Course Title: Leading and Conducting Research in your Specialisation

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Leading and Conducting Research in your Specialisation

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Coordinator: Ange Fitzgerald

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6073

Course Coordinator Email: Angela.fitzgerald@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

Leadership of a focal area of curriculum specialisation should be grounded in a strong evidence base and informed by contemporary research. This course will prepare you to consider the evidence for quality pedagogy and practice in your area of specialisation at the same time as being able to understand and critically analyse relevant research findings.  While this course has an emphasis on leading and researching your curriculum specialisation, you will also be supported to consider your own professional learning by identifying school-wide issues in teaching and develop approaches to addressing those issues. As part of this, you will read and interpret school wide data and use this information to effect change in a school setting via the development of an inquiry project. You will explore effective strategies to lead the development of whole school approaches to in your curriculum specialisation teaching and learning, curriculum planning, and professional learning. 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes: 

PLO2 Create learning environments that articulate a broad and holistic understanding of the needs of learners and society based on evidence-informed practices and theoretical perspectives. 

PLO3 Critically analyse relevant evidence-based disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to plan, implement and assess student learning, social and intellectual development.. 

PLO4 Apply professional knowledge, self-awareness, judgment and research skills to develop agile education solutions and make evidence-based decisions for application in specific teaching environments. 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

		Graduate APST
1.	Demonstrate an understanding of factors that impact the learning progression of students and professional development of colleagues as related to your chosen curriculum specialisation	2.1, 6.1, 6.3
2.	Evaluate resources, models, assessments, and approaches that support the planning and leading of student-centred units of teaching with reference to the education research literature and contemporary policy advice relevant to your chosen curriculum specialisation	2.2, 2.3
3.	Critically examine factors, issues and approaches that enhance or hinder primary children’s learning during primary school, and evidenced-based practices to lead change in your chosen curriculum specialisation	6.2, 6.4
4.	Review and critique perspectives in the research evidence-base related to your chosen curriculum specialisation to inform recommendations about effective curricula, teaching approaches and environments for inclusive education and leadership.	6.2, 6.3

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as workshops, tutorials, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Teaching and learning may be face to face, online, or a combination of both. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.  

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes (CLO) and on your development against the program learning outcomes. The assessment is also mapped against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).

Assessment Tasks 

	Title	Weighting	CLOs	APSTs
AT 1	Reflective report	50%	2, 3, 4	2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
AT 2	Inquiry project presentation	50%	2, 3, 4	2.2, 2.3, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.