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Unit outline_

EDEC4011: Internship Research Project

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Engaging in teacher-led research provides students with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills, while also developing leadership capacity in a curriculum area of interest. Documentation of the research project to be undertaken in this unit of study will articulate the development and/or change of educational practice relevant to the student's practice during their EDEC4012 Internship. The research will also inform some improvement of, or significant development in teaching practice in the early childhood setting in which the internship is being undertaken. Projects will be developed in collaboration with the Supervising Teacher and/or Centre Director.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
168 credit points
Corequisites
? 
EDEC4012
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Tina Stratigos, tina.stratigos@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Wilma Murdoch, wilma.murdoch@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Practitioner inquiry report
Description of findings, discussion and conclusion
0% -
Due date: 10 Dec 2020 at 09:00
1,800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Practitioner inquiry presentation
Presentation at research conference 10-11 December and submission of slides
0% -
Due date: 10 Dec 2020 at 09:00
15 minutes + slides
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Introduction to practitioner inquiry
Brief statement about the nature and benefits of practitioner inquiry
0% Mid-semester break
Due date: 09 Oct 2020 at 23:59
250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Practitioner inquiry plan
Plan including aims, rationale, literature review and methods
0% Week 08
Due date: 25 Oct 2020 at 23:59
1,550 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2

Assessment summary

Practitioner inquiry:

Students will plan a practitioner inquiry research project to be conducting during the internship placement.  The findings will be presented in a report and presentation at the research conference

Assessment criteria

Students will plan a practitioner inquiry research project to be conducting during the internship placement.  The findings will be presented in a report and presentation at the research conference

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 06 Introduction to practitioner inquiry Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1
Literature review Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Participants, data generation Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2
Week 08 Data analysis Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2
Week 09 Preparing to implement research plan Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2
Week 10 Conducting practitioner inquiry Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2
Week 11 Conducting practitioner inquiry Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2
Week 12 Individual or small group consultations Lecture and tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO3

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Appreciate the importance of undertaking practitioner inquiry for ongoing professional development and transformation of practice
  • LO2. Plan, implement and evaluate practitioner inquiry in an early childhood setting with reference to relevant theory, literature and policy documents
  • LO3. Demonstrate a depth of knowledge about a selected aspect of early childhood practice through practitioner inquiry

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
2.4. Teaching methods and strategies
6.5. Research
LO2
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
6.5. Research
LO3
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
2.4. Teaching methods and strategies
6.5. Research

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Work, health and safety

Please make yourself familiar with the inherent requirements for this course:  https://sydney.edu.au/students/student-responsibilities/inherent-requirements.html

Please make yourself familiar with the professional experience handbook:  https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426/pages/professional-experience-in-education including information on Working With Children Check, workplace health and safety induction, infectious diseases and pregnancy. 

You may wish to discuss your immunisation status with your doctor prior the professional experience placement, particularly when working with infants and toddlers.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.