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Unit outline_

EDUF3050: Education Capstone

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The unit of study provides students with the opportunity to draw on their work in the Education Studies Major to build a body of evidence and reflect on their application of educational theory and practice in different educational, community or workplace settings. The unit draws on the rich literature on practitioner inquiry to encourage students to actively engage in the tenets of practitioner inquiry as an ongoing practice. The focus in the capstone is on supporting students to formulate ways that they can use these tenets and implement these to enhance and enrich their teaching practice in their future careers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
EDUF3040
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kellie Burns, kellie.burns@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Kellie Burns, kellie.burns@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Brenda Doran, brenda.doran@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation hurdle task Presentation and submitted work
Presentation & submitted powerpoint and short reflection
20% Multiple weeks
Due date: 06 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1000 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Planning for Teaching and Learning Contexts
EFE scaffold for practitioner inquiry that engages Quality Teaching Model
30% Week 07
Due date: 13 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1000 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task Teaching performance assessment
Annotated portfolio of evidence from EFE
50% Week 12
Due date: 25 Oct 2024 at 23:59
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for the assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

All activities and assessments in this unit of study occur in conformity with the policies of the Sydney School of Education and Social Work in the Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences as outlined in the Faculty and School canvas sites. Please refer to these sites for matters such as:
• Marking and Grading
• Questioning a Mark
• Submitting an Assignment
• Exams
• Seeking an Extension
• Penalties for Late Submission of Work
• Word Limit Penalties
• Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
• Use of Similarity Detection Software
• Seeking Special Consideration
• Seeking a Leave of Absence
• Student Appeals Process
All students enrolled in this Unit of Study are expected, without exception, to familiarise themselves with these policies. They are available at the following canvas site:
https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426
The University has adopted severe but fair procedures for dealing with plagiarism. It is imperative that students understand what constitutes plagiarism. The threat of
being accused of plagiarism is generally relieved by expert referencing of your assignments. If you are unsure on how to reference well, please refer to the following
Canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426
Unless otherwise stated in the unit of study outline, word-limit penalties may be applied.
Unless otherwise advised by the course or unit of study coordinator/outline, the Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires the style guide of the American
Psychological Association (APA) to be used for citation and referencing purposes.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Unit; Planning for Educational Experience/Assessment Setup Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 Practitioner Inquiry and Educational Practice; Knowing your learners Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 03 Knowing your learners and planning engaging learning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Knowing what and how to teach (Practice in collaboration with people who experience disability) & Presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Knowing what and how to teach (Practice in collaboration with First Nations People) & Presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Knowing how to assess & Presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Knowing how to evaluate Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Implementing and reporting on your practitioner inquiry project Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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 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. Demonstrate knowledge of various disciplinary perspectives in educational studies and apply these, using a practitioner inquiry framework, to educational practice
  • LO2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiated teaching to meet the needs of diverse learners and cultures, including across the full range of abilities
  • LO3. Demonstrate an understanding of how differentiation supports inclusive participation and engagement in learning in diverse educational contexts
  • LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening an educator’s knowledge and practice

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

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

We value student feedback and welcome ideas for ways to strengthen unit content, communication and assessments.

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.