaching strategies to improve student learning using knowledge of the physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students. |
1.2 Understand how students learn Lead processes to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching programs using research and workplace knowledge about how students learn. |
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds Evaluate and revise school learning and teaching programs, using expert and community knowledge and experience, to meet the needs of students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities Lead colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of learning and teaching programs differentiated for the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities. |
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting Lead colleagues to develop learning and teaching programs using comprehensive knowledge of curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements. |
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals Demonstrate exemplary practice and high expectations and lead colleagues to encourage students to pursue challenging goals in all aspects of their education. |
3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs Exhibit exemplary practice and lead colleagues to plan, implement and review the effectiveness of their learning and teaching programs to develop students’ knowledge, understanding and skills. |
3.3 Use teaching strategies Work with colleagues to review, modify and expand their repertoire of teaching strategies to enable students to use knowledge, skills, problem solving and critical and creative thinking. |
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs Conduct regular reviews of teaching and learning programs using multiple sources of evidence including: student assessment data, curriculum documents, teaching practices and feedback from parents/ carers, students and colleagues. |
4.1 Support student participation Demonstrate and lead by example the development of productive and inclusive learning environments across the school by reviewing inclusive strategies and exploring new approaches to engage and support all students. |
5.1 Assess student learning Evaluate school assessment policies and strategies to support colleagues with: using assessment data to diagnose learning needs, complying with curriculum, system and/or school assessment requirements and using a range of assessment strategies. |
5.4 Interpret student data Coordinate student performance and program evaluation using internal and external student assessment data to improve teaching practice. |
6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs Use comprehensive knowledge of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to plan and lead the development of professional learning policies and programs that address the professional learning needs of colleagues and pre-service teachers. |
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice Initiate collaborative relationships to expand professional learning opportunities, engage in research, and provide quality opportunities and placements for pre-service teachers. |
6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice Implement professional dialogue within the school or professional learning network(s) that is informed by feedback, analysis of current research and practice to improve the educational outcomes of students. |
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning Advocate, participate in and lead strategies to support high-quality professional learning opportunities for colleagues that focus on improved student learning. |
7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities Model exemplary ethical behaviour and exercise informed judgements in all professional dealings with students, colleagues and the community. |
Content
Topics will include:
- Reflective professional practice; self-auditing, collegial engagement and mentoring to lead effectively in educational settings
- Principles of ethical data collection and analysis techniques commonly used in educational research
- Communities of practice; improving knowledge, practice and engagement within educational contexts
- Data and evidence; strategies to record, interpret and analyse qualitative and quantitative data relating to student learning and professional practice
- Develop researchable questions and refining, contextualising and justifying an educational intervention
- Designing and managing projects; strategies for responding to researchable questions and organising research processes, timelines and data
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The nature of the learning outcomes of this unit require you to reflect in the mode of critical enquiry, iteratively interrogating practice, evidence and context. Accordingly, the learning and teaching strategy in this unit involves an ongoing collection, evaluation and reflection on evidence of professional knowledge, practice and engagement. Emerging leaders will develop a critical enquiry which is aligned with the relevant career stage (Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Highly Accomplished or Lead) which adds value to their educational context. The unit will conclude with a proposal of the critical enquiry research project which will be implemented in the subsequent unit EDEP601.
- Available online or multi-mode for cohorts by special arrangement
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks, their sequence, timing and weightings are designed to allow you to progressively demonstrate achievement against the course learning outcomes by demonstrating your attainment of academic and professional standards. The two units in this specialisation focus on developing skills in school-based contextual issue identification, literature alignment and problem solving.
The assessment tasks are sequenced and timed to allow feedback and progressive development. By completing Task 1 you will demonstrate your strengths and weaknesses in alignment with the APSTs. Assessment task 2 follows to allow you to identify and review contextual issues to improve student learning. Task 1 and 2 are built on with Task 3 which requires you to develop an enquiry project proposal for your individual context.
A range of assessment procedures are used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop APSTs and criteria consistent with University assessment requirements.
http://www.acu.edu.au/policy/student_policies/assessment_policy_and_assessment_procedures
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Audit and Portfolio of Documentary Evidence at Highly Accomplished/ Lead APSTs a) Present an audit of your present strengths and weaknesses with an accompanying portfolio of evidence at Highly Accomplished or Lead Educational Practitioner. From this audit, map a way forward to address these weaknesses and evidence these strengths. b) Present a portfolio which will include one set of evidence which meets 2-4 standard descriptors and another incomplete set of evidence, with an annotated commentary of actions and evidence to address the gaps. | 20% | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Assessment Task 2: Review Describe the context and identify contextual issues to determine an area of need you wish to explore to improve student learning. Review the literature and guiding policies and practices in alignment with the problem. Review, synthesis and analyse the literature, policies and practices to determine several courses of action. Critically evaluate these courses of action and justify the most appropriate intervention for your context. | 30% | LO2, LO3 |
Assessment Task 3: Enquiry Project Proposal Using the identified problem from assessment task 2, develop a proposal for a cause of action within an education setting which includes:
| 50% | LO1, LO3, LO4 |
Representative texts and references
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2014). Evaluation of the implementation of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: Interim report on baseline implementation: 2013 Key Findings.
Gurr, D. (2019). Australian Considerations in Relation to Instructional Leadership and Leadership for Learning. In Instructional Leadership and Leadership for Learning in Schools (pp. 77-104). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Fullan, M. (2006). The Future of Educational Change: System thinkers in action. Journal of Educational Change, 7(3), 113-122.
Hallinger, P. (2003). Leading educational change: Reflections on the practice of instructional and transformational leadership. Cambridge Journal of Education, 33(3), 329-352.
Hattie, J. (2015). High-Impact Leadership. Educational Leadership, 72(5), 36-40.
Holmes, K., Clement, J., & Albright, J. (2013). The complex task of leading educational change in schools. School Leadership & Management, 33(3), 270-283.
Labone, E., & Long, J. (2016). Features of effective professional learning: A case study of the implementation of a system-based professional learning model. Professional Development in Education, 42(1), 54-77.
Lieberman, A. (Ed.). (2007). The Roots of Educational Change: International Handbook of Educational change (Vol. 1). Springer Science & Business Media.
Malone, H. J. (2015). Leading Educational Change: Global Issues, Challenges, and Lessons on Whole- System Reform. Teachers College Press.
Mayer, D., Mitchell, J., Macdonald, D., & Bell, R. (2005). Professional standards for teachers: A case study of professional learning. Asia‐Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 33(2), 159-179.