This Education Studies course offers an interdisciplinary foundation in the theory and practice of education, equipping students with an understanding of teaching, learning, and the complex dynamics within schools and communities. It emphasises both personal and collective learning, the use of diverse research methodologies, and the development of professional, interpersonal, and ethical skills essential for effective teaching. Students learn to communicate complex ideas clearly, engage and inspire learners, and build productive relationships with students, families, and colleagues. The course cultivates transferable skills in communication, literacy, numeracy, and research, while fostering a deep appreciation for educational diversity and the role of education in society. Graduates are prepared to synthesise knowledge from multiple disciplines, apply critical and creative thinking, conduct ethical research, and develop innovative solutions, making them well-equipped for further study, work, and life.
Students investigate a range of historical, established and contemporary philosophies of education and evaluate their application to school settings. They explore paradigms of education, including place-based pedagogies of Indigenous cultures. Students consider the interaction between schools and wider society, and how those conditions and structures impact on learning and the nature and history of schools. They reflect on the development of their own philosophy of teaching and learning and how their experiences have shaped them as individuals and learners.
Students examine how young people learn and how that learning can be measured. They investigate the role of teachers in the learning process. Students consider the impact of teaching strategies, developmental stages and technology on learning. They consider models for formative and summative assessment, and the efficacy of educational measurements. Students engage with research on learning, including contemporary research and consider how those findings are employed in schools.
Students focus on how learning can be planned and pedagogy applied to promote engagement. They investigate ways for students to experience joy in learning. Students evaluate ideas about optimising the physical learning environment. They investigate the pedagogical tools teachers use to overcome the challenges faced by young people in accessing and succeeding in education. Students explore different approaches to classroom management and student wellbeing.
Students investigate the nature, purpose and priorities of different curriculums. They examine the spoken and unspoken curriculums delivered in schools. Students evaluate different programs for implementing curriculum in schools. Students synthesise their disciplinary knowledge and understandings of learning to translate curriculum into sequences for student learning in the classroom. They investigate curriculum differentiation to plan for access to learning by all students