Understanding and Supporting Behaviour
Overview
This unit prepares pre-service teachers to understand how children and young people display different behaviours within a learning environment and how to approach and negotiate these behaviours. Pre-service teachers are introduced to the major perspectives of understanding and supporting behaviour and explore historical and contemporary theories and how these relate to principles, policies and practices. They explore the role and practice of external agencies and professionals in supporting children, young people, teachers and families. Pre-service teachers will also be challenged to reflect upon their own belief system and how this relates to different contemporary approaches and models of behaviour management
Requisites
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Differentiate behaviours displayed by students in learning environments and formulate reasons for these behaviours using behavioural and educational theories
- Apply appropriate theoretical frameworks and models for responding to a range of behaviours displayed in the learning environment
- Analyse different principles, policies and practices used for establishing and maintaining a productive learning environment
- Plan learning environments that adhere to positive models of behaviour management
- Create strategies for working effectively and ethically with families
- Clarify the role of external agencies and professionals in supporting teachers, children and families
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class |
3.00 | 8 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various |
6.00 | 8 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Studies | Individual | 30% | 2,5,6 |
| Essay | Individual | 30% | 1,3 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 40% | 3,4 |
Content
- Factors that influence behaviour in the learning environment
- Principles, policies and practices for establishing a productive learning environment
- Frameworks and models for supporting and engaging diverse learners with diverse needs
- Explore how teaching models and practices affect learners sense of being, belonging and becoming
- Positive behaviour support principles and practice
- Classroom climate
- Restorative practice
- Behaviour management techniques
- Behaviour intervention versus preventative behaviour techniques
- External organisations and agencies working with families
- Considerations for rights of young people and ethic of care when working with diverse learners with diverse needs
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.