Diploma in Education Studies

This subject introduces students to university culture and life, and explores a range of skills, attributes and behaviours that will gear students for success in their first year of tertiary study. A range of topics will be covered to facilitate increased confidence in students as they embark upon their university journey, as well as enhance students’ capacities to engage critically and actively in their chosen field of study. This subject will equip students with a range of academic study skills, research techniques and multi-literacies, and support students to develop their own individualised learning model, personal learning objectives and academic capacities. Academic integrity is further positioned as a critical component of university life and this subject will prepare students to engage effectively in their future professional fields and as active citizens.

This subject is designed to help students to develop the dispositions and critical skills to create learning communities that are academically challenging, developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive. The subject highlights how the inherent qualities of a child and their environmental systems interact to influence how they grow, develop, and learn. It will develop students' knowledge of the ways in which childrens' development is embedded in context to inform their instructional strategies. It examines a body of classic and current theories, research and practice relating to the cognitive, physiological, and social/emotional needs of children and the relevance of these for classroom practice. Particular emphasis is given to developing responsive teaching practices which promote social and emotional wellbeing of children and are underpinned by high-quality relationships which extend to include the valuing of families and the wider community.

Increasingly, the need to develop sustainable ways of living that can reduce our ecological footprint and conserve precious natural resources for future generations is recognised as a critical concern of education at all levels. Developing 'sustainability literacy' requires new ways of thinking and learning that enable us to recognise the connections between environmental concerns, social patterns, and individual actions. This subject approaches key issues in sustainability education with a learner-centred approach that builds skills for inquiry, analysis and creative action and involves a three-hour field trip. It promotes personal and social change, develops civic values, and will empower students to be a leader for a sustainable future.

The primary purpose of this subject is to equip students with personal literacy and numeracy skills necessary for academic success. This subject aims to develop students personal literacy and numeracy skills necessary for participating in academic and professional contexts. It also supports pre-service teachers as literate and numerate citizens to strengthen positive attitudes, skills, and knowledge about literacy and numeracy roles in everyday contexts. Students will have opportunities to develop their interpersonal, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills. These skills are integral to the inherent requirements of a graduate teacher who will be required to undertake the national literacy and numeracy test mandated by the Australian Government. As a pre-service teacher, students will also develop confidence and competence in their understanding of the roles of literacy and numeracy in society, with particular emphasis on problem-solving and effective communication in practical situations. Students will be provided with opportunities to develop critical self-awareness, self-regulation, and the ability to organise oneself as a self-directed learner. Essential elements of academic scholarship, including information media literacy, understanding assessment, and academic integrity, will be developed.

This subject includes the study of society, culture, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and social class. It explores sociological understandings of the impact of the social on individuals and how this influences education, knowledge, society, and change. The subject addresses the diverse needs of children in complex contexts. It will provide students with opportunities to reflect on universal assumptions often imposed on children, families, and communities, through applying analytical tools and developing their professional identity as critical reflexive educators.

Theory and the practice of teaching are explored in depth in this subject. This subject explores the necessary teaching and interpersonal skills required to build positive relationships with students and manage the classroom. Students will develop skills in planning, implementing and evaluating the students’ learning which are designed to meet school students’ curriculum needs.  It introduces students to a range of teaching strategies and assists with helping to identify when and why to use them. It explores how educational theories and practitioner research underpin and inform curriculum development and pedagogical practice. Integrated in the learning will be the use of information technologies. This subject will also facilitate students in developing a critical understanding of their individual progress towards satisfying the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate level.  The knowledge and skills developed in the other subjects of study in the program can be applied in this and the Professional Experience subjects.

This subject is designed to complement the first six months of study in a College Diploma program by developing the skills required to be successful at University and beyond. The subject is delivered online with students accessing learning modules and connecting with their learner community in their own time and at their own pace to allow maximum flexibility. At the beginning of the subject students use diagnostic tools to identify their specific strengths and areas for improvement, and develop an individualised learning journey through the content. This learning journey will help to address individual study skill needs, while also developing employability skills, facilitating connection with peers and with the University community, as well as the student’s future career.

This subject is designed to assist students to take the next step in their academic development by helping them build higher level reflective skills that will allow them to critically consider their own learning and professional journey and make the adjustments required to achieve their goals. Students will begin to take ownership of their learning by developing proactive strategies that will allow them to study on their own terms. Students will begin engaging with their intended profession and reflect on the skills, attributes and qualifications that will be required to reach their goals. Students will also develop a transition plan to help them navigate the next steps in their academic journey so that they can identify the challenges they might encounter as they move forward, and develop the skills to overcome them.