Ethics, Education and Professional Practice
PostgraduateTAS-EMT6022027
Course information for 2027 intake View information for 2026 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 14 Feb 2027
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $2,690
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Ethics, Education and Professional Practice
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Reflect critically on the extent to which education's character and purpose give rise to ethical duties for teachers.
- Decide how best to apply ethical reasoning principles in relation to your teaching practice, taking into account compliance with professional codes of ethics and relevant legislative and regulatory imperatives.
- Critique the ethical dimension of a teacher's engagement with parents and carers, justifying the importance of sensitivity and confidentiality when negotiating strategies to foster their children's learning and well-being.
- Evaluate the impact of recent developments in education ethics and philosophy on teaching, and explain how these might inform the formation of your own professional practice.
- Introduction to Education Philosophy and Ethics
- Education as a Moral Practice 1: The Aims and Value of Education
- Education as a Moral Practice 2: Political Imperatives
- The Ethical Teacher 1: Teaching as a Moral Practice
- The Ethical Teacher 2: Skills and Virtues in Practice
- The Ethical Teacher 3: Teachers' Duties and Children's Rights
- The Professional Teacher 1: Ethical Reasoning
- The Professional Teacher 2: Codes of Professional Ethics and Inclusivity
- The Professional Teacher 3: Professional Boundaries
- Teachers and the Law 1: Legal Duties of Care and the Question of Negligence
- Teachers and the Law 2: Mandatory Reporting, Discipline, Physical Contact
- Teachers and the Law 3: The Limits of Autonomy
- Putting the Pieces Together: Ethics, Reasoning and Professional Practice
This subject is a theoretical and practical exploration of ethics in relation to education and teacher identity. It encourages you to consider how particular philosophical ideas inform educational values, how they relate to your identity as a teacher, and how they might be articulated in your own teaching practice. You will think critically and creatively about these ideas and evaluate their impact on educational practices, including those explored in previous and subsequent subjects. The subject's rationale is that your teaching practice is strongly informed by your ethical stance on education, children, and professionalism, and the practical implications that flow from this, taking into account key professional and legislative imperatives.
The subject focuses on three integrated areas:
(1) the development of critical reasoning skills, which will underpin and be woven through your approach to (2) educational ethics and their relation to your professional identity as a teacher, as well as inform your understanding of (3) key contemporary issues in the philosophy of education, and the practical implications that flow from these. You will explore key ideas by engaging critically with lectures on philosophical theory, critical reflection, close reading of relevant material, ethical reasoning, tutorial and peer discussion, and your assessment tasks.
- Contributing to the Professional Learning Community (10%)
- Essay (40%)
- Case Studies (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or enrol in the following subject(s) to study at the same time or prior to this subject:
TAS-EMT502-Foundations of Teaching (no longer available)
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching arrangements: weekly online lecture for all enrolled students; weekly 2 hour tutorial for on-campus students; weekly online discussion for online students.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.