Professional Practice and Student Wellbeing

Unit code:EED6104Study level:Postgraduate

Credit points

12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)

Location

City Campus
Online Real Time
VU Online

Prerequisites

EED6103 - Literacy and Numeracy in Secondary Education
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)

Overview

In this unit preservice teachers will be equipped with skills and knowledge needed for a successful secondary school placement. Preservice teachers will engage with a range of activities tied to working with school stakeholders in professional and collaborative ways. Professional codes of conduct, including mandatory reporting, Duty of Care and Child Protection will be examined. Methods of effective communication, cultural differences, resolution of conflict, access and equity and addressing workplace risk and reporting protocols and procedures when working with secondary school students will be examined. This unit will also draw attention to factors that hinder or support student wellbeing in secondary schools. Trauma informed pedagogical approaches will also be explored through a range of different frameworks, theories and models, through the lens of secondary school students. This unit will also incorporate theories of attachment, trauma and the development of children and young people that can lead to complex, challenging and trauma-related presentations. The professional experience of this unit comprises a 5 day school placement for Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) students.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

Articulate a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the teacher’s role and the implications for practice, including: Professional Standards; policies and processes; codes of ethics and conduct and legal and professional responsibilities;
Demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of effective verbal and non-verbal communication and interpersonal skills and strategies to support learner engagement ;
Contextualise research frameworks on trauma and the impact of trauma on secondary school student learning;
Develop and trial pedagogical approaches contributing to the wellbeing and flourishing of school students;
Investigate the approaches used by schools to foster the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of students in schools.