Pre-requisites

CF501 Living in Christ
CF503 Introduction to the Bible
ED520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogies
ED521 Educational Decision Making
A combination of 3 units from the student’s Major and Minor

Co-requisites

None.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of curriculum, assessment and data for measuring impact and improving students learning to planning integrative and differentiated units of work that organise content into effective learning and teaching sequences according to student needs and the Victorian Curriculum F-10 and Australian Curriculum.

• Understand the importance and role of teachers as curriculum workers and how this is related to their professional identity

• In the context of a placement demonstrate emerging knowledge of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate level and The Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct.

• Analyse key policies and documents relating to curriculum and assessment, and demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Victorian Curriculum F-10 and the Australian Curriculum, and show how they promote or constrain innovative practice

• Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of teaching strategies, appropriate and engaging educational resources, including ICT and other real-world tools, for complex educational settings and processes.

• Analyse the nature of ‘curriculum’ in the context of 21st Century education and critically review different theoretical and practical approaches to developing curriculum, including both traditional and innovative practices, a Christian approach to curriculum, and considering contemporary curriculum issues

• In the context of a placement observe and reflect on teaching practices and resources that are responsive to curriculum and diverse students in order to maximise engagement, motivation and learning.

• In the context of a placement engage professionally, collaboratively and relationally with teachers, students, and parents/carers.

Unit Description

In this unit, you will examine theories related to curriculum design and development and will use this knowledge as a framework for exploring the work that teachers do to develop responsive curriculum and innovative practice. Through the unit, you will explore different approaches to curriculum design and apply this to planning and developing a curriculum unit. The unit covers the need for curriculum design and assessment to be integrated, inclusive and differentiated in response to students’ learning needs and you will engage with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Victorian Curriculum F-10 and Australian Curriculum in planning units of work and appropriate assessment of learning.

Learners will explore ways in which teachers in schools transform centralised curriculum documents and bring curriculum ‘to life’ using a transformational education framework and a Christian perspective as well as through a range of innovative and researched teaching strategies that engage diverse student populations. In addition, you will investigate ways to maximise learner motivation, including various curricula, pedagogies, assessments and resources for 21st Century educational contexts, engaging students through curriculum development and innovative practice, and developing community-based curricula and practices.

You will develop an understanding of teachers being ‘curriculum workers’ and the implication of this for their professional identity. You will draw on your developing understanding of curriculum documents, policies, issues and innovation to plan practices that are inclusive and educational.

Linked to this unit is School Observation A, entailing 5 days in a placement school during which you will focus on observing and reflecting on how teachers plan lesson sequences and integrate assessment in teaching. You will observe and reflect on teaching strategies and resources that teachers use in response to and to be inclusive of diverse learners when delivering curriculum, as well as strategies used to maximise students’ motivation to engage with curriculum content. Through conversations with experienced teachers you will expand your knowledge of and reflect on strategies used to evaluate teaching programs and lessons and measure impact. You will attend a preparation class prior to the placement and a debriefing class after completing the placement, both are on-campus classes.

Topics

• Curriculum definitions, design and conceptions
• Knowing and using the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, Victorian Curriculum F-10 and the Australian Curriculum, including general capabilities and cross-curricular priorities in planning and designing curriculum units
• Transformational Education a Framework for Christian Education: Outline a strategy for integrated learning
• Community-based curricula and practices
• Planning and designing curriculum units to organise content into effective learning and teaching sequences
• Integration of a Christian worldview in curriculum unit planning, design and assessment
• Link between curriculum, assessment and data
• Strategies for evaluating and reviewing curriculum and teaching programs
• A Christian response to curriculum design and teaching programs, including lesson plans and selecting appropriate teaching strategies and resources
• School Observation A placement – observing students and experienced teachers

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Unit offerings

Face to face: Semester 1, 2025 and Semester 1, 2026 (Every Year, Semester 1)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.