Foundations of Teaching
UndergraduateTAS-ESH91022020
Course information for 2020 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Foundations of Teaching
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Plan for and be active in your own learning within the context of an Education degree
- Reflect on your knowledge of teaching and yourself as a developing teacher
- Articulate your informed understanding of the foundations of teachers’ work
- Communicate in writing for an academic audience.
- Establishing our learning community
- Who is a teacher and what do teachers do?
- The focus is on you as a developing teacher (past influences, present beliefs/assumptions)
- Introduction to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
- Historical insights in teaching
- The aims of education
- Documents that guide teaching and learning in Australia
- Know students and how they learn (Standard 1)
- Going further with Portfolios
- Know the content and how to teach it – Student motivation and engagement (Standard 2)
- Developing observation skills
- Creating and maintaining supportive learning environments (Standard 4)
- Developing observation skills
- Planning for effective teaching and learning (Standard 3)
- Teacher relationships and communication
- Preparing for your first observation
- Observing teachers’ work
- Reflection on observation Week 1
- Preparing for observation Week 2 and teacher interview
- Reflection on observation Week 2 and on your learning in the unit
Foundations of Teaching introduces you to the study of teaching as a profession and provides opportunities for you to critically examine the nature of teachers’ work. Through reflecting on your past educational experiences and dispositions (that is, your attitudes and beliefs) about teaching and teachers, you will establish a sound base to develop your knowledge and understanding of contemporary teaching practice over the next four years. Content explored in this subject includes the pragmatics of teachers’ work such as planning, establishing a positive and supportive learning environment, communicating as a teacher, and student learning, motivation and engagement. You will have the opportunity to further explore each of these topics and to develop your professional knowledge through observation in educational contexts (important: see below). You will be introduced to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level) and reflect on these in relation to your engagement in this unit and thus, your own development as a teacher.
- Reflective Statements (20%)
- Engagement in Educational Settings: Student Learning, motivation and engagement (25%)
- Engagement in Educational Settings: Three short reflections (55%)
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.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
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.