Course Outline
EDU781 Contemporary Issues in Steiner Education
Course Coordinator:Shelley Davidow (sdavidow@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access
2026Trimester 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
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, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement. |
Please go to unisc.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
This course provides you with an introduction and overview of Steiner Education. It is designed for both new and experienced educators in Steiner Education and offers you the opportunity to develop an indepth understanding of Steiner educational theory and practice and evaluate its relationship to 21st century educational reforms and policy developments.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – You are required to engage with online pre-recorded presentations and asynchronous materials and activities prior to attending the workshop tutorial. | 1hr | Week 1 | 6 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – This will be run in dual mode with a live Zoom tutorial/workshop in real-time but will be recorded for those who cannot make the session. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 6 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Sunday of week 6 to Monday of week 7 and will be delivered online synchronously and asynchronously supported by technology-enabled learning and teaching including zoom. | 7hrs | Week 6 | 2 times |
| Online | |||
| Learning materials – You are required to engage with online pre-recorded presentations and asynchronous materials and activities prior to attending the workshop tutorial. | 1hr | Week 1 | 6 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – This will be run in dual mode with a live Zoom tutorial/workshop in real-time but will be recorded for those who cannot make the session. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 6 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 2 – A two day intensive at the end of week 6/beginning of week 7 will be delivered online synchronously and asynchronously supported by technology-enabled learning and teaching including zoom. | 7hrs | Week 6 | 2 times |
Course Topics
- Early childhood and primary education: Steiner’s pedagogical framework. Weeks 1-2
- Primary education: Steiner’s pedagogical framework. Weeks 3-4
- Secondary education: Steiner’s pedagogical framework. Weeks 5-6
- Contemporary issues in Steiner Education: Intensive Week 7
What level is this course?
700 Level (Specialised)
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 analyse Steiner's pedagogical framework |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
1.1, 1.2 |
| 2 | Critically evaluate a contemporary Steiner educational issue. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
6.2
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| 3 | Apply Steiner educational theory to respond to contemporary educational issues. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
6
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* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership | |
| 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. |
| 6 | PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT: Engage in professional learning |
| 6.2 | Engage in professional learning and improve practice: Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers |
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
ED510 or ED705
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
In week 4 students will submit a short response (1) on the features of Steiner Education which will allow for formative feedback that can be taken into account for Task 2. This task is not graded and is used only to provide early feedback on the ideas presented.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Written Piece | Individual | 0% | 500 words |
Week 4 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Oral and Written Piece | Individual | 50% | 10 minute 'video essay' and accompanying script and references. |
Week 7 | Online Submission |
| All | 3 | Portfolio | Individual | 50% | 3000 words |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All - Assessment Task 1:5 essential elements of Steiner Education | ||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to identify 5 core principles you believe underpin Steiner Education – taking your readings and class discussions thus far into account, and submit this in week 4. You will identify one element you wish to explore through the lens of a particular area of schooling for Task 2: |
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| Product: | Written Piece | |||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||
| Format: | Written submission |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Organisation, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Analysis of Steiner's educational theory | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to develop and demonstrate an indepth understanding of Steiner's educational theory and practice and evaluate its relationship to a contemporary educational landscape. You may focus on a particular area of schooling such as early childhood, primary or secondary years. |
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| Product: | Oral and Written Piece | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Video and written script |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Educational Theory Specialisation | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to create a portfolio that responds critically to the learning materials, in-class discussions, and readings from the intensive, integrating your own insights. |
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| Product: | Portfolio | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | This is a portfolio divided into sections that enable you to respond to the different focus areas of the intensive. A template and task sheet will be provided. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving |
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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.
Schedule
| Period and Topic | Activities |
Weeks 1-2: Topic: EC and primary education |
Read Child's Changing Consciousness assigned chapters; watch lecture |
Weeks 3-4: Topic: primary education |
Reach Child's Changing Consciousness assigned chapters; read Education for Adolescents assigned chapters; watch lectures |
Weeks 5-6: Topic: secondary education |
Read Education for Adolescents assigned chapters |
Week 6 or 7 Intensive (dates may vary due to holidays): Contemporary Issues in Steiner Education |
Read assigned chapters and articles |
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
Specific requirements
It is expected that you will require: Internet access and a personal computer (recommendations from information and technology services are available at the following link https://usc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1371).
How are risks managed in this course?
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
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
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
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: