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Course Outline

EDU424 Professional Experience: Individual Learner Needs

Course Coordinator:Tracey Sempowicz (tsempowi@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

You will develop specialised knowledge about supporting learners who have a range of abilities (physical, sensory, cognitive, language and/or social) using differentiated curriculum. You will investigate and interpret policies, legislation and research that influence classroom practices for individual learning needs. You will develop a deep understanding of pedagogies of equity and inclusivity. You will analyse concepts of gifted and talented, at risk, high support needs, disabilities, impairments, learning difficulties. This course includes a 25-day Professional Experience component.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – A blended learning approach is used to deliver this course. You are required to engage with online learning materials, associated activities and required/recommended course reading materials accessed through Canvas and using the required text. 2hrs Week 1 9 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – You are expected to attend and participate in on-campus tutorials. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Placement – 25 days placement 150hrs Week 11 Once Only
Online
Learning materials – A blended learning approach is used to deliver this course. You are required to engage with online learning materials, associated activities and required/recommended course reading materials accessed through Canvas and using the required text. 2hrs Week 1 9 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – You are expected to attend and participate in scheduled Zoom tutorials. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Placement – 25 days placement 150hrs Week 11 Once Only

Course Topics

  • Legislation, policies and practices in relation to inclusive practices: Global, national, state.
  • Embracing inclusion: Teacher attitudes, values, beliefs.
  • Using a strengths-based approach to instructional design: Universal Design for Learning.
  • Supporting students with a disability (Intellectual, ADHD).
  • Supporting students with a disability (Hard of Hearing, Vision Impaired).
  • Supporting students with a disability (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
  • Learning difficulties vs learning disabilities (including literacy and numeracy).
  • Working ethically, sensitively and confidentially with students and parents/carers.
  • Working collaboratively with colleagues/support team/external agencies.
  • Supporting mental health and well being challenges.
  • Managing challenging behavioural needs.
  • Preparing for Professional Experience.

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
1 Critically reflect on your beliefs, values and understanding as a teacher working with a wide range of individual learner needs and how this relates to your interactions with students, and your teaching design, planning, assessment and pedagogy. Knowledgeable
Ethical 
1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
2 Know and discuss the broad range of ethical and inclusive practices that support participation of all students in schools, including knowledge of legislation, policies and procedures. Empowered
Ethical 
1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 7.1, 7.2
3 Apply your knowledge, understanding and skills as a professional educator to interpret, implement, integrate and adapt learning for individual needs. Empowered
Ethical 
5.3, 5.4, 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
4 Identify and promote the importance of professional collaborations with colleagues, parents/carers and the community to facilitate productive relationships with all stake-holders to achieve positive educational outcomes for individual students. Ethical
Engaged 
3.7, 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
1 PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE: Know students and how they learn
1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
1.2 Understand how students learn: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds: Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background on the education of students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
1.6 Strategies to support full participation of students with disability: Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2 PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE: Know the content and how to teach it
2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
2.2 Content selection and organisation: Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting: Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
2.4 Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies: Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
3 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals: Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs: Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.
3.3 Use teaching strategies: Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4 Select and use resources: Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.5 Use effective classroom communication: Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs: Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
3.7 Engage parents/carers in the educative process: Describe a broad range of strategies for involving parents/carers in the educative process.
4 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
4.1 Support student participation: Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.2 Manage classroom activities: Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions
4.3 Manage challenging behaviour: Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
4.4 Maintain student safety: Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
4.5 Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically: Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.
5 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
5.1 Assess student learning: Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.2 Provide feedback to students on their learning: Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to students about their learning
5.3 Make consistent and comparable judgements: Demonstrate understanding of assessment moderation and its application to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
5.4 Interpret student data: Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice.
6 PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT: Engage in professional learning
6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs: Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in identifying professional learning needs.
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice: Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers
6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice: Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning: Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.
7 PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities: Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements: Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.
7.3 Engage with the parents/carers: Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.
7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities: Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

EDU328 and enrolled in Program AE304, ED315 or SE303

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

EDU419

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Limited Grading (PNP)

Pass (PU), Fail (UF). All assessment tasks are required to be passed for successful completion of the course.

Details of early feedback on progress

In week 3 of this course students will be given formative feedback on their understanding and implementation of the Code of Conduct during tutorials.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 
2 online quizzes 20 minutes)
An APST Evidence grid (3 weeks)
plus in-class presentation and peer review (10 minutes)
 Week 3 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 2a Oral and Written Piece Individual 
A detailed lesson plan (750 words), plus annotations and justifications (250 words) 
plus an in-class peer review (15 + 5 minutes)
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 2b Oral and Written Piece Individual 
10 minute individual presentation to the Learning Support Team (class).
2-page presentation summary plus reference list
 Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 3 Placement performance Individual 
25 days
 Refer to Format SONIA
All 4 Activity Participation Individual 
2 hour tutorial
 Refer to Format In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Professional Competencies
Goal: 
This task enables you to demonstrate your evidence of compliance with Professional
Competencies associated with the teaching profession, including, i) The Professional Code of
Conduct; ii) LANTITE; iii) APST evidence.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format: 
This assessment task has three distinct parts:
Part One: Code of Conduct statement via quiz
Part Two: LANTITE PLAN via quiz
Part Three: Present your completed APST grid based on the evidence you have collected to date and highlight areas requiring attention (on the template provided) accompanied with ideas to address evidence gaps 
Submitted by Week 3.
In class presentation in Week 4.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evidence of Code of Conduct
 2
2 
Evidence of LANTITE
 1
3 
Identification, and reflection on the APSTs which require further attention.
 1
4 
Written communication skills and academic literacies including grammar, English
expression and technical accuracy
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 2a:Differentiated Lesson Plan with Annotations and Evaluation
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to develop a lesson plan (using UDL guidelines and mock class data provided) that demonstrates your ability to differentiate for a range of diverse learner needs in your class.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Format: 
Prepare one detailed lesson plan (45-70 minutes in duration) in your specialisation (use UDL guidelines and mock class data provided) that includes strategies for catering to individual learner needs. You must demonstrate your knowledge of research and legislation for individual learner needs by incorporating differentiated practices (eg learning goals, strategies, resources and assessment adjustments) for the full range of abilities (physical, social and intellectual), to cater for literacy and numeracy needs, and to manage challenging behaviours. Include PCK for your specialisation, and safe and ethical use of ICT resources for students. Consider the involvement of parents/carers in your planning. Embed appropriate types of feedback to students in the lesson. Your lesson plan must include an evaluation section at the bottom in which you justify your choices of differentiation and classroom management strategies that you have used. In addition, your evaluation will identify your professional learning needs in regard to this course and APST 4.3, 6.1, 6.2,6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4. You will upload your detailed lesson plan by the end of week 5. In week 6 you will work in pairs to share your lesson plan, annotations, and evaluation with each other and to give and receive feedback, using the template provided..
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Applied knowledge and understanding of educational research and legislation evident in lesson planning.
 2
2 
Implementation of engaging teaching strategies (pedagogical knowledge for your specialisation) and (formative) assessment processes for student learning.
 1 3
3 
Evidence of inclusion, differentiation and classroom management strategies, including challenging behaviour and the use of ICT and parental involvement where appropriate
 1 3 4
4 
Evaluation of the lesson plan and your professional learning needs.
 1 3
5 
Written communication skills and academic literacies including grammar, English expression, APA referencing conventions, and technical accuracy
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 2b:Professional Conversation: Individual Learner Needs
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to demonstrate your capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues and parents to discuss, negotiate and formulate appropriate support plans for your class and for a specific student with individual learner needs.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Format: 
Submit: 2 page document in Week 8.
Presentations: Weeks 8 and 9.

Using the mock class data provided, you are required to make a presentation to the school's Learning Support Team for consultation and collaboration on future support plans for your class as a whole and for one student in particular. 

The presentation: You are to upload a 2-page written summary of the key points of your presentation to Canvas before your scheduled Week 8 tutorial. You will provide your tutor with a copy of your summary before your presentation. Information should be referenced with current literature, legislation, and learning theories included. You will present your class and student to the Student Support Team (your tutorial class) in either Week 8 or 9 tutorial (to be negotiated with your tutor) for feedback and suggestions on future action plans.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Knowledge and understanding: inclusive and ethical practices support individual and community needs (including research and documentation of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support student participation and learning).
 1 2 3 4
2 
Application of skills: interprets, integrates, adapts learning and assessment for individual needs in a given scenario that contain a range of challenging issues
 3
3 
Collaborative skills: working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents, support team and other internal and external parties (listening, responding, questioning, engaging with feedback).
 4
4 
Oral communication skills: presents key ideas in a synthesised manner using inclusive language and effective time management.
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 3:PEx Report
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to engage in learning and teaching experiences in schools related to one of your teaching areas.
Product: Placement performance
Format: 
You will engage in 25 days of Supervised Professional Experience. During this time you will undertake teaching, observations and reflections of learning and engage with the school community to explore professional practice. During this professional experience, you will be focused on developing your ability to design learning experiences that support diverse learners and developing your skills at managing the learning of individuals, small groups and the class as a whole group. You will also develop strategies to involve parents and carers as appropriate. 
Submission: PEx Report: automatically added to SONIA at the completion of the placement.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Supervised Professional Experience Report form 
1.	Application of knowledge of lesson planning: individual, small group and whole class. 
2.	Application of knowledge of differentiation strategies.
3.	Facilitation of student engagement
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 4:Impact and Evidence Debrief
Goal: 
To collaborate with your peers and tutor about your PEx implementation of:
Getting to know your students and how they learn
Differentiated lesson planning
Evidence gathered against the APSTs

To reflect on your experiences and discuss future planning for your final PEx and GTPA.
Product: Activity Participation
Format: 
The Debrief will take place at the end of Week 16. Face-to-face participation is compulsory and expected in order to pass this course.

You are required to bring to class your PEx folder with evidence of:
- Your differentiated lesson planning
- Your evidence grid (Task 1C)
- Examples of new evidence gained while on PEx.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
You will communicate professionally with your peers about your Professional Experience. The focus will be on differentiation for identified or known needs; and evidence gathered against the APSTs.
 1 2 3 4

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Hyde, M., Dole, L., & Tait, K. 2021 Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement (Fourth Edition) Oxford University Press, USA

Specific requirements

Professional attire suitable for undertaking school-based Professional Experience (PEx) will be required during the 25 day placement component of this course. You will need to access suitable transport to supervised professional experience venues for the duration of your supervised professional experience.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risks concerns may include working in an unknown environment as well as slip and trip hazards. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Limited Graded Course:

This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the USC.

In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Assessment: Submission penalties

You must contact your Course Coordinator and provide the required documentation if you require an extension or alternate assessment.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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