1. Unit of study title: Improving Practice

  2. Unit of study code: HET4106  

3. Campus: Footscray Park , Melton & Sunbury  

4. Prerequisite(s): HET4100 Learning Matters at Victoria University and

HET4101 Negotiating Learning

  5. Parent Course: Master of Education

  6. Unit of study Aims:

This unit aims to build on the current and prior experiences of participants to extend their knowledge of educational practice and enhance their effectiveness as teachers. It is designed to enable participants to investigate their personal teaching practice with the aim of continuously improving it.

7. Learning outcomes:

Victoria University teachers will work towards the awareness and achievement of the following Victoria University Teacher Capabilities:

•  Teachers use the body of knowledge about tertiary learning and teaching to inform their practice.

•  Teachers contribute to the development and maintenance of communities of practice that support their ongoing development as teachers.

•  Teachers identify their own learning needs in relation to maintaining both currency in their discipline or field of practice and their effectiveness as a teacher and engage in professional development activities to meet these needs.

8. Content:

The content of this unit of study will be negotiated with students depending on their prior learning and professional experience. It will be based on the following topics:

Exploration of effective teaching and learning environment including classrooms, workplaces and on-line environment, including relevant theories of flexible learning and learning in the workplace.

Developing a professional learning plan to refresh substantive recent knowledge in relevant professional discipline or field of practice.

Participation in a professional community of practice for the improvement of teaching practice, including supervised teaching practice where required.

Initiating teaching as building student learning communities of practice for reflection and knowledge development in specific discipline or field of practice.

Practitioner research as inquiry about practice and the basis for scholarly improvement of practice.

9. Credit Transfer Arrangements (including Articulation Pathways):

Not applicable

10. Methods of Teaching: 

This unit is taught using learner-centred approaches and may incorporate a range of learning activities, such as workshops, discussion with peers either online or face-to-face, inquiry into the participant's own practice or other workplace-based projects.

11. Required Reading :  

Kember, D. and Kelly, M. 1993. Improving teaching through action research. Campbelltown: HERDSA.

12. Recommended Reading :  

AUQA. 2005. Good practice database http://www.auqa.edu.au/gp/index.php

Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2005, CASTL Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/CASTL/highered/index.htm

Center for Teaching, University of Iowa . nd, Teaching Goals Inventory online

http://www.uiowa.edu/~centeach/tgi/

Shulman, L. S. 1999, Taking learning seriously, Change , July/August 1999. 31 (4), 10-17.

Brookfield , S. 1995, Becoming a critically reflective teacher , Jossey-Bass, San Francisco .

13. Class Contact:  

12 hours or equivalent.

14. Assessment:  

Evidence for achievement of the learning outcomes for this unit, such as a report based on research into the participant's own teaching practice using peer and student feedback to improve practice. (2000 words or equivalent, graded.)