Program Overview

Unit Overview

The unit EDCU699 - Extension Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 4 is designed for intending secondary teachers to develop their knowledge and understanding of the senior secondary curriculum, theoretical frameworks, and pedagogical approaches in their chosen teaching areas.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

This unit enables students to extend their knowledge of their major curriculum and teaching area, focusing on placing that key learning area within the broader curriculum context, both nationally and internationally. The aim is for pre-service teachers to develop their pedagogical content knowledge through becoming familiar with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary for teaching their area of study at a senior secondary level.

Campus Offerings

The unit is offered in different modes, including:

• Melbourne: Professional Term 2, Multi-mode
• NAT: Professional Term 2, TM
• Online: Professional Term 2, Online Scheduled

Prerequisites

Students must have completed one of the following units:

• EDAR599 Visual Arts Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDCB599 Commerce and Business Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDCU599 Extension Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 3
• EDDR599 Drama Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDEN599 English Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDGE599 Geography Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDHE599 Health Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDHI599 History Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDIT599 ICT and Digital Technology Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDLA599 Language Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDMA599 Mathematics Curriculum Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDMS599 Media Arts Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDMU598 Music Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDOE599 Outdoor Education Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDPH599 Physical Education Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDSI599 Science Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDSS599 Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDTE598 Design and Technologies Education Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDTL599 TESOL Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1
• EDVS599 Vocational Studies Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1

Incompatible Units

EDCU519 Extension Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 3

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this unit, students will be able to:

1. Analyse and articulate how general capabilities and cross curriculum perspectives can be integrated within their major curriculum area.
2. Compare and contrast and critically evaluate curricula both locally and internationally, with a particular focus on their major curriculum area.
3. Analyse policies and approaches to the middle years of schooling through the lens of catering for diversity and the needs of diverse learners.
4. Critically review and synthesise research on key issues such as gender, ethics, and/or social justice in their major curriculum area and propose policy in response.

Content

Topics will include:

• The impact of the Melbourne declaration and the general capabilities desired from education
• Cross curriculum perspectives such as Indigenous perspectives, Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia, and sustainability within the contemporary Australian curriculum and other curriculum approaches
• Middle years and related policy and curriculum approaches including local, national, and international perspectives
• Differentiated curriculum and catering for diversity within the different approaches with particular focus on a pre-service teacher's key curriculum area
• Current issues in education including gender, social justice, ethics, and human rights and their impact in the key learning area

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed so that the pre-service teacher can progressively achieve the course learning outcomes. The two assessment tasks are sequenced to allow feedback and progressive development.

Assessment Tasks

1. Assessment task 1 will require pre-service teachers to analyse and critically evaluate a range of curriculum documents and teaching approaches and demonstrate how the general capabilities and cross curriculum perspectives can be integrated into their core curriculum area. (Weighting: 50%, Learning Outcomes: LO1, LO2)
2. Assessment task 2 will require pre-service teachers to critically review and synthesise literature and propose an approach and policy in relation to the teaching and learning approaches to be used in their curriculum area to enable differentiation for diversity and consideration of current issues in education. (Weighting: 50%, Learning Outcomes: LO3, LO4)

Minimum Achievement Standard

In order to pass this unit, pre-service teachers are required to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes by submitting all assessment tasks, obtaining a combined score of at least 50 per cent, and receiving a passing grade in all critical tasks.

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit applies a social constructivist approach to develop the pre-service teacher's understanding of effective pedagogies through active engagement and collaborative learning.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

The teaching and learning strategy will use an appropriate selection of approaches, including:

• Weekly lectures (synchronous and asynchronous)
• Hands-on tutorials and discussions that promote peer learning
• Microteaching opportunities
• Self-directed reading and research
• Collaborative learning opportunities

Mode of Delivery

This unit may be offered in different modes to cater to the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants, including On Campus, Multi-mode, Online unscheduled, Online scheduled, and ACU Online.

Representative Texts and References

• Australian Curriculum
• Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
• Relevant jurisdictional curriculum documents
• Other Curriculum documents, including state, territory, and some international documents
• Brady, L., & Kennedy, K. (2019). Curriculum construction (6th ed.). Pearson Australia
• International Baccalaureate. (2010). The middle years program: Preparing students for university in the 21st century. IB Middle Years Program
• Jennings, M. (2012). Teaching for results: Best practices in integrating co-teaching and differentiated instruction. Rowman & Littlefield Education
• Killen, R. (2016). Effective teaching strategies: Lessons from research and practice (7th ed.). Cengage Learning Australia
• Ornstein, A. & Hunkins, F. (2018). Curriculum: Foundations, principles, and issues (7th ed.). Pearson

Locations

The unit is available in the following locations:

• Melbourne
• NAT
• Online

Credit Points

This unit is worth 10 credit points.

Year

The unit information is current for the year 2026.