James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

ED2490:04

Managing Teaching and Learning

Townsville, Cairns, External

HECS Band 1

26 hours lectures, 24 hours workshops, 25 hours professional experience. Semester 1 internal (Townsville and Cairns campus). External in Semester 1 for RATEP students.

Staff: Ms A Hill, Ms G Mackay (Townsville campus); Dr P Matters (Cairns campus).

This subject uses a problem solving approach too move from practice to theory in introducing students to key concepts of effective teaching and learning incorporating behaviour management. The subject operates through five strands which interact within the teaching/learning process. These strands involve the learners, the planning process, teacher/student role, the learning environment and ensuring learning.

Students are required to undertake 25 hours professional experience in educational settings to establish praxis as the preferred way of knowing. The subject uses this practical experience and authentic scenarios to focus on key issues, questions, tensions and challenges in managing teaching and learning in a variety of settings (including multi-age, rural and Indigenous). Through the unpacking of these scenarios students come to learn the value of a range of theoretical frameworks across educational sectors.

Learning Objectives:

  1. identify tensions and challenges in simultaneously addressing the needs of individual learners, the school and education systems;
  2. plan, develop and critically evaluate learning experiences for a range of contexts drawing on both theoretical perspectives and observation of practice;
  3. utilise a range of strategies for developing and managing appropriate learning environments, including the use of information technologies;
  4. work cooperatively with peers to investigate key issues and propose alternative approaches to these issues;
  5. demonstrate a variety of basic communication skills including explaining, questioning and active listening;
  6. articulate, support and critically evaluate developing beliefs about teaching and learning.

Assessment by a group seminar based on classroom or school scenarios analysed in the light of various learning/teaching/behaviour management theories or approaches (30%); portfolio including detailed lesson plan and analysis and demonstration of professional growth (30%); one two-hour examination (40%); successful completion of professional experience component.