Outline

Overview

Teachers use and engage in research in a range of different ways with the aim of informing and improving their practice, from using reseach done by others to inform their decision making, to conducting classroom-based inquiry as professional learning and development. This unit of study is designed to equip you with the understanding and skills required to embed research into your everyday practice as a teacher. You will be encouraged to develop an appreciation of the broad range of research topics in education and their associated forms of systematic inquiry and to develop your capacity to make links between research, policy, teaching and learning. The unit will provide opportunities for you to become more familiar with the relationship between research and practice so that you can locate, critically analyse and use published material to investigate, understand and enrich your own practice and, in the future, exercise leadership in this regard. A series of expert lectures in the production and use of educational research will be complemented by workshops and assessment tasks designed to encourage you to synthesise different kinds and sources of research-based knowledge about students, teachers, schools, classrooms and communities.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Education
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	96 credit points of units, including (EDUF2006 and EDUF2007)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Murray Print, murray.print@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Michael J Jacobson, michael.jacobson@sydney.edu.au
	Patrick Dean Brownlee, patrick.brownlee@sydney.edu.au
	Murray Print, murray.print@sydney.edu.au
	Peter Reimann, peter.reimann@sydney.edu.au
	Lina Markauskaite, lina.markauskaite@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Suzanne Allen, suzanne.allen@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Pat Norman, pat.norman@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Creative assessment / demonstration	Student presentation Student group presentation as discussed with your tutor. Week 3 start.	30%	Multiple weeks	1000 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Single case study Submitted assessment.	30%	Week 06	1000 words approx.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Shaping a classroom research project Final assignment to demonstrate cumulative learning.	40%	Week 10 Due date: 06 Nov 2020 at 16:00	2500 words. Work with your tutor.
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Student presentation: You will discuss your ideas for your planned presentation with your tutor, and will use your powerpoint as stimulus for discussion and as a summary of your work. These ideas could be drawn from a range of sources, including lectures, seminars, texts and additional readings.
Shaping a classroom research project: For this task you will develop a plan for a small-scale classroom research project based on a particular problem of your own practice that you have identified through reflection on your past professional experience. The ‘problem of practice’ will relate to an aspect of personal classroom practice, and should be capable of being implemented in your next professional experience placement.
Single case design: An assignment on a hypothetical case will be discussed with your tutor.

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Educators and research: Introduction	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 01	Organize student presentations. Educators and research - What does Prof John Hattie say is the research evidence for supporting the argument that teachers make a difference?	Seminar (1 hr)
Week 02	Educators, ethics and research	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Educators, ethics and research	Online class (1 hr)
Week 03	Reading research	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Reading research	Online class (1 hr)
Week 04	Research design and methodological approaches in education	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Research design and methodological approaches in education	Online class (1 hr)
Week 05	Education research approaches and methods	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Education research approaches and methods	Online class (1 hr)
Week 06	Teacher research practice	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Teacher research practice	Online class (1 hr)
Week 07	Teacher research	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Teacher research	Online class (1 hr)
Week 08	Influence and impacts of education research	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Influence and impacts of education research	Online class (1 hr)
Week 09	Conclusions: critical users of research & practitioner-researchers	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Conclusions: critical users of research & practitioner-researchers. AND What does Prof John Hattie say is the research evidence for supporting the argument that teachers make a difference?	Online class (1 hr)

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

Two ebooks, available through our library, will be helpful for this unit. In addition, specific readings will be required for seminars that relate specifically to the task of that seminar.

ebooks:

Vannest, K., Davis, J.L. (2013) Single-case research in schools. Practical guidelines for school-based professionals. New York ; London : Routledge ebook

Moriarty, B. (2018). Research Skills for Teachers: From research question to research design. Sydney, Australia: Allen and Unwin. ebook

Learning outcomes

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. develop research literacy to evaluate and understand the various sources, genres and kinds of useful educational research for ongoing professional learning
LO2. understand, apply and design research to specific early childhood and schooling contexts
LO3. make sophisticated connections between theory, research and practice
LO4. design and/or draw on education and other relevant interdisciplinary research that supports learning and teaching in diverse contexts for diverse learners
LO5. apply research to develop and inform professional identities as educators and life-long learners.

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
Learning outcomes

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.1.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
1.2.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3.1		(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		(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		(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		(Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
3.3.1		(Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.5.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement.
3.6.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
4.1.1		(Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities.
4.2.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
4.3.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.
4.4.1		(Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
4.5.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.
5.1.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.3.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment moderation and its application to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
5.4.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice.
6.1.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in identifying professional learning needs.
6.2.1		(Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers.
6.3.1		(Graduate) Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.
6.4.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.
7.1.1		(Graduate) Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.
7.2.1		(Graduate) Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.
7.3.1		(Graduate) Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.
7.4.1		(Graduate) Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

Responding to student feedback

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

minor changes to lecture titles and assessments

Additional information

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EDUF4044: Reading and Applying Educational Research

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

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect