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Unit outline_

EDUF4020: Education Honours Preliminary

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

This unit provides an introduction to the Honours Program and the nature of educational research. Students develop an understanding of a range of education research methodologies through participating in seminars and by attending lectures. They demonstrate their emerging understanding of their chosen field of research in the process of conducting a detailed literature review and designing a research proposal, which will include carefully constructed research questions and an appropriate research methodology. This Unit leads to a research project that will be conducted under the supervision of an academic member of staff in Unit EDUF4021.

Unit details and rules

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

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Victoria Rawlings, victoria.rawlings@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Literature review
Literature review around proposed research topic.
50% Week 06 3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO9 LO10
Assignment Research proposal
Research proposal for honours project.
50% Week 10 3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10

Assessment summary

  • Literature review: For this assignment students will develop a literature review related to their proposed research topic. The review will shape the rationale for the proposed study, such that the student can build upon it to develop a research proposal submission.
  • Research proposal: The aim of this assignment is to develop a proposal that outlines the project that the student will undertake as part of the honours degree but with a clear focus on the methodological elements required. The student is required to demonstrate knowledge and skills in developing a small research project, planning it, conducting it, and presenting the findings. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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 01 1. Overview of the honours program and of EDUF4020; 2. Introduction to educational research Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO9
Week 02 1. What is the purpose of research in education?; 2. Overview of different kinds of education research; 3. Research and its publication in journals; 4. Looking at different kinds of journal papers, especially identifying the research aims and literature Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO9
Week 03 Shaping a research project: literature review and research questions Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO10
Week 04 Research design Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7 LO9
Week 05 Qualitative data collection and analysis 1 Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 06 Qualitative data collection and analysis 2 Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 07 Quantitative data collection and analysis Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 08 Ethics in educational research 1: critical ethical issues Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 09 Ethics in educational research 2: getting your research approved Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO9 LO10

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

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 on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Punch, K., & Oancea, A. (2015). Introduction to Research Methods in Education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

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 that there are many different kinds of educational research
  • LO2. demonstrate understanding of different methods of data collection used in educational research
  • LO3. read, understand, critique, and assess educational research reports and publications
  • LO4. apply the principles of systematic inquiry to an area of research interest
  • LO5. display the necessary skills to research databases
  • LO6. conceptualise an educational research project, (which may be a school or centre based research inquiry)
  • LO7. design and conduct a research project and critically interpret the findings of that inquiry
  • LO8. understand the ethical issues in conducting empirical research, particularly when gathering information from children
  • LO9. appreciate that knowledge generated through research is always tentative and open to criticism
  • LO10. understand the provisional nature of ‘evidence’ and develop skills in selecting and critiquing evidence.

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
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.3.1 P (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
1.4.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background on the education of students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
1.5.1 P T (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
1.6.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2.5.1 P A (Graduate) Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
3.3.1 T (Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4.1 A P (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.5.1 A (Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement.
3.6.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
3.7.1 P (Graduate) Describe a broad range of strategies for involving parents/carers in the educative process.
4.1.1 A (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.2.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
4.3.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
5.1.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.4.1 T (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice.
5.5.1 P T (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of a range of strategies for reporting to students and parents/carers and the purpose of keeping accurate and reliable records of student achievement.
6.1.1 T A (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in identifying professional learning needs.
6.3.1 A (Graduate) Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.
6.4.1 P (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.
7.1.1 A (Graduate) Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
7.4.1 A T P (Graduate) Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

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

Real samples of ethics applications will be utilised to assist students with the HREC process- something outlined to be helpful in 2019 student reviews. More information will also be given about how to write a research proposal and looking at successful examples.

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

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.